Description: Two-door muscle car

Seats: Up to 4

Starts at: $67,490

I know, I know. A two-door 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shakedown is a ridiculous choice. But hear me out: the Challenger can be a family car if you use it properly. No, it’s not ideal for car seats or a comfy long road trip for those in the back seat. What it is, though, is a thrill ride, and sometimes, that’s just what you need. Who says you have to give up an exciting drive when you have kids? Reckless joyriding, no. Finding joy in your muscle car enthusiasm with a smidge of growl, yes. And with two seats in the back, albeit small, you can scratch that itch and still carry the family with you.

The good news is that the trunk is massive, with 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space, and the rear seats split 60/40 for more flexibility. This two-door car has an unusually large storage space and holds a couple of carry-on bags, plus a large Yeti cooler that travels well to sports events. (Ask me, I’ve tried it.) Even two large children or medium-sized teenagers can’t complain too much if you keep your trips in a Challenger to less than four hours.

Inside the cabin, the Challenger includes an easy-to-use infotainment system called Uconnect 5. The Challenger is more than launch controls for pure speed – everything you need to know is connected, including your smartphone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and their voice controls work well.

In the R/T Scat Pack Shakedown version of the Challenger (only 1,000 models were built!), this muscle car sports the style of the standard Challenger with a special hood and stripes raked down the middle. Powered by a 6.4-liter V8 making 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, you can’t help but fall in love with the heartbeat of this legendary vehicle. And if you’re a fan of gas-powered engines, you’re going to want one of these.

Your Test Driver’s parent-centric take on the 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shakedown

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