ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
Let’s get right to it, as this is what the vehicle is about. Sure, the look and style is awesome (and my test vehicle’s slick red and black paint scheme helped in that area), but the engine is why people buy this car.

I did not have the Hellcat edition of the Challenger, which boasts a jaw-dropping 707 horsepower and is more than most people need in a street car -- including myself.

I was just fine with the Scat Pack version of the Challenger, which offered a 6.4-liter, V8 SRT HEMI engine and a mere 485 horsepower. Trust me, that’s plenty.

The Challenger, of course, is a rear-wheel drive vehicle. It’s offered in both manual and automatic transmissions, depending on your preference.

I’m not sure I can adequately explain to you the feeling when you nail the gas in this bad boy. It’s exhilarating, to be honest. The punch to the gut you feel from the back of the vehicle as that power gets going in an instant is nearly unparallelled in other vehicles I have tested, think of that initial gasp when you start to go down a roller coaster as a possible analogy for what this is like.

The tires will squeal on occasion when you leave a stop light, and traffic will be far behind you quickly. The nearly sideways feel when driving the car at times is something that I enjoyed, though it’s not for everyone.

Brembo high-performance brakes react quickly and do an excellent job in allowing you to drive the car fast but still be under control.

Did I mention this thing was fun?

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
While the Challenger is a blast from the past, the tech features inside are far from old. You get the latest UConnect system, one of the best tech interfaces you’ll find in any vehicle, plus the option for features like forward collision warning and adaptive speed control.

That combination of an old-school look and new-school tech is rare to find these days, and Dodge has nailed it on the Challenger.

MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers are 15 city/25 highway/18 combined. I averaged just under 17 mpg during my time in the car. But seriously … nobody buying a Challenger is thinking about fuel mileage, so let’s move on.

PRICE
If you want a Hellcat version of the Challenger, bring a fat wallet. You’re lucky to find one for $60K, if you can even find one. The Scat Pack is a bit less, starting at $37,495.
After all options, my test vehicle was just over $47,000.

BOTTOM LINE
There are few vehicles on the road today that are as thrilling to drive as the old-but-new 2015 Dodge Challenger. The Hellcat is its crown jewel, but the Scat Pack and the 485 hp it brings are nothing to shake a stick at, providing ample fun for anyone (“good ole boys” or not) with about $40K to spare on a slick-looking throwback ride with some juice under the hood.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.