Dodge Challenger Review

2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Coupe Shown

The Dodge Challenger was one of the more significant cars to come out of the 1960s and '70s muscle car era. A potent combination of big horsepower, sleek pony-car styling and a starring role in what is arguably one of the best gearhead films of all time -- "Vanishing Point" -- made the original Challenger an icon.

Four decades later, the Dodge Challenger has returned. Featuring styling cues similar to the original model and an available 425-hp V8 engine driving the rear wheels, the new Challenger is a true street fighter. But unlike its bare-knuckled brawler of an older brother, this Challenger is loaded with modern-day refinement and safety features.

It's no surprise that the current Challenger offers strong acceleration, particularly in the SRT8 trim that offers a 425-hp Hemi V8. But unlike the original, it offers surprisingly agile handling and good stopping power for a relatively heavy vehicle. With the venerable Mustang holding strong and Chevrolet's Camaro debuting soon, it seems that the muscle car is set for an encore.

Current Dodge Challenger

When it was introduced in early 2008, the Challenger only came in one trim level: SRT8, with a 6.1-liter 425-hp V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. The Challenger features the exterior styling cues of its iconic '70s predecessor, such as a long hood and a short fastback roof-line profile. Underneath, however, the Challenger is based on a shortened version of the platform used for Chrysler's 300 and Dodge's Charger. Thanks to its generous dimensions and a split-folding rear seat, the Challenger has impressive cargo capacity.

Currently, the Challenger comes in three trim levels: SE, R/T and SRT8. The base SE features a 250-hp, 3.5-liter V6 backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. Upping the ante, the R/T packs a 5.7-liter V8 with an estimated 375 hp. It's mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

Muscle car fanatics will lust after the top-of-the-line SRT8 model. A product of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division, the SRT8 is armed with the 6.1-liter 425-hp V8 that's connected to either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. Other features of the Challenger SRT8 include a stiffer suspension, Brembo brakes, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and exterior enhancements such as the "Power Bulge" scooped hood.

All Dodge Challenger models come standard with antilock brakes, a full complement of airbags and stability control. Major options include a hard-drive-based navigation system with music and video file storage capability, and a sunroof.

In road tests, we've found that there's plenty to like about Dodge's newest muscle car. In SRT8 trim, the acceleration of the Challenger is spectacular. All that horsepower on tap can make for high drama on a twisty road, but the SRT8 Challenger displays a pleasantly surprising balance of minimal body roll and strong stopping power for a car with a 2-ton curb weight.

Past Dodge Challenger Models The Challenger's lineage started in 1970 on an all-new E-Body platform that it shared with its Plymouth cousin, the Barracuda. The base engine was a sedate 145-hp 225-cubic-inch slant-6. But since the Challenger was created to compete with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang in the escalating hp war, it could be ordered with a variety of potent engines and trim levels, such as the legendary 426-cubic-inch Hemi, the 440-cubic-inch (triple two-barrel carbureted) Six-Pack, the Challenger R/T and the road racing-inspired Challenger T/A.

By 1974, however, the fuel crisis, stringent emissions standards and escalating insurance rates had choked hp levels, putting an end to the muscle car era and the original Challenger.

The second-generation Dodge Challenger was related to the first in name only. Introduced in 1978 and produced until 1983 for Dodge by Mitsubishi, this small sport coupe counted the Toyota Celica and Honda Prelude as its chief rivals. The optional engine, a 105-hp 2.6-liter SOHC four-cylinder, was a far cry from the neck-snapping V8s of the muscle car glory days. Yet this Japanese Challenger was a solid competitor in the four-cylinder sport coupe segment during this mileage-conscious era, when there were very few true performance cars.

SELECT A SPECIFIC DODGE CHALLENGER MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.