2020 Dodge Challenger

Designed to trigger pangs of muscle car nostalgia in a modern package, the resurrected Challenger coupe arrived for the 2008 model year with a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and five-speed automatic as the sole powertrain. Since then, Dodge has spun off a bumper crop of trims, variants and special editions, including the supercharged 717-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat and 797-horsepower SRT Hellcat Redeye.

Sensible types can opt for a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine in the SX and GT trims with the added option of all-wheel drive. The R/T comes standard with a 375-horsepower Hemi V8 and active dual exhaust, while the R/T Scat Pack trim packs 485-horsepower, performance Brembo brakes and line lock and launch control features; both trims feature a standard six-speed manual transmission, but an automatic is available.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger is a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are the product of consistency. Of course, having the option of nearly 800 horsepower underhood is this retro-themed muscle car’s calling card. In base form, the Challenger is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine coupled to a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Step on the throttle in the Hellcat Widebody and the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 snarls as the car gains speed, the mechanical whine of the supercharger changing pitch in tune with engine rpm. It’s a crazy machine, and that’s why it’s so easy to fall for the Challenger. 

For buyers that want the ultimate in corner-carving handling, there are better choices. The Challenger, however, offers a more spacious cabin and makes for an effortless cruiser. Just don’t expect it to keep up in the corners with its nimbler rivals. Even the Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye, with their macho engines and hunkered down suspension, exhibit more body roll in corners than its rivals at Ford and Chevrolet. What works in the Challenger’s favor is that it won’t batter you into submission if you want this Dodge to be your sole transport.  The rear seat is large enough for a pair of actual adults, and the trunk offers 16 cubic-feet of cargo space, enough room for airport runs, or long road trips with sufficient luggage. 

While touch screen interfaces aren’t usually the biggest concern for muscle car shoppers, the one in the Challenger ranks among the best. The Uconnect system is simple, easy to use and features large icons that won’t distract you from focusing on the road ahead. You’ll need to pay attention, too, because at its heart, the Challenger is about raw acceleration, and the hardware it uses to achieve this goal—Hemi V8 engines, performance suspension settings and launch control—requires a steady hand at the helm.

The launch control, in particular, is perfect if you prefer to back up your Challenger boasting at a local dragstrip. In the Challenger SRT Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye, this Dodge needs only about 3.5 seconds to sprint from zero to 60 miles per hour. Both models are capable of cresting the 200 mph mark. Of course, all this firepower takes a toll on fuel economy. If you’re not a fan of refueling, your best bet is to stick with the base 3.6-liter V6. Even with “only” 305 horsepower tap, it doesn’t make you feel like you’re driving a fake muscle car. Ultimately, there are sports cars with sharper handling and more refined manners when the road gets twisty. But as an old school twist to a modern muscle car, the Challenger remains tough to beat—particularly if you’re trying to outrun one when the traffic light turns green!