2021 Dodge Challenger Review

　　

2021 Dodge Challenger Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　No automaker stretches the life of a vehicle quite like Dodge. The brand has asked its two-door muscle car, the Challenger, to soldier on into its 14th year of production since this generation debuted for the 2008 model year. How do you keep such an aging vehicle relevant? By blowing the doors off the competition with horsepower. Three versions of the Challenger boast more than 700 horsepower, and two more offer very substantial V8 engines. Even base Challengers pack a decently strong V6.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Dodge Challenger SXT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$159/mo  for Challenger SXT

　　Challenger SXT

　　SXT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,870 MSRPSXT 2dr Coupe AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,870 MSRPGT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,870 MSRPGT 2dr Coupe AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,870 MSRPR/T 2dr Coupe (5.7L 8cyl 6M) - $35,570 MSRPR/T Scat Pack 2dr Coupe (6.4L 8cyl 6M) - $40,645 MSRPR/T Scat Pack Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.4L 8cyl 6M) - $46,640 MSRPSRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $59,570 MSRPSRT Hellcat Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $65,570 MSRPSRT Hellcat Redeye 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $71,170 MSRPSRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $77,170 MSRPSRT Super Stock 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $80,170 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Dodge has also done a nice job of keeping the Challenger fresh with continual updates. This year there's the new SRT Super Stock. It comes with many of the same drag-racing-oriented upgrades as the limited-edition Demon from 2018, such as special Nitto tires and special suspension tuning. But it's also safely detuned and decontented — it's only cranking out 807 hp — to avoid usurping the famed Demon. Also on tap for 2021 expanded availability of the Widebody treatment, which you can now get on the Scat Pack Shaker and T/A 392.

　　On top of this you get a spacious cabin, the biggest trunk in its class, and a robust infotainment system. At the end of the day, this muscle car is about giving you hair-raising thrills a quarter-mile at a time. But it can also serve as the coolest comfortable commuter on your block.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Challenger drive? The Challenger is always a hoot to drive. With the 6.4-liter V8, power is readily available in any gear at almost any speed. We tested the R/T Scat Pack Widebody with the manual transmission. Zero to 60 mph took just 4.9 seconds at the zzdcar test track. It's properly quick but slower than other modern muscle cars by a few tenths. Braking is strong. Our test Challenger stopped from 60 mph in 105 feet, a short distance for such a big vehicle.

　　The Dodge's beefy size makes in-town maneuvering a bit tough, but it's a champ out on the open road. The Challenger is pretty capable on curvy roads too. Well, as long as you don't try driving it like a nimble sports car. Its mass and weight become readily apparent if you try to drive quickly through tight turns.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Challenger? Our tester, with the Widebody package, had a stiffer adaptive suspension than even the standard R/T Scat Pack, but it didn't ruin the ride. Highway ride quality is very good, and seat comfort is near the top of the class. A relatively quiet cabin helps make this a nice place to be for long rides.

　　Dual-zone climate control is standard on the R/T and it maintains the desired cabin temp well. The climate is controlled via the touchscreen or knobs and buttons directly behind the shifter. Our test car had the optional heated and ventilated front seats. The seat heating works well, but the ventilation could be more effective.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Challenger is a king among the muscle coupes in passenger and cargo space. It's far more practical than its crosstown competition and has the roomiest cabin in the segment. The rear seat isn't quite fit for all sizes, but it's far bigger than competitors' back seats and offers three seats versus two.

　　Outward visibility is generally poor, but that's typical for the segment. The blind spots over both shoulders are significant, and the windshield pillars obstruct forward sightlines more than average. A large-display rearview camera and blind-spot monitoring help considerably, but the camera quality is low.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? This is one of the best plug-and-play systems out there. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto accompany the Challenger's already user-friendly Uconnect system. It's very easy to use with multiple solutions for the same commands. But the interface looks a bit dated compared to those in the rest of the class.

　　The voice controls use an easy-to-learn structure and accept basic commands for the audio, navigation and hands-free calling. Connecting your smartphone makes things even more familiar. The Driver Convenience package adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. They worked well during our test without false alerts.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Big American coupes aren't exactly perfect examples of utility, but the Challenger leads the class easily in this category. The trunk opening is large, and its capacity blows the class away with a midsize-sedan-like 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The rear seatbacks fold in a 60/40-split for extra utility.

　　There's decent small-item storage throughout the cabin, but the cupholders are right behind the gearshift, which is somewhat problematic with a manual transmission. The door pockets are small, with small bottle holders up front. In coupes this size, space is at a premium, but the Challenger uses what it has relatively well.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 6.4-liter V8 is 17 mpg combined. That's one of the lowest ratings in the segment, even before you add the Widebody package. The wide tires add rolling resistance as well, making real-world fuel economy even lower. In our testing, we struggled to even meet the EPA's city estimate of 14 mpg.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Challenger a good value? The Challenger offers decent equipment for the money. The 6.4-liter engine is appropriately priced against other V8 upgrades in the class. The Widebody package adds big bucks to the price tag, but the resulting wheel, tire and suspension upgrades — not to mention the enhanced visual swagger — make it worth it.

　　The Challenger's interior build quality is solid, but the quality of the materials becomes less appealing the higher you go up the trim ladder. By the time you're into Hellcat territory, it'll be obvious that you're paying for a big motor, not an exquisite interior design.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The Challenger, especially with the Widebody package, is an American muscle car with a heaping helping of personality. It'll put a massive smile on your face every time you drive it. It's also surprising how well the car's styling has aged considering that the car has been around for more than a decade without a full redesign.

　　

Which Challenger does zzdcar recommend?

It gets overshadowed by the brutish 700-plus-horsepower trims above it, but the R/T Scat Pack is a remarkable muscle car for its price. Of course, it introduces the potent 6.4-liter V8 engine to the lineup. But it also brings key improvements to the brakes, suspension and even the infotainment system that make the Challenger both more agile and more livable.

　　

2021 Dodge Challenger models

The Challenger comes in five main trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat. But within those trims you have a range of choices ahead of you. All-wheel drive is available on the SXT and GT trims. The R/T and SRT Hellcat trims offer a number of increasingly powerful engines and performance upgrades.

　　SXT

　　The base trim starts with:

　　3.6-liter V6 engine (303 horsepower, 268 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed automatic transmission 18-inch wheels (19-inch on AWD models) Uconnect 4 infotainment system with 7-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Six-speaker audio system Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable driver's seat 60/40-split folding rear seatsGT

　　Turns up the sportiness with the following:

　　Remote start system Foglights 20-inch wheels Performance steering Performance suspension Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters Upgraded cloth seats Rear parking sensorsR/T

　　Similarly equipped as the GT but comes with:

　　5.7-liter V8 engine (372 hp, 400 lb-ft with the eight-speed automatic transmission or 375 hp, 410 lb-ft with the six-speed manual)R/T Scat Pack

　　Boosts the Challenger's performance with:

　　6.4-liter V8 engine (485 hp, 475 lb-ft) Eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission Launch control Brembo performance brake system High-performance suspension Xenon headlights Heated steering wheel and heated front seats Uconnect 4C infotainment system with 8.4-inch touchscreen Premium six-speaker audio system Configurable drive modes Scat Pack-specific exterior styling details SRT Hellcat

　　As aggressive as it sounds, the Hellcat adds:

　　Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine (717 hp, 656 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission Larger six-piston Brembo brakes Unique front grille Adaptive suspension dampers Wider performance tires Flat-bottom steering wheel SRT Hellcat exterior and interior badgesThe SRT Hellcat Redeye pushes the Challenger further into the world of ludicrous power with:

　　Upgraded 6.2-liter V8 engine (797 hp, 707 lb-ft) Eight-speed automatic transmission only Upgraded SRT Power Chiller engine cooling Exterior and interior SRT Hellcat Redeye badgesThe SRT Super Stock takes the street-legal drag racer theme even further with:

　　Further upgraded 6.2L V8 engine (807 hp, 707 lb-ft) 18-inch wheels Nitto NT05R tires Widebody package Brakes from the R/T Scat Pack Exterior and interior SRT Super Stock badgesA Widebody package is available for the R/T Scat Pack and Hellcat models that adds:

　　Wider wheels and tires Fender flares Special suspension tuning with adaptive dampers Six-piston Brembo brakes (R/T Scat Pack)There's also a huge array of other option packages and customization features available. Some allow you to add select features from the higher trims to the lower trims as options. Other highlights include:

　　T/A package (special interior and exterior styling) Technology group (adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning) Driver Convenience group (blind-spot monitoring among other features) Blacktop package (blacked-out styling details) Leather upholstery Ventilated front seats Harman Kardon and Alpine premium sound systems

　　

2021 Challenger Highlights

Type: SRT Hellcat Redeye WidebodyR/T Scat Pack WidebodyCoupeSRT Hellcat WidebodySRT Super StockSRT HellcatR/T Scat PackR/TSRT Hellcat RedeyeCoupe

　　Trim: SXTGTR/TR/T Scat PackR/T Scat Pack WidebodySRT HellcatSRT Hellcat WidebodySRT Hellcat RedeyeSRT Hellcat Redeye WidebodySRT Super StockSXT

　　

Base MSRP	$28,870
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$159/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles