2022 Dodge Challenger

　　

2022 Dodge Challenger Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Dodge's big muscle car is a hoot to drive, even if it doesn't feel quite as sharp as the Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang. Of the three, the 2022 Challenger is the most old-school, which makes sense since the design dates to 2008, which itself recalls the Challengers from the early 1970s. This is a big, heavy coupe that feels big and heavy from behind the wheel.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$160/mo  for Challenger SXT

　　Challenger SXT

　　SXT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $30,545 MSRPSXT 2dr Coupe AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $33,545 MSRPGT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $33,845 MSRPGT 2dr Coupe AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,845 MSRPR/T 2dr Coupe (5.7L 8cyl 6M) - $39,385 MSRPR/T Scat Pack 2dr Coupe (6.4L 8cyl 6M) (Most Popular) - $45,845 MSRPR/T Scat Pack Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.4L 8cyl 6M) - $51,840 MSRPSRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe w/Prod. End 01/22 (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $63,530 MSRPSRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $69,040 MSRPSRT Hellcat Widebody 2dr Coupe w/Prod. End 01/22 (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $69,530 MSRPSRT Hellcat Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $75,040 MSRPSRT Hellcat Redeye 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $77,645 MSRPSRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $83,645 MSRPSRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $84,640 MSRPSRT Super Stock 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $86,645 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Thankfully, there's a diverse selection of available V8 engines that are more than capable of imparting this big coupe with rapid straight-line velocity. Or just big smoky burnouts if that's more your thing. The Challenger comes with a standard V6, but it's the SRT and supercharged Hellcat engines that will blast you down the local drag strip with joyful abandon.

　　The Challenger isn't all about brute force. The ride is quite comfortable, even when you opt for models with a sportier suspension setup. Most of today's advanced driving aids are also available thanks to regular updates over the years. Overall, we're fond of the Challenger, however dated it may be. For more of what we think of the 2022 Challenger, be sure to read our in-depth Expert Rating below.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below