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2020 2021 2022
MSRP Starts From
$28,095
Our Verdict
The 2020 Dodge Challenger hasn’t changed much, and that’s precisely what fans of the model expect. Brimming with power and attitude, this throwback muscle car bridges the gap between modern technology and old-school design. The V6 is competent and far from a value-leading consolation prize, and top models such as the Hellcat Redeye produce nearly 800 horsepower! Yet, the Challenger is also surprisingly comfortable and docile for everyday driving duty.
What's New
- SXT AWD and GT AWD get 19-inch Satin Carbon wheels as standard and available Black Noise wheels are optional; R/T Scat Pack also gets a new wheel design dubbed Low Gloss Granite
- A trio of new paint colors, Frostbite, Hellraisin and Sinamon Stick will be available later in the model year
- Models with a leather interior get a little sizzle in the form of premium-stitched dash and door panels; carbon fiber instrument bezels and a synthetic suede headliner are optional on all models equipped with a V8 engine
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hellcat Redeye remains the most powerful muscle car you can buy
- Excellent and easy-to-use infotainment system
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Softer suspension than Camaro and Mustang
- Top models demand top dollar
- Fuel economy is terrible in top performance trims
REVIEW
2020 Dodge Challenger: Muscle Over Mass
Forbes Wheels Staff
Updated : Jun 11, 2020, 04:42 am
Our team of experts has decades of experience evaluating vehicles. While we sometimes, but not always, evaluate manufacturer-supplied vehicles, we operate them in the real world as real consumers would to provide an unbiased view of their capabilities....Read More
Styling
18 /20
The retro looks have aged gracefully on the Challenger. Few cars look as cool and menacing, especially when fitted with a flashy exterior color, large alloy wheels and a set of racing stripes. The Challenger is a muscle car that always turns heads.
Performance
19 /20
Sure, the standard 3.6-liter V6 gets the job done and has a surprisingly solid dose of power. You can even get an all-wheel-drive V6 Challenger if you wish. But the Hemi V8 is where things get crazy, particularly with the Hellcat models that deliver more than 700 horsepower to the rear wheels. Hold on tight!
Comfort and Convenience
16 /20
Given this is a no-excuses muscle car, you might expect the Challenger is difficult to live with as a daily driver. Contrary to that belief, the ride is truly comfortable on the highway, there is plenty of room in front, and even the rear seat shames its Mustang and Camaro rivals. This Dodge also has one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems in the car world.
Safety
12 /20
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has given the Challenger four out of five stars in front crash tests and for the car’s resistance to rollover. A rearview camera comes as standard, though many other active safety features are optional.
Fuel Economy
12 /20
If you’ve put a Challenger Hellcat in your driveway, it’s best not to think about fuel mileage. In city driving, the car’s EPA-estimated average of 13 mpg might have you consider investing in oil companies. Less powerful versions of the Challenger are much friendlier at the fuel pump, thankfully.
Styling 18 /20
The retro looks have aged gracefully on the Challenger. Few cars look as cool and menacing, especially when fitted with a flashy exterior color, large alloy wheels and a set of racing stripes. The Challenger is a muscle car that always turns heads.
Performance 19 /20
Sure, the standard 3.6-liter V6 gets the job done and has a surprisingly solid dose of power. You can even get an all-wheel-drive V6 Challenger if you wish. But the Hemi V8 is where things get crazy, particularly with the Hellcat models that deliver more than 700 horsepower to the rear wheels. Hold on tight!
Comfort and Convenience 16 /20
Given this is a no-excuses muscle car, you might expect the Challenger is difficult to live with as a daily driver. Contrary to that belief, the ride is truly comfortable on the highway, there is plenty of room in front, and even the rear seat shames its Mustang and Camaro rivals. This Dodge also has one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems in the car world.
Safety 12 /20
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has given the Challenger four out of five stars in front crash tests and for the car’s resistance to rollover. A rearview camera comes as standard, though many other active safety features are optional.
Fuel Economy 12 /20
If you’ve put a Challenger Hellcat in your driveway, it’s best not to think about fuel mileage. In city driving, the car’s EPA-estimated average of 13 mpg might have you consider investing in oil companies. Less powerful versions of the Challenger are much friendlier at the fuel pump, thankfully.
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.
/www.forbes.com/wheels/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/dodge-challenger-srt-392.png "2020 Dodge Challenger (2)")
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.
/www.forbes.com/wheels/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/dodge-challenger-392.png "2020 Dodge Challenger (5)")
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!
Warranty
Basic:
3 Years/36,000 Miles
Drivetrain:
5 Years/60,000 Miles
Corrosion:
5 Years/Unlimited Miles
Roadside Assistance:
5 Years/60,000 Miles
Specs & Safety
Dodge Challenger Specification
Price
$28,095*
Vehicle Type Coupes
Engine Type Regular Unleaded V-6
Seats 5 Person
*Includes Destination Charges
Dodge Challenger Safety
NHTSA RATING OVERALL
5 /5
NHTSA RATING FRONT DRIVER
4 /5
NHTSA RATING FRONT PASSENGER
5 /5
NHTSA RATING FRONT SIDE
5 /5
NHTSA RATING REAR SIDE
5 /5
NHTSA RATING ROLLOVER
4 /5
Competition
MSRP
$26,670
MSRP
$25,000
MSRP
$33,090
See Specs
Dodge Challenger Generations
First Generation
1970 to 1974
Caught flat-footed when the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro surged to the front of the pony car pack in the late 60s, the 1970 Dodge Challenger arrived perfectly timed with the dawn of the “Me” decade. Built on Chrysler’s E-Body platform, the Challenger went right for senses, offering a bewildering number of powertrain options and color schemes. From the available 426 cubic-inch HEMI V8 to the Panther Pink and Sassy Grass Green exterior colors, the Challenger was not for introverts. Unlike the Mustang and Camaro, which morphed into updated versions of themselves mid-decade, the first-gen Challenger went extinct after the 1974 model year.
Second Generation
1978 to 1983
With gas prices up and the overall economy down, Chrysler, Dodge’s parent company, went looking overseas for an inexpensive and fuel-efficient vehicle it could rebrand for sale in the states. What it found was the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe. Although it proved to be fun and efficient, it never quite lived up the legacy of the Challenger name.
Third Generation
2008 to Present
Announced in late 2005 after a series of ostensibly unauthorized photos appeared on the internet, the current, third-generation Challenger debuted at the 2006 Detroit auto show as a concept and began limited production in 2008. All 2008 models were SRT8 (Street Racing and Technology) trims equipped with 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and five-speed automatic transmission. Additional trims and powertrains were added to the lineup in 2009.
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