The thought of a Dodge Challenger for the more mature generation brings back memories of awesome muscle cars that redefined street racing as well as being awesome cruisers to take around town on Friday nights or to the lake on Saturdays. The 2015 version of the Challenger looks like and could be easily mistaken as an all new offering, but really the only major changes are the all new front and rear of the car. In addition to the fresh exterior look the Challenger shows off with a modern design that adds the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system and a rearview camera. The final update is the addition of the Hellcat model bringing in a monstrous and powerful engine to leave the competition literally in the dust.
Across the board the Challenger is updated and upgraded with the new styling mentioned as well as a brand new transmission making the most use of each engine. Driving the Challenger gives the felling of a sports car that is not only ready to roll on a straightaway, but is also highly capable when it comes to handling curves. The awesome suspension and highly responsive steering allow for this feeling and easily make the Challenger a fan favorite for power and performance.
The engine compartment of the Challenger offers four different engines to choose from allowing just about anyone to find a Challenger they will truly enjoy and appreciate. Starting off the lineup is the 3.6-liter V6 engine that is found on the SXT model offering 305 horsepower and 268 lb.-ft. of torque. This nicely performing engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that allows the fuel efficiency to come in at 19 city/30 hwy mpg.
After that appetizer of an engine, the next three are all V8 engines that offer plenty of juice for power hungry drivers. The engine found in the R/T models comes in the form of 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that offers a strong 372 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque when mated to the automatic transmission and 375 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque when paired with the manual transmission. This engine will allow for a decent fuel mileage coming in at 16 city/25 hwy mpg when fitted with the eight-speed automatic transmission and 15 city/23 hwy mpg when paired with the six-speed manual transmission.
Next up is the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine found on the SRT 392 that brings a massive 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque for owners to really get some awesome speed and is quite capable of performing well on the track as well. This engine offers a fuel mileage of 15 city/25 hwy mpg when partnered with the eight-speed automatic transmission and 14 city/23 hwy mpg when matched with the six-speed manual transmission.
Finally, in the clean-up spot is the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 engine found powering the SRT Hellcat model of the Challenger. Offering up seriously monstrous power at 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, this engine whips this heavy car around the track like a much lighter and smaller sports car. For the power fans out there, this is the car to go after for those who can afford it and plenty of appointments at the track will be needed to truly enjoy the power this beast brings.
Inside the cabin of the Challenger is a great deal of upgrades that bring the Challenger in line with cars of this era with the incorporation of an 8.4-inch touch screen infotainment system. The gauges are still retro-styled allowing the Challenger to continue to enjoy the looks and feel of yesteryear while offering plenty of updated equipment. The interior is very spacious, making room for five to fit very comfortably and the trunk offers a ton of room allowing the car to be a great looking choice for a weekend getaway.
With brand new headlights showing off the newly designed front end the face of the Challenger is retro-chic in that is offers a look that is from days gone by but gives the driver the advantage of LED headlights. The rear lights have now been updated to LEDs as well and give an even more handsome look to the rear. The overall look and feel of the Challenger is a classic muscle car style that makes generations swoon at the sheer anticipation of the power and performance underneath.
Standard equipment for the Challenger start out on the base SXT model that offers a Uconnect infotainment system, a 5.0-inch touch screen, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, an auxiliary input port, a six-speaker audio system, a six-way power driver’s seat, a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, push-button starting, a seven-inch TFT screen between the gauges and multiple airbags including a driver’s knee airbag. This makes even the base model of the Challenger a great car to own with a ton of awesome equipment to enjoy.
The optional features for the Challenger include a Technology Group that adds forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control and a Driver Convenience Group that adds HID headlights, backup sensors, blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. Additional features include optional models such as the R/T and the 392 Hemi Shaker which both have above-hood intakes and the 6.4-liter Scat Pack to boost power and performance.
Amazingly with the Challenger being a very comprehensive muscle car even on the base model the starting price for the SXT model comes in at a very reasonable $27,000. Moving up to the R/T will move the starting price to $31,400 and the Scat Pack with the 392 comes in at a still easy to enjoy $38,500. The SRT with the 392 shows up at $46,000 but adds a ton of added power and performance equipment to make the track a very fun option on weekends. The Hellcat comes in right at $60,000 which is a really surprisingly low price considering the amazing amount of power that isn’t matched at all by any competition.
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