For more information about the Challenger's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Surprisingly, they both earned 26 mpg on the highway. We've tested the all-wheel-drive V-6 Challenger and one with the 485-hp V-8 and automatic transmission on our 75-mph real-world route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen. Versions with the 6.4-liter V-8 are rated up to 15 mpg city and 24 highway. Challengers with the 5.7-liter V-8 are expected to earn up to 16 mpg city and 25 highway. Adding all-wheel drive into the mix lowers those ratings by 1 and 3 mpg, respectively. The rear-drive, V-6-powered Challenger is estimated to earn 19 mpg city and 30 highway. 2023 Challenger Shakedown: 1st of 7 Final Editions.Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: Nostalgic Send-Off.Challenger, Charger Get Mopar Special Editions.The slow-to-react helm is well suited to leisurely drives and easily controlled power-induced tail slides. Compared with the sharper and stickier handling of the Camaro and Mustang, however, the Challenger is too soft in tight turns and its steering is too numb. Since the lineup's redesign in 2015, the models we've driven have offered a compliant ride that's comfortable but a bit unrefined. The burly Dodge is a muscle car in the truest sense: It's better on the street and the drag strip than on two-lanes and road courses. The Challenger hustles through corners like a raging bull seeing red, snorting aggressively and swaying threateningly. While we're suckers for a manual transmission, the automatic is incredibly responsive to throttle inputs, with quick power-on downshifts. We also drove the T/A 392 with the automatic and admired the exhaust's cannon-blast startup sound and baritone roar when prodded. Those looking to maximize the Challenger's potential will want the 6.4-liter V-8, which produces 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The 375-hp 5.7-liter we tested had plenty of juice to powerslide on demand, and its guttural growl was gratifying. The Dodge's Hemi V-8 engines are another story. The modest engine mates exclusively to the eight-speed automatic, but in the heavy Challenger, it lacks the acceleration and excitement of rivals. The Challenger's base 305-hp V-6 won't satisfy thrill seekers. It requires the Driver Convenience Group, too, which brings blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, power mirrors, and high-intensity-discharge headlights. The Plus package improves the interior with ambient lighting, faux-suede seat inserts, and much nicer materials on the dashboard and doors. We'd also add the adaptive dampers for adjustable ride quality, and the Dynamics package for its wide 20-inch wheels, six-piston Brembo front brakes, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Believe it or not, we'd opt for the eight-speed automatic over the standard manual transmission because it's much more responsive than the slushy-feeling stick shift. We'd select the R/T Scat Pack model for its 485-hp 6.4-liter V-8. Enthusiast drivers will find modern versions of the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang more capable on twisty roads and racetracks, but the Challenger’s old-school charm is undeniable. The regular Challenger isn’t as intense as the outrageous Hellcat, but for some its V-8 burble and relatively comfortable ride will be enough to trigger nostalgic feelings for the vintage Dodge pony cars with which it shares a name. If you want even more power, Dodge will be happy to oblige with the big-stomper Challenger SRT Hellcat, which we review separately. A V-6 engine is standard in these non-SRT Challengers but the real fun comes with the optional naturally aspirated Hemi V-8 engines, which are offered in a variety of displacements and outputs spanning a 375-hp, 5.7-liter to a 485-hp, 6.4-liter. While rival muscle cars have pivoted recently toward sharp handling, the 2023 Dodge Challenger keeps things retro with a package that’s designed more for old-school pony-car jollies and straight-line speed.
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