Used 2020 Dodge Challenger

In the world of blue-blooded muscle cars, you have three choices: Camaro, Challenger and Mustang. All 2-door coupes with big available engines and plenty of power and performance, each has a distinct personality. Among the trio the 2020 Dodge Challenger is the burly linebacker that offers the clearest line of sight to its original forebear while providing the most daily-driver practicality in the group.

Built on the same platform as the Dodge Charger, the delightfully retro Challenger is larger than the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang, meaning it has a usable rear seat and trunk. In terms of performance, the Challenger runs the gamut, starting with the 303-horsepower SXT and more than doubling that output with the fire-breathing 797-horsepower SRT Hellcat Redeye.

Buyers seeking the best bang for the buck will be more than happy with the R/T trims that offer impressive power, desirable features, and a surprisingly comfortable ride at a relatively reasonable price. No matter which version you choose, though, Dodge offers a dizzying array of colors, add-ons and features to make the 2020 Challenger one of the most customizable performance cars money can buy.

Given the wide range of Challenger models, the driving experience is different depending on the engine, transmission, mechanical specification, available equipment, and where and how you drive the car. However, they all have one thing in common, which is an uncanny ability to transport you back in time.

From the car’s exterior and interior design to its rear-wheel drive and aging platform and architecture, the Challenger looks and feels like an old car fresh off the assembly line. Think of it as a classic with a full factory warranty and modern technology, and you’ll get a sense of what this car is about.

It’s about speed, too, though the 303-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 in the SXT and GT trims makes the Challenger merely quick rather than outright fast. You can get all-wheel drive with the V6, though, making it a good choice for people who want the muscle-car image combined with usability in winter.

Traditional American muscle is standard in the Challenger R/T, which offers the legendary 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine with up to 375 horsepower, while the R/T Scat Pack’s 6.4-liter V8 delivers an impressive 485 horses. The Scat Pack version is also offered in Widebody style with wider wheels and tires for better grip.

For maximum performance, you’ll need a Challenger built by the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. The SRT models boast a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 making 717 horsepower in the Hellcat and an astounding 797 horsepower in the Hellcat Redeye. According to Dodge, the Redeye runs from zero to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, blasts through the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at 131 mph, and screams to a top speed of 203 mph. Widebody versions of the SRT models are also available.

Based purely on its roomy and comfortable interior, you’d never know that the Challenger is capable of serious shenanigans. If you need a muscular coupe with accommodating front seats and decent rear-seat space, this is your car. And the trunk is enormous, though the liftover height is quite high.

Retro yet modern, the driver-oriented layout features up to an 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment display as well as a sophisticated driver-information center between the main gauges. Depending on trim level, you can dress a Challenger’s interior in premium materials such as Nappa leather and Alcantara suede, and you can add comfort and convenience upgrades like a heated steering wheel and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection.

No doubt, the Challenger’s thick rear roof pillars take some getting used to, but blind-spot warning and a rearview camera make the Challenger easier to drive. We also recommend the available rear parking-assist sensors.

The Challenger’s classic long-hood/short-deck proportions and wide stance sneer “performance” in every single model, and with their flared fenders and other details, the Widebody R/T Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat models shout it outright.

Details like hood scoops, script badging and optional stripes amplify the car’s retro appearance and legit muscle-car credentials. The Challenger just looks cool, blending a timeless yet modern appeal with the masculine swagger of an MMA champion. And if that swagger isn’t enough you can also get some of the bright colors with the fun names from back in the day, like IndiGo Blue, White Knuckle and Go Mango.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
Muscle cars are all about blistering straight-line performance, but the Challenger SXT and GT models with a V6 engine and all-wheel drive focus on daily drivability all year long. This feature not only improves the Challenger’s cornering and handling, but makes the car easy to drive in the snow. So go ahead and challenge that Camaro SS or Mustang GT — as long as the white stuff is covering the ground.

SRT HELLCAT REDEYE
Although it costs nearly $75,000, the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye delivers an impressive performance-to-dollar value. With an eye-popping 797-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 bellowing from under its dual-scooped hood, and a full mechanical upgrade to support it, this version of the Challenger is ready to rock against a Camaro ZL1 or Mustang Shelby GT500.

Highlights from the Challenger’s standard-equipment list include 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, heated outside mirrors, hound’s-tooth cloth seats with 6-way-power adjustment for the driver, dual-zone automatic climate control with a humidity sensor, keyless entry and a reversing camera. The standard infotainment system equips the car with a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, and USB and auxiliary inputs.

There are six different Challenger models (plus Widebody versions), and each has its own list of standard equipment. As is true of most vehicles, the higher up the trim level ladder you climb, the more stuff you get.

That stuff includes numerous appearance and performance improvements, three different grades of leather, infotainment enhancements like a larger display and navigation, premium sound systems, advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), and much more.

Specific examples from the popular Challenger R/T trim level include several stripe and wheel designs, premium Nappa leather with Alcantara simulated-suede trim, an 8.4-inch infotainment screen, a navigation system, a high-end Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and a power sunroof. No less than 12 different option packages are also available for the R/T, installing equipment ranging from heated front seats and a heated steering wheel to Blacktop, Shaker and T/A appearance groups.

To equip a Challenger R/T with all of the available ADAS, you’ll want the Driver Convenience Group for its blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert system, and the Technology Group for adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and more.

In the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) SXT and GT, a 303-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 is the standard engine, with all-wheel drive (AWD) offered as an option on both trims.

Moving up to the R/T brings the first in a series of Hemi V8s, in this case a 375-horsepower 5.7-liter unit and a 6-speed manual transmission (the 8-speed automatic reduces horsepower to 372). The R/T Scat Pack is powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, also known as the 392, rated at 485 horsepower with either the manual or 8-speed automatic.

The SRT Hellcat adds a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 717 horsepower, which would make it the king of Challenger Hill if it weren’t for the 797-horsepower SRT Hellcat Redeye. Both versions require premium gas to make maximum power. Get the Hellcat if you want a 6-speed manual transmission, though the optional 8-speed automatic doesn’t shortchange performance. Redeyes come standard with the automatic.

Obviously, none of these cars are fuel-economy kings, although the V6 models aren’t bad.

3.6-liter V6 (SXT, GT)
303 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
268 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/30 mpg (RWD), 18/27 mpg (AWD)

5.7-liter Hemi V8
372 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm (automatic)
375 horsepower @ 5,150 rpm (manual)
400 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm (automatic)
410 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm (manual)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 mpg (automatic), 15/23 mpg (manual)

6.4-liter Hemi V8
485 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
475 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/24 mpg (automatic), 14/23 mpg (manual)

6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 (SRT Hellcat)
717 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
656 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/22 mpg (automatic), 13/21 mpg (manual)

6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 (SRT Hellcat Redeye)
797 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
707 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/22 mpg