2018 Dodge Challenger

The 2018 Challenger has three trim levels as we have mentioned and they are called SXT, SXT PLUS, and GT. Out of these, the GT is the only all-wheel-drive offering in the line-up and does not find a lot of takers because the whole ethos of a car such as the Dodge Challenger is in the rear-wheel-drive set up. The car has not changed much in the past few years that it has been in production and does not find much in the name of changes this year either. Prices are unreasonable side with the base trim starting at just $27,295 without options and being reasonably equipped with features such as a 7-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, 18-inch wheels, and so on.

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Since there is a wide range of trims on offer and you have narrowed it down to the base three trim levels, you have quite a lot of choice in itself here. First of all, between the powertrains, you are better off with the rear-wheel-drive layout as they bring out the driving dynamics of the car. Out of the two trims, we prefer you go with the SXT PLUS as it offers a lot of extra features for very little extra money. In terms of the optional extras, we recommend you add the Cold Weather package as well as Sound Group 1 and Sound Group 2 packages, which add features like a 9-speaker sound system and so on. The Driver Convenience Group also promises a lot of useful features and driver assists.

The 2018 Dodge Challenger is powered by a 3.6 L V6 engine that is the smallest power plant offered with the car. This is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission that is not super energetic in terms of the shift quality or the speed with which it delivers them. It produces 305 hp and 268 pound-feet of torque. There are much bigger engines in the car and they are offered at much higher prices too. The drivetrain layout also comes with options. You get to choose between rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

This is honestly the biggest attraction that buyers see in the car as it is hard to find such a capable engine for the sticker price this car is offered at. The steering feels is kind of a disappointment because it is not delivering any information you need. The ride quality is good because the suspension is tuned to deliver a very balanced performance. Although there is an optional sport-tuned suspension, it does not do much in bringing the weight of the car under control. Acceleration is extremely quick at 5.2 seconds to 60.

The Dodge Challenger has one of the more powerful units in the segment. However, in terms of performance, it is the Chevrolet Camaro that is the most impressive. Although it’s power output is the lowest, it is the most violent in terms of performance and would provide for bragging rights just by standing still. The Dodge still has a decent grip on acceleration and can run the quarter-mile in the shortest time. The Chrysler has the least performance in the segment and if you are being real, it has a completely different character compared to the other cars here. In terms of price, it is the Ford Mustang that is truly impressive.

The 3.6 L V6 engine in the Dodge might be a bit of a disappointment on the drag strip but it is a much more efficient engine for everyday driving. The 5.7 L V-8 might have the bragging rights in terms of performance but if you are paying for a gallon of gasoline for every 14 miles you traveled, it would soon raise serious questions about how much you love the car. 3.6 L Panthers that V6 prevents you from having this conversation with yourself as it returns 19 mpg in the city and a whopping 30 mpg on the highway, which is very decent for something that looks like a muscle car. It compensates with its 18.5-gallon fuel tank, which lets it have a decent range.

Even though the Challenger has decent MPG figures, it is safe to say that some of its competitors are much more advanced in terms of engine technology. Its rivals, the Mustang and Camaro return slightly better fuel economy figures by almost a few MPG in every aspect. The Chevrolet Camaro comes out to be their leader in terms of range with its massive 19 gallons tank. The Chrysler returns nearly the same figures as the Dodge Challenger as it is powered by the same engine.

When we said that the Dodge Challenger is all about the engine, what we also mean to say is that the interior is not the best place to be in. It has interiors from several years ago and has started to feel dated. The quality of materials can certainly be upgraded especially for it car that costs about $30,000. There are a good amount of features to compensate for the lack of sophistication though. One gets features like dual-zone automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, and so on.

It still has a driver-centric theme and hence is a welcoming place despite its shortcomings. The design has been borrowed from several generations of Dodge Challengers and definitely looks distinctive. In terms of interior space, it is much ahead in its category and has a 16.2 ft.³ of trunk, which is very much comparable to family sedans rather than other sports coupes. We would have liked it better if there was a design update soon.

Despite being a coupe it is extremely clear just how big the Dodge Challenger is on the inside when compared to its competition. There is a ton of space offered inside the car and five passengers can travel in the latest comfort. Seating capacities are nearly the same for all cars but the Ford Mustang and Camaro can only seat four people. The Challenger also has the biggest trunk capacity out of its rivals by quite a bit. The main interior features of the include:

• Audio and cruise controls and steering
• Keyless ignition
• Rear parking sensors
• Front and rear cupholders
• 4 one-touch power windows
• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather steering wheel

How intuitive is the infotainment system in the 2018 Dodge Challenger Coupe?

The infotainment system in the Challenger is quite new, unlike its interiors and mechanicals. It is the best of what the Chrysler group has to offer and comes with a UConnect 7.0 inch screen that provides navigation other necessary features. There are optional systems that are much better as well. The sound system was also quite decent and has six speakers in total. The standout infotainment features include:

• 8.4 touchscreen display interface
• Auxiliary audio input
• USB with external media control
• AM/FM stereo
• Satellite radio
• Memory card slot
• Speed sensitive volume control

The exterior styling of the Dodge Challenger has been similar for a while now but that is with reason. The car has followed a gentle evolution from what we have seen in the 70s. It is definitely beautiful and classy. However, it is still a striking design and reminds us of all the muscle cars of the past while still being packaged in modern attire. There are several packages available that can help you customize the Dodge Challenger according to your requirement. It has massive road presence as well.

You cannot find a dimension where the Dodge Challenger is smaller than its rivals. Well, the Chrysler 300 is slightly bigger in some dimensions but you get the point we are trying to make. The heaviest car in this category is still the Dodge which does deduct points from it in terms of performance. The Camaro and Mustang are both smaller and lighter, which translates to a better performance on the track. When comparing the ground clearance, Mustang stands tallest to the ground at 5.3 inches. The main exterior features include:

• Power sunroof
• Modern hood stripe
• Body-Colored Front Bumper
• Body-Colored Rear Bumper
• Black Side Windows Trim
• Body-Colored Door Handles
• Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Manual Folding
• Fixed Rear Window with Defroster
• Light Tinted Glass
• Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Front license plate mounting package

The Dodge Challenger is a heavy car but some of that is due to the amazing safety technology it packs inside. It has scored an overall five-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests but the IIHS had given it only a moderate rating. It also has impressive build quality and structural strength. You would also find a lot of active as well as passive safety features in the car. Some safety features include:

• Antilock disc brakes
• Automatic high beams
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Curtain airbags and front knee airbags
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision warning
• Tire pressure monitoring system

2018 Dodge Challenger Coupe Vs. 2018 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is a much more modern alternative to a Challenger. Although both cars have muscle car roots, the Mustang is a much more sophisticated and performance-oriented coupé now. The Challenger is much more of a cruiser than Mustang is. Hence, if you take your car to a track more often, you will definitely enjoy the Mustang more. One would also find that the Mustang is priced much more reasonably despite being modern and sophisticated. Its interiors and was the better, it’s infotainment more modern and the quality much higher. It is a bonus that it has better fuel efficiency as well.

2018 Dodge Challenger Coupe vs. 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro is a very different car when compared with the Dodge Challenger now even though they were quite similar several decades ago. Like we said about the Mustang, the Camaro is also much more modern and sophisticated. It is the most performance-oriented vehicle in this category and has excellent acceleration and handling to back. It is built with luxury in mind much more than Challenger never was. It comes with a lot of functional advantages but has been compromised in terms of its interior space. If you’re after practicality, you are better off picking the Challenger but if you are after practicality, why are you looking at this category?

2018 Dodge Challenger Coupe Vs. 2018 Chrysler 300

The Dodge Challenger is easily the most dramatic car of this bunch. In that sense, the Chrysler 300 occupies the other end of the spectrum. It is a big surprise then that these cars are powered by the same engine and share several components. The Chrysler offers a truly special engine and is revered among all kinds of people as the ultimate full-size American sedan. However, the Challenger offers you better performance credentials and also a much more dramatic exterior and interior. If you prefer understated styling, however, the Chrysler 300 is truly your best bet. It is offered at a slightly higher price and has lesser fuel efficiency but is more practical.

The Dodge Challenger can be described as quite a bargain at less than $30,000. It is the car that has clearly retained its character throughout the years of its production and is very important to the history of American auto miles. Aside from being a little dated and the cabin not being up to mark, it is a great car. It offers excellent practicality for coupé although it does not have performance credentials to match these days. Also, we feel that the Challenger is truly exercising its strength when it is equipped with a 5.7 L V-8.