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The Dodge Challenger has been round because the late Sixties as a competitor to the behemoth which was – and nonetheless is – the Ford Mustang. Additionally it is the one one of many so-called ‘Huge Three’ to nonetheless look and deal with like a conventional muscle automobile.
The place the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro have each opted to supply smaller, extra fuel-efficient 4-cylinder turbo variations of their award-winning muscle automobiles, Dodge has remained steadfast and affords a reasonably massive V6 as the bottom mannequin, together with a 5.7-liter V8 within the R/T trim, a 6.4-liter within the Scat Pack and their trademark Hellcat V8 in all the things else. In comparison with the Hellcat, the V6 is reasonably underpowered, however it’s nonetheless one of many higher entry-level choices presently available on the market, producing as a lot energy as a high-spec V6 Toyota Camry, however for much less cash.
So, whereas the Challenger in its present kind has been round for nearly 15 years now, it’s nonetheless a worthy competitor inside the entry-level muscle automobile market. Listed below are eight the reason why we love the Dodge Challenger SXT and two the reason why we’d most likely by no means purchase one.
10 Why We Would Purchase One – It’s Good Worth For Cash
The Dodge Challenger SXT is sort of good worth for cash. The bottom engine begins with a V6, in comparison with the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang which each have 4-cylinder turbos. The Challenger begins at simply over $30,000, whereas the Camaro and Mustang each begin from round $27,000 – with the V6 within the Camaro ranging from $29,000.
Whereas the Challenger is costlier, it’s bigger on the within, affords higher practicality, and is fitted as commonplace with extra tools. It additionally comes commonplace with a clean computerized transmission.
9 Why We Would Purchase One – It Can Be Optioned With All-Wheel-Drive
In contrast to any model of the Camaro or Mustang, the SXT – and the GT trim above it – may be fitted with an all-wheel drive. This provides to the practicality of the automobile, making it capable of comfortably drive in snowy areas with out the rear wheels consistently spinning.
This doesn’t imply that the Challenger can’t be enjoyable. It options the identical all-wheel-drive system because the Charger Pursuit, which signifies that the entrance axle may be disconnected, turning the SXT AWD into a standard V6-powered muscle automobile, capable of burn the tires like the rest.
8 Why We Would Purchase One – It Has a Good Automated Transmission
When the Challenger was launched in 2008, it had a alternative of three transmissions – both a 6-speed handbook or a 4-speed and 5-speed computerized. The 4-speed was a Chrysler unit that was accessible since 1989, whereas the 5-speed was the 5G-Tronic Mercedes-Benz unit left over from the time Daimler-Chrysler existed.
In 2014, Dodge launched the award-winning 8-speed ZF 8HP torque-converter computerized – a transmission that was used all all over the world. The Challenger presently makes use of three variations of this gearbox, specifically the 845RE for V6 automobiles, the 8HP70 for the non-supercharged V8s, and the 8HP90 for the Hellcat-powered autos. ZF have additionally made the 8HP95 to be used within the heavy-duty Jeep Trackhawk, RAM TRX, and Dodge Durango Hellcat which might deal with the stresses attributable to extra weight.
7 Why We Would Purchase One – It Appears to be like Like A Correct Muscle Automobile
The Challenger is the final of the American muscle automobiles that also seems like a muscle automobile. The Mustang and Camaro have shifted extra in the direction of the sports activities automobile look, with the Mustang even turning into the best-selling sports activities automobile on the planet.
The Challenger is cussed in that regard, nonetheless being sq. and un-aerodynamic, exhibiting a disinterest in being fuel-efficient – all whereas being ridiculous and comfy on the identical time. All the right muscle automobile traits which motoring fans need.
6 Why We Would Purchase One – It Has Satisfactory Efficiency
With the bottom mannequin solely having a V6 engine, the Challenger SXT is fairly good within the efficiency division. The three.6-liter Pentastar V6 produces 303 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque, permitting the three,800-lb behemoth to speed up from a standstill to 60 mph in simply 5.3 seconds.
That is as quick as a V6 Camaro and barely slower than an EcoBoost Mustang, all whereas being practically 500 lbs heavier. Not unhealthy for the least costly trim stage of probably the most iconic American fashions ever created.
5 Why We Would Purchase One – It Has Some Good Choices
The Challenger is comparatively well-equipped from the get-go, that includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, sports activities seats, cruise management, and dual-zone local weather management. That mentioned, there are a number of choices we’d tick, simply to make life a bit extra comfy.
The principle one is the Plus Bundle, which incorporates a lot of the obligatory know-how reminiscent of Android Auto, a bigger infotainment display screen, higher tires, higher brakes, fog lamps, and a few additional USB ports scattered all over. It’s a $3,000 choice, however it’s price it. One other nice choice if driving lengthy distances can be the $1,300 Know-how Bundle, which incorporates adaptive cruise management, forward-collision warning, and auto high-beam management.
4 Why We Would Purchase One – It Comes In Enjoyable Colours
Like the unique, the present Challenger is out there in a spread of enjoyable colours. Pitch Black and White Knuckle are the no-cost choices, with the opposite colours costing both $95 or $395. A number of the extra thrilling colours embody Hellraisin Purple, Octane Purple, Go Mango Orange, Indigo Blue, Smoke Present Silver, and Frostbite Blue.
Whereas many would most likely go for extra impartial colours like Granite Grey and Triple Nickel Silver, the Challenger is a ridiculous muscle automobile. We’d most likely find yourself going for both the Hellraisin Purple or Go Mango Orange, simply to inject some coloration into the boring black, white, and silver automobiles on the street.
3 Why We Would Purchase One – It Makes A Good Every day Driver
The Challenger, being a muscle automobile, generally is a correct enjoyable automobile to drive round a observe or down a drag strip. Nonetheless, just like the muscle automobiles of outdated, it’s also a snug cruiser simply capable of drive throughout the nation with out driving the occupants mad.
The Challenger has a big cabin, massive and comfy seats, sufficient room within the again for adults – on brief journeys hopefully – and an enormous trunk for baggage. If the likes of correct GT automobiles such because the BMW 4-Sequence Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, and Audi A5 Coupe are too glitzy and costly, the Challenger is a a lot cheaper different – even when it doesn’t fairly have the identical refinement and class.
2 Why We Wouldn’t Purchase One – It Doesn’t Have A V8
Whereas the Challenger SXT is a superb price range automobile, it lacks the one defining half that makes it a correct muscle automobile – a V8 engine. This is identical difficulty that the Camaro and Mustang have – though they’re even much less worthy of the muscle automobile identify because of their 4-cylinder engines.
The V8 engine is the grumbly coronary heart of a muscle automobile, whether or not it’s a conventional push-rod or an overhead-valve engine, or is fitted with a cross-plane or a flat-plane crankshaft. A muscle automobile and not using a V8 is like Prime Gear with out Clarkson, Hammond, and Could – not fairly what it must be.
1 Why We Wouldn’t Purchase One – It Doesn’t Have A Guide Transmission
Whereas we are able to virtually forgive the dearth of a V8 – virtually – the most important facet which places us off shopping for a Dodge Challenger SXT, is the truth that it doesn’t have a handbook transmission. If you need a handbook in a Challenger, the one manner is to go for the R/T or Scat Pack – which prices virtually $10,000 and $16,000 greater than the bottom SXT, respectfully.
So, whereas the Challenger SXT is worthy of competing with the Camaro and Mustang, it’s not precisely as fascinating as the opposite two are. Don’t get us incorrect, it seems incredible and menacing, however as quickly as the dearth of badging turns into evident, one can not assist however suppose, ‘oh, it’s only a V6’. It’s a disgrace. No less than it doesn’t have a 4-cylinder.
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