2008 Dodge Challenger [ 2009 ]
Not Yet Ranked
Dodge Challenger - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Dodge Challenger is a retro-styled muscle car that will attract more attention than nearly anything else on the road today. It's a good-looking brute and a high-performance beast. However, the Challenger's safety and reliability are unknown, and some say its interior is cheap in comparison to its dramatic exterior.
The Dodge Challenger arrives with a buzz unlike anything the automotive world has seen in years. While other manufacturers have produced retro-muscle cars in the recent past, Dodge has taken the concept to its fullest extreme, with a dramatic body that screams out for attention. It closely follows the lines of the legendary Challengers of the early 1970's, where other recently revived classics have merely suggested their forebears. It is available with up to 425 horsepower and, according to Road and Track, "0-60-mph sprints can be clocked in the low 5-second range, with the quarter-mile trap triggered in the mid-13s. A top speed of 160 mph can be reached without breaking a sweat." In the first four published reviews of the Challenger, the word "badass" appeared five times. Enough said.
But the automotive press is puzzled by some things Dodge seems to have overlooked when reanimating its pony car. Most obvious is the fact that the Challenger is available with only an automatic transmission. Can it be an enthusiast's car without a manual? Can it be a challenger without the famous pistol-grip shift lever of the original? The cabin comes in for some criticism as well. Automobile Magazine says much the interior "could have been lifted from any current rear-wheel-drive Chrysler car."
The Challenger is an entirely new car for 2008. It will initially be sold only in its high performance, SRT8 trim, featuring a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that lays down 425 horsepower. With gas prices hitting record levels in 2008, the Challenger is notable for its poor fuel efficiency. It manages only 18 mpg on the highway, and only 13 in city driving. So far, that has not slowed down sales -- all 6,000 Challengers Dodge plans to build for 2008 are spoken for, though it may still be possible to buy one if a buyer who has reserved a car backs out of the deal. For 2009, the Challenger will be available with several more fuel-efficient engines. The Challenger's only obvious competition in the retro-muscle-car market is the Ford Mustang. Chevrolet plans a retro-styled Camaro to challenge the Dodge in 2010.
- "Sorry, Ford. Your by-default reign over the American musclecar party is about to come to an end. This is clear the instant we climb aboard...the Challenger SRT8, fire its 425-horse Hemi V-8, and plant our right foot hard to the mat. The engine screams to over 6000 rpm, the rectangular exhaust outlets bellow, and the Big Bad Dodge's husky butt fishtails in response, just like the good old days. Better, in fact." -- Motor Trend
- "The sounds and sensations after pushing the keyless-start button ignite memories of those thrilling days of yesteryear when an original Hemi V-8 lit up its Goodyear Polyglas rear tires and sent an original Challenger hurtling down the highway" -- Car and Driver
- "The new Challenger takes a storied icon into an altogether modern realm." -- Popular Mechanics
- "When Chrysler invited us to drive a mechanically correct Challenger SRT8 prototype, we jumped at the chance. And when officials asked us to wear a helmet and a firesuit for the drive, we knew we were in for some serious thrills on the track" -- Road and Track
- "Rest assured - the Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a true performance car, not some sissy, profiling retro-mobile.: -- Automobile Magazine
Challenger Performance - NA
With its aggressive good looks, the 2008 Dodge Challenger couldn't afford to be a mediocre performer. So it isn't. Motor Trend says, "As you'd expect, the powertrain leaves little to be desired." The big 6.1-liter "Hemi has a wide performance envelope: lots of torque down low, yet it loves to rev. It's quiet on cruise, but bellows when you nail it. Expect 0-to-60 times of about 4.9 seconds." Many reviews make note of the deep, rumbling exhaust note. Car and Driver punches the throttle and exclaims, "Whooma! Is that the ground trembling?" Still, a few questions linger. The Challenger is available only with a five-speed automatic transmission. Though it does have a manual shift capability, it strikes reviewers as a serious flaw in a performance car. A full performance review is coming soon. continue
Challenger Exterior - NA
The 2008 Dodge Challenger might cause a stronger gut response that anything else on the road today. Reviewers have a lot of fun finding adjectives to describe its nasty take on gorgeous. But while its brawny, low stance calls up memories of the muscle car era for many, Popular Mechanics notes that it's not all posturing and plastic body cladding. "The car's appearance is not contrived to meet the need for verisimilitude. Dodge stylists didn't adopt the modern crosshairs grille just to placate corporate identity die-hards. The hood scoops are functional items. So are the brake cooling ducts and front splitter." A photo gallery and exterior review are coming soon. continue
Challenger Interior - NA
Reviews are nearly unanimous that the interior of the 2008 Dodge Challenger is a letdown after its threatening exterior. Automobile Magazine complains, "From the design of the Challenger's gauges to its typically overbolstered SRT seats, it feels as if Chrysler ran out of money just as it got to the cabin." Reviews do make note of a surprisingly large trunk for a sports car. A photo gallery and interior review are coming soon. continue
Challenger Safety - NA
We don't know much about how safe the 2008 Dodge Challenger is yet. Neither the insurance industry nor the federal government has released any crash test results on the car. Side head curtain air bags are standard, as is stability control. A full safety review is coming soon. continue
Challenger Reliability - NA
As an entirely new car, not much information is available on the Reliability of the 2008 Challenger. Dodge has not released warranty information on the Challenger, but it covers all of its other vehicles with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and we expect Challenger buyers to receive similar protection. continue