Used 2019 Dodge Challenger for sale 

While there are a number of models available in the Challenger family, most of them are performance-focused models and are treated as separate variants. As a result, the basic Dodge Challenger, that you can get in 2019, has only two trims to offer, SXT and GT. Both trims get a 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque.
 

Starting at $27,295 for the base trim - Challenger SXT is a very functional and barebones muscle car. It doesn't even get the V8 which you can get your hands-on with the $34,100 R/T trim. The GT trims get  20-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, remote start, and a redesigned hood. Higher up the trim ladder comes the R/T Scat pack, the legendary SRT Hellcat, the new and herculean Hellcat Redeye, which are covered in separate reviews.

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The GT is the best available trim for the Challenger as it offers better braking, leather-wrapped performance steering, super track pack, and bigger wheels. It costs just $2700 more than the base trim and offers considerably better equipment and features.

The GT is the best available trim for the Challenger as it has better braking, leather-wrapped performance steering, Super track pack, and bigger wheels. It costs just $2700 more than the base trim but also offers better equipment and features

The 2019 Dodge Challenger is powered by a 3.6L V6 engine that makes 305 horses and 268 pound-feet torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels as standard while the Dodge offers an all-wheel-drive system as an option with both the trims. The healthy output figure helps define the underlined character as a purebred muscle car, which helps the car shoot off the line at the dab of the throttle pedal. In fact, the press of the throttle is accompanied by a cacophony of cracks and tumbles which resonates through the exhaust. As the revs rise, the engine gets louder but fails to send any shudders down the spine but is certainly capable of pushing you back into your seat.

The V6 motor under the hood feels tame once you get a taste of the V8 in the R/T or the Hellcat, which makes the Challenger a real muscle car. Thus, the standard Challenger would feel like a boulevard cruiser and not a drag strip demon, pun intended. The 8-speed automatic transmission you find in this pony is smooth and functional like the ones you find in Ram pickups and Chrysler minivans. However, it is nowhere near what you'd want in a high-performance muscle machine. You'll have to be patient for the torque to kick in at 4800 rpm unlike the Mustang or the Camaro where the torque comes in much earlier.

The 2.3L EcoBoost inline-4 engine in the Ford Mustang relies on a turbocharger to make 310 horsepower, similar to the Camaro which comes with a tiny 2.0L engine. These forced inductions may give good numbers for power and economy, but unlike the naturally aspirated Challenger, they suffer from a consequent turbo lag.

Acceleration

The Dodge Challenger is quite a fast car for a generic sedan, but for a muscle car, it's rather docile, taking about 6.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. It surely turns heads, but rather slowly. The summer tires give great grip as you pull away from intersections or stoplights, and help with its acceleration as well. The mid-range torque helps enhance the push back feel as the engine does not feel very responsive, lower down the range.

The standard Challenger gives an entry-level taste to the muscle car line-up. It certainly does better than most other sedans priced at a similar price point. While you would not be complaining about the 0-60 mph figure, the Challenger feels most comfortable at cruising speeds.

The Mustang is the quickest pony in the stable and gets you to 60 miles an hour in 5 seconds flat. The Camaro coupe and the 2-series Bimmer follow with 5.4 and 5.3 seconds on the clock, leaving the Challenger playing catch up; clearly, brute force is not everything.

Ride and Handling

Where the Dodge Challenger still lacks behind its rivals is in terms of the handling dynamics at high speeds. The car also reels under some amount of body roll if you try to take a turn at high speeds. However, the well-weighted steering is delightful when handling the Challenger on the track, but might seem like a chore on daily drives. Feedback from the road is not as appreciable as you would've wanted, but maneuverability through tight spaces isn't a huge challenge, despite the hefty size.

Where it scores high is in terms of the ride comfort as it feels capable enough to take on the rough road stuff. Most of the bumps and potholes are absorbed by the well-tuned shock absorbers provided you do not take them over at high speeds. Going around corners with pronounced body roll could be solved if you equip the Super Track Pack and get the sport suspension upgrade. The pedal responsiveness mimics the drive mode, fine-tuned to suit your need. The R/T and SRT have firm suspension, but just shy of a harsh ride, improving the body roll by a mile.

Braking

Dodge has never been known for offering the best brakes in its class but the Challenger does get a confident braking system, especially with the rear-wheel powered model. The brake pedal is grilled medium-rare, to suit everyone's palette, firm enough to work well on the tracks, and tender when you're cruising through the city. For maximum flavor, Dodge has given the Challenger meaty 12.6-inch discs on both the front and rear wheels, which stop the hefty muscle car from 70 mph in 176 feet. Seasoning with the summer tires was a good move for Dodge.

The all-wheel-drive version of the Challenger comes with the same braking setup as the rear-wheel-drive version. This means that it covers a longer distance to come to a halt which can be a bit bothersome if you are driving with a full-house.

Tested for 60 mph to 0, despite being lighter, the rival coupes need more tarmac than the Challenger. Taking 104 feet to stop, the BMW 2-series is just slightly ahead, with 113 feet on the measure, while the Mustang and Camaro have their reputation at stake, requiring almost 130 feet to stop.

Living up to its image of being an old-school machine, the Dodge Challenger is not as fuel-efficient as its rivals. This is due to the fact that Dodge does not use any turbocharger with this engine. The 3.6-liter naturally aspirated engine is not a recipe you'd want to see if you were on a diet - this dish needs a lot of oil. Delivering just 19 miles to the gallon in the city and a decent 30 miles to the gallon, which is quite good considering there's also a V8 on offer.

When it comes to fuel efficiency the BMW 2-series is the best among the rivals which can run up to 35 miles on a single gallon of fuel. On the other hand, the Camaro and Mustang are marginally ahead with 31 mpg on the highways and 21 mpg in the city. However, a bigger jump in mileage would've been appreciated since they have relatively smaller displacement engines.

A long-standing problem of many customers with the Challenger has always been its interior which feels a bit dated. On the inside, the 2019 model year unfolds a very familiar sight. You still get that clean ambiance with retro themes and some high-tech features. However, the build quality does not seem confidence-inspiring but everything in the cabin seems thoughtfully placed. The main highlight for the Challenger's cabin is the driver-focused interior which gives it a sporty feel. The seats are nice and have a good height and the steering wheel feels chunky to hold as well. 

Despite the firm ride, the plush seats and great sound deadening make the Challenger quite habitable for a sports car. The driver's seats are supportive and bolstered well to keep you in place as you corner with those high G-forces. The large size translates to immense passenger and interior capacity, adding to the list of practicality and daily driveability.

The rear seats are fairly accommodating for up to three adults unlike the Camaro and the Mustang which suffer from the cramped rear, suitable for young adolescents at best. Equipping the sunroof makes the rear seats short on headroom but still manageable for an average height user. The wide pillars make the visibility rather dodgy, speckled with blind spots, but the rearview camera cuts you some slack while parking.

Infotainment System

Dodge has given the Challenger the best in class UConnect infotainment system. In terms of user-friendliness and convenience, there is no rival that comes even close. Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, smartphone integration is easy and makes the driving experience free from distractions. The 8.4-inch touch panel with navigation and 9-speaker surround system are, however, optional extras.

The system feels quite responsive to touch and did not show any sort of lag during our usage. For the audiophiles, there is a 900-watt, 18-speaker Harman/Kardon setup available at an extra price.

Cargo Capacity

The Dodge Challenger Coupe flaunts a trunk size large enough to give the Charger sedan a run for its money. Comparable to a mid-size sedan, the 16.2 cubic feet cargo space blows the competition like Mustang and the Camaro out of the water. This adds to the practical aspect of the car which makes it easier to live with.

With a large opening to put luggage through and a low loading and unloading height, the trunk is ergonomically commendable. You can fold down the 60/40 split rear bench to further increase the storage space which means shifting household items is also possible with the Challenger.

The Dodge Challenger continues to offer mouth-watering muscle car looks along with a lot of road presence. With the stunning dual-snorkel shaker hood scoop, this year it's not just the Mustang Bullitt the muscle to go retro, the 70's inspired styling with a deep-set grille, round headlamps, and the sloping roofline. Unlike the upper trims, the SXT trim doesn't get the widebody treatment but is kept side-by-side with slender ponies and sleek coupes. 

The gargantuan proportions of the Challenger are quite apparent. Meanwhile, the Challenger is heavier, wider, longer, and taller than the rivals in this segment. However, it's the exact same old-school skin that makes a Challenger a “Challenger” today. The upright and long nose, the strong and bold character lines, and the iconic headlamps and tail lamps. There's barely any other car there which is more effortlessly compiled by each and every element of it. 

In the comparison chart here, the Challenger is obviously the odd one out and in a good way for sure. While the Camaro and Mustang ponies do have a significant statement, they just can't catch up with the imposing presence of the Challenger, However, the former duo does have a more youthful and modern exterior design.

The base model Challenger does not get a really long list of features like the Ford gives the Mustang EcoBoost. However, the features are adequately functional and get the job done. The car has earned a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and an average overall score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The safety features that are included are:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control...
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3...
• ParkView Back-Up Camera
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control...
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3...
• ParkView Back-Up Camera

Dodge Challenger vs Ford Mustang EcoBoost

The 2019 Ford Mustang with a 2.3L turbocharged engine would be laughed at in the 70s, but if you knew it could do a 60 in 5 seconds flat, you'd be grasping for your seatbelts. The 310 hp EcoBoost engine makes more power than the naturally aspirated V6 than the Challenger. It also costs cheaper than the Dodge. That said, there is no other arena in which the Mustang beats the Challenger, be it practicality, tech, or comfort. If you're still drooling after the Mustang, save up and get the Mustang GT with the 5.0L Coyote V8 instead.

Dodge Challenger vs BMW 230i

The odd-one-out is the BMW from Germany, competing against the American Muscle on its own, the base model 2-series comes with a 2.0L engine producing merely 248 hp compared to the 300+ from the Challenger. However, the tiny powerplant is enough to take the 230i from 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds - a full second faster than the Dodge. For the 10 grand extra, you get a better interior, better tech, more safety features and a better handling coupe that performs well on the drag strip.

Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevy coupe is a small muscle pony that comes with a 2.0L engine, despite that, it keeps up with the giants like the Mustang and the Challenger on the drag strip. It has nimble handling and the size benefits maneuverability through tight spots. The hefty Challenger on the other hand, puts its naturally aspirated V6 to work, propelling it to 60 in 6.3 seconds. In terms of practicality and seating capacity, the Challenger is far ahead, with rear seats that are actually usable and a trunk which can carry real luggage. In essence, the Challenger is a better pony for your garage.

The 2019 Dodge Challenger is certainly quite a practical and sensible muscle car that offers impressive performance. With a V6 engine producing healthy torque and power, the car feels quite enjoyable to drive and accelerate. However, the handling character and the interior quality certainly need an improvement. Meanwhile, the passenger, as well as cargo capacity, is a notch above the rest. With the best infotainment, you'd find in a modern muscle, an optional 8.4-inch touchscreen, and the UConnect interface, the only one to match the Challenger is the BMW 230i. If it's a capable muscle car you're looking for, but need the practicality along with that, the Challenger SXT and the GT are the perfect muscle on a budget you can get today.