The ultimate Challenger: Dodge goes all-in with all-wheel drive

Baby boomers grew up with American muscle cars. Fast, loud and bold they were, both the people and the wheels. As the boomers race toward twilight, sensibility has likely settled in and with that has come the desire for stability, such as with all-wheel drive vehicles.

The 2017 Dodge Challenger satisfies the past, present and future with its GT trim, a retro package of pleasure in an oversized two-door coupe. No, there isn’t the throwback daring Dodge has packed into its rear-wheel drive Challengers with V8 engines that churn out anywhere from 375 horsepower to a soul-inspiring supercharged 707 hp. But a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 305 hp still adds a little bit of excitement to the contentment of AWD.

The only all-wheel drive car in its coupe class, this Challenger was borne from the same platform as the four-door Charger without sacrificing its iconic look of the 1970s. At nearly 16 1/2 feet in length, the Challenger is a profile of badness, but one with a usable rear seat and excellent trunk space of 16.8 cubic feet. Rear-wheel drive handling is experienced when road conditions or low temperatures warrant, which this winter was most of the time, by an automatic disconnecting of the secondary drive axle from the transfer case.

The V6 engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Driver participation can occur by selecting the Sport mode, pushing the shift lever into the manual gate or using the steering wheel paddle shifters.

Accessing the interior of the Challenger is easy enough as long as you aren’t in a tight parking space, as the doors loom large. Front-seat passengers can ride for long periods in comfort, and there is plenty of padding in spots on the doors or center console to rest your arms. The driver has a beefy leather-padded steering wheel and an 8.4-inch monitor for infotainment features, rearview camera and optional navigation. The rear-seat can hold three people, but is more realistic with two adults.

An entry-level Challenger can be had for a starting price of $26,995. The all-wheel drive GT begins at $33,395. Our tester came with a sunroof, navigation and powerful sound system, among other items.

That this American muscle car is now assembled in Canada doesn’t shortchange the Dodge Challenger’s heritage. That boomers can continue on with all-wheel drive assurance is a bonus.


2017 DODGE CHALLENGER GT AWD

  • Price/As-tested price………………… $33,395/$37,670
  • Mileage…………………………………… 18 mpg/city; 27 mpg/hwy
  • Engine……………………………………… 3.6-liter V6
  • Horsepower/torque…………………………… 305 hp/268 lbs.-ft.
  • Drive wheels……………………………………… All-wheel drive
  • Final assembly point……………………………………… Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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