2011 Dodge Challenger rallye
PRICE/AS-TESTED PRICE $24,670/$32,300
MILEAGE 18 MPG (CITY); 27 MPG (HWY)
ENGINE 3.6-liter V6
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE 300/260 lb.-ft.
TRANSMISSION 5-speed automatic
DRIVE WHEELS Rear wheel
HOW MANY IT CAN FIT 4
ANTILOCK BRAKES Y
ANTISKID SYSTEM Y
CUPHOLDERS 4
FOLDING REAR SEAT N
STEERING WHEEL AUDIO Y
DVD PLAYER N
SATELLITE RADIO Y
POWER SUNROOF N
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY Y
POWER FRONT SEATS Y
HEATED FRONT SEATS Y
AUTO-OFF HEADLIGHTS Y
HEATED MIRRORS N
POWER LOCKS Y
REMOTE ENTRY Y
KEYLESS START N
UNIVERSAL GARAGE OPENER N
HANDS-FREE PHONE Y
I get the chance to drive a lot of great automobiles through this job. But never has my job been more fun than the week I spent with the Dodge Challenger Rallye. This American-made muscle car garnered a lot of attention everywhere I went. Co-workers stopped to chat me up about what it was like driving it. “A lot of fun” is how I always replied. When driving it around the Miami Valley, it always grabbed attention with a few people telling me, “nice car.”
The black-on-black paint with its aggressive exterior certainly makes the Challenger stand out. My tester was the Rallye model and had 20-inch wheels which just add to its aggressive look.
Most people inquired whether it had a V8 engine and while my tester did not, Challenger’s more powerful SRT8 392 would’ve been even more fun to drive.
However, the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine produced plenty of power and liquid smooth acceleration, especially on the highway and open road. And the 300-hp engine still had that muscle car sound to it.
Dodge makes the Challenger available with several different engine options including a more passive 3.5-liter V6, the 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and the 6.1-liter Hemi V8. Both a five-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmission are available with rear-wheel drive.
The aggression of the outside gives way to serenity inside. Leather-trimmed bucket seats are heated and the shifter knob has a unique look and feel. Despite the humming of the engine, cabin noise is a minimum, unless you’ve got the volume cranked up on the radio. Of all the cars I’ve test driven, this was the best sound system offering a pure sound, thanks to six Boston Acoustics speakers and a 276-watt amplifier.
The Challenger’s touring suspension (standard for all models) is soft, especially for a muscle car, and makes for a relatively smooth ride. Despite being a rear-wheel drive vehicle (Challenger has no AWD option currently), the handling is fantastic and the steering is agile.
With a base price of $24,000, the Challenger Rallye is surprisingly affordable. Now you will have to pay a lot more for the SRT8 or the HEMI engine models, as those can approach $40,000. Fuel efficiency is adequate, not great, with an average of 21 mpg. I actually expected a little less MPGs than that, so for me, it was a pleasant surprise to get into the 20 range.
The Dodge Challenger shows that Detroit still knows how to make muscle cars. With an affordable base price and a more paired down V6 engine option, families can still feel safe flexing a little muscle in the Challenger.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115 or on Twitter @wheelseditor
About the Author