For 2018, the Challenger rolls on with most of its model line with little change. A wide-body is introduced to the Hellcat options and there a multitude of minor differences, but the car remains a favorite amongst sport coupe consumers.
The biggest change to the line-up comes in the form of a name that hasn’t seen the Dodge factory since 1972. For 2018 Dodge resurrected the name Demon for the Challenger lineup. An oddity since the original Demon was off the Duster/Dart platform back in the day and not the Challenger, but the name certainly follows this Challenger’s evil nature. Yeah, it is that maniacal.
| Model | 2018 Dodge Challenger |
| Type | 2-Door |
| Names & Trims | SXT (Plus), GT, R/T (Plus,Classic,Shaker,Scat Pack), 392 (Scat Pack,SRT 392), SRT Hellcat |
| Engines | 3.6Liter SOHC V6, 5.7Liter OHV V8,6.4Liter OHV V8, 6.2Liter Supercharged OHV V8 |
| Price range | $28,000-$87,500 |
2018 Dodge Challenger Models
Challenger SXT, Plus
2018 brought little change over last year – aside from some new 19″ rims. The engine remains, unfortunately, the same, and for the most part, your decisions involve color, rim type, and how much infotainment you need.
In case you need a refresher course, the 2018 Ford Mustang Coupe had a turbocharged inline-4 with 310hp and the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro enjoyed a new, lighter turbo-4 with 275hp. The Mustang was more powerful and because of the Challenger’s heft, both were faster. Time for an engine transplant.
Challenger GT
The Challenger GT swings into the second year as an AWD option for the Challenger and carries very little new to the scene. The car remains one of the only AWD American sport coupes and gives Mustang and Camaro purchasers pause in the snow-covered climates. Not that this is the off-road or snow-track champion by any means, but the GT would be an overly competent vehicle for the winter season.
Like the SXT, the GT gets a 19″ rim option for this year.
Challenger R/T, T/A, Shaker, Scat Pack
The R/T continues on as the Challenger’s most affordable option set and the one with the largest group of packages available. The base R/T is still very capable, but like the SXT, the 375hp is starting to be more of a ho-hum amount as BMW, Audi, and many others are offering well over 400hp for their sport coupes. Heck, even the Kia Stinger offers 365hp now. May be time for the R/T to gain some oomph or fade away.
The Scat Pack was still the best price-performance option for the Challenger list – maybe for any sports coupe on the market. At a potent 485hp, the $39,900 Scat Pack has 25 more horsepower than the Mustang GT and some 30 over the Camaro SS. Because of its weight, the Challenger is still in a race for its life against these two, but it does have the most horsepower and torque. That’s bragging rights.
The T/A continues as an R/T package and adds blackened pieces everywhere for a fantastic look. It is available with the 5.7liter or 392 engine as well.
Challenger 392, SRT392
Not nearly the performance go-to that it once was, the SRT392 remains the top-optioned 485hp Challenger. There is little you cannot get in this model – besides a super high sticker price. $55,000 SRT392? Don’t be surprised. With all of the color, tire, rim, interior, and stripe options, you could easily be looking at a $60k price tag – and at that cost, you could potentially be looking elsewhere for your kicks.
Challenger SRT Hellcat
Top dog for another year… wait. It isn’t? Since..? OH, right!
Yup, the Demon had arrived and de-throned the Hellcat’s short reign as the king of Challenger sprinters. Not to fear though as the Hellcat is still one of the best performance values on the planet.
| 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat | 2018 Ford Mustang Super Snake | 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast | 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S | |
| Price | 707 | 800 | 650 | 789 | 580 |
| Horsepower | $64,900 | 113,599 | $83,060 | $336,962 | $190,700 |
| Price/HP | $91.79 | $141.99 | $127.78 | $427.07 | $328.79 |
Yes, the Hellcat is that good of a horsepower value. Granted, ANY of the above cars would destroy it on a track, in the straight line, they’d all have the time of their lives keeping pace. On a ¼mile track… they’d all be toast.
Again, there is still one better…
Challenger SRT Demon
As if conjured by from the bowels of the underworld, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon had arrived in the cloud of smoke from its rear tires. With a 6.2L 808hp (840 horsepower with the Demon Crate add-ons), this car was built from the factory to do one thing – rip down the quarter mile faster than anything in production.
It did. Dodge’s SRT department claims a – get this – 9.65 second time through the 1320. Nine point six. The fastest legit production car to this point would be the $3,000,000+ Ferrari LaFerrari at 9.7-9.9 seconds. That is to say nothing of their claim for the zero-to-60mph. 2.3 seconds.
If the Hellcat was the dollar-per-horsepower king, the Demon was a god.
Now for the side notes about the above. SRT’s info was done on a fully sticky test track with every conceivable option given to aid the car. I’m not saying that the car cannot run a nine-second pass, but it will NOT do it on the street outside your over-wealthy friend’s house.
Car & Driver published a video from Carwow’s YouTube channel of them pitting a Challenger Demon against a 911 Turbo S. The test was done on a strip of unaltered pavement that was not only basic but also damp. The results were hysterical and a bit obvious. The 911 walked away from the Demon in every run – no matter how much the Demon’s driver feathered, eased, or plowed into the power.
The reason? The 911 Turbo S, which was made for the race track, has advanced 4-wheel drive, steering, and enough computer help to run NASA’s shuttle launch. All of that plus a crazy-good launch control equates to the Porsche running low-10s all day long in almost any condition.
So, for the real world, the Demon is a very potent 10.5-11 second car and will still run past almost anything it comes across. Just don’t expect traction on every road surface and especially if it has rained the past week. It’ll be a smoke-fest.
2018 Challenger Quick Specifications
| Challenger SXT | Challenger GT | Challenger R/T | Challenger Scat Pack & 392 | Challenger SRT Hellcat | Challenger SRT Demon | |
| Engine | 3.6L V6 | 3.6L V6 | 5.7L V8 | 6.4L V8 | 6.2L SC V8 | 6.2L SC V8 |
| Horsepower | 305 | 305 | 375 | 485 | 707 | 808/840 |
| Torque | 268 | 268 | 401 | 475 | 650 | 717/770 |
| MPG Cty/Hwy | 19/29 | 18/27 | 16/25 | 14/23 | 13/22 | 10/18 |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Auto | 8-Speed Auto | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 8-Speed Auto | 8-Speed Auto |
| Drive Type | RWD | AWD | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD |
| Weight | 3819 | 4110 | 4040 | 4140 | 4440 | 4300 |
| 0-60 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| 0-¼ mile | 14.8 @ 95 mph | 14.8 @ 95 mph | 13.5 @ 105 mph | 12.7 @ 113 mph | 11.6 @ 127 mph* | 10.5 @ 137 mph** |
| MSRP | $27,000 | $33,500 | $33,995 | $37,995 – $45,500 | $64,500 | $87,000 |
*11.2 w/ street drag tires, 10.7 Euro version.
** Mfr claim 9.65 @ 140.9mph – on track w/ Demon Crate installed.
The SXT and GT are still lagging behind in every performance stat and Dodge is apparently happy to oblige. Would it be so bad to start the SXT at 400hp and skip the R/T? Maybe the new lineup should look more like 400hp (SXT), 500hp (R/T), and 600hp (392)? Well, Dodge knows best.
The R/T 5.7L engine is slightly behind by this point and is running on a decade’s time at 375hp.
2018 Dodge Challenger Interior
Aside from a new 7-inch touch screen, the 2018 Challenger interior is as last year. T/A versions have package accents and retro gauges. Demon interiors have passenger seat delete, rear seat delete, no spare tire, rear roll-bars, 4-point harness, and performance display.
The color and fabric options are still among the highest for Challengers and look race-minded even if comfortable. Healthy bits of Nappa Leather and elegant suede still are found all through the choices. Whatever you get, you have an outward appearance that would make Aphrodite blush.
2018 Dodge Challenger Wheels
How did we get to 18 different rims?? Well, easy. The Challenger has been grouped with the Charger for this brochure and therefore why disrupt the flow with 2 sets of rim choices?
I think it would’ve helped and would have been annoyed to spend $60k on a car to get a dual-car brochure. Maybe just me.
Minus out anything with “Charger” and you have basically last year’s rim choices. One slight difference was the addition of optional 19″ rims for the SXT and GT models. Again, with enough options, you may as well get an R/T, but if you want the GT’s AWD with bigger rims, wish granted.
2018 Dodge Challenger Colors
Back to car pics again. The Challenger has probably the largest list of colors to date. New colors like F8 Green, Indigo Blue, and the return of B5 Blue accent the big changes for this year. Sublime and Green Go have taken a back seat to a new color that is closer to a military olive color than anything from the Dodge paint room. From there, most of the other colors are happy returns from 2017.
Of note, the Plum Crazy Charger is just for the Charger. Again, why not the Challenger as well?
2018 Dodge Challenger Option Packages
Sound Group:
276-watt amplifier and 6 Boston Acoustics speakers
Sound Group II:
9 premium speakers with subwoofer and 506-watt amplifier.
Premium Sound Group:
900-watt amplifier, 18 Harmon Kardon speakers, and tire service kit (replaces spare).
Super Sport Group SS/T:
20 x 8.0 satin carbon aluminum wheels, 245/45R20 all-season performance tires, 3.07 rear axle ratio, compact spare tire, decklid spoiler, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (SXT)
Super Track Pak:
Includes 20-inch Hyper Black aluminum wheels, antilock 4-wheel high-performance disc brakes, 3.07 or 3.90 rear axle ratio depending on engine, rear body-color spoiler, performance steering, performance suspension with Billstein shocks, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (auto trans), ParkView rear backup camera and ParkSense rear parking assist (SXT, SXT Plus, R/T and R/T Plus).
Scat Pack Appearance Group:
Includes 20X9 inch Matte Black lightweight forged aluminum wheels, Scat Pack Bumblebee tail stripe, HID headlamps, Hectic Mesh interior accents, Performance cloth seats w/Scat Pack logo, Scat Pack floormats, Black grille, leather-wrapped performance steering wheel, Black fuel filler door, Scat Pack gauge cluster splash screen, and 506-watt Alpine Audio System with premium speakers w/subwoofer.
R/T Classic Package:
Performance Nappa leather and suede heated and ventilated seats, dual classic R/T side stripes, HID headlamps, “Challenger” script fender badge an 20″ polished aluminum Classic II wheels.
Driver Convenience Group:
Fold-away mirrors, high-intensity discharge headlamps, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, remote start, ParkSense Rear Park Assist, Universal Garage Door Opener (SXT, SXT Plus, R/T, R/T Plus & Scat Pack)
Dynamics Package:
Includes power 4-wheel disc brake system with 15.4 inch vented and slotted front rotors with 6-piston Brembo calipers and 13.8 inch vented and slotted rear rotors with 4-piston Brembo calipers, 275/40ZR20 All-Season Performance tires and 20×9.5in low-gloss black slingshot forged wheels.
Cold Weather Group:
Includes heated front seats, heated steering wheels, and 180-amp alternator.
Leather Interior Group:
Includes leather/suede performance seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering column, and Satin Silver & Hectic Mesh bezels (R/T, Scat Pack).
Leather Front Seat Group:
Demon Laguna leather/ Alcantara suede trimmed performance seats, front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, front floor mats, heated steering wheel and bright pedals.
Technology Group:
Includes rain-sensing wipers, Auto High-Beam Headlamp Control and Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control Stop.
2018 Dodge Challenger Production Figures
2018 brought the 3rd-generation Challenger its highest sales figure ever – at a lofty 66,716. Not only was this 2,000 more than last year’s totals, but almost 50,000 more than its 2008 model. Unfortunately, the Challenger was going to be in a new downward trend and in desperate need of some trending changes.
| 2018 Dodge Challenger |
66,716 |
Source: GoodCarBadCar.net
