Here we are in 2021 and the Challenger looks and feels a whole lot like 2008’s origins. There is a LOT that is very good about that statement, but there is much to be concerned with as well.
For 2021, the Challenger is a direct carryover from 2020 – with all but a few wheel options being the same. You’ll also probably notice that the local dealer has “upped” their prices due to the shortages throughout the country. Short ago as in 2019, you’d have an impossible task of trying to decide on 30 different looks for which Challenger you’d want. Today, you’d be lucky to find even 15 for sale near you. It is a tough time for buying.
Not that there is a rush either – as Dodge doesn’t seem to be scurrying to get new Challenger designs to the public anytime soon. There have been rumors of redesign and the potential to bring the Barracuda name back, but alas, nothing is slated for the near future.
| Model | 2021 Dodge Challenger |
| Type | 2-Door |
| Names & Trims | SXT, GT, R/T (Shaker,T/A,Scat Pack), SRT Hellcat (Redeye), SRT Super Stock |
| Engines | 3.6Liter SOHC V6, 5.7Liter OHV V8,6.4Liter OHV V8, 6.2Liter Supercharged OHV V8 |
| Price range | $29,000-$83,500 |
2021 Dodge Challenger Models
Challenger SXT, GT
Yup, pretty much looks like a 2009 Challenger SE. That is a lot of good and a smattering of really? The look has lasted some 13 years and is as gorgeous of a car as ever, but what about the idea of your new car looking different than a $8,000, 10 year old car? Dodge has kept the glory going, but where’s the new meat?
Joking distaste aside, the 2021 Challenger SXT is still a formidably good looking “starter” sports coupe. The 305hp, though LONG past needing an upgrade, does the job and Dodge allows you to add almost every conceivable option you could hope for.
Challenger R/T, T/A, Shaker, Scat Pack
Tried and true, the mid-level Challengers plod onward toward the future. Not quite in the “slaughter-the-competition” fashion, but in the solid-ground, hold-the-line kind of variety. The R/T continues to have the same 5.7L engine with 375hp and enough options to go from impressive to downright amazing.
Scat Pack remains the performance deal carrying 485hp and enough torque to cost thousands of dollars in tires per year. By this point, one would’ve assumed the horsepower would be in the 500 range – for a yearly change if nothing else. Seriously?… they couldn’t afford a better intake for some trickling horsepower increase?
The good news is that the Challenger is keeping pace with the Mustang anyways, and the Camaro is having its death throes – most likely expiring in the next year or so. The bad news is the Challenger is pricing close to a lot of foreign cars from Europe and Japan that offer as much or more.
Challenger SRT Hellcat, Redeye, Super Stock
This level of terror comes in three varieties and all three will shock the inexperienced driver. Maybe even the experienced one.
The base Hellcat is a fearsome feline in its own right – with 717hp, but you can quickly increase that to 797 with the Redeye and 807 with the Super Stock. All three of these mean machines will run 10s through the ¼mile and will embarrass just about every exotic on the road in acceleration. No, this is not going to set a record on the Nurburgring, but that isn’t the purpose of every Challenger made since 1970.
The Super Stock remains the top echelon of the drag strip trio and comes with a staggering list of lightening/gripping systems to help get the 4000lbs rolling quickly. Don’t look for coddling or gracefulness here as only the bravest should apply. Oh yeah, and those with almost $100k to spare as well (after markups).
2021 Challenger Quick Specifications
| Challenger SXT / GT | Challenger R/T | Challenger Scat Pack | Challenger SRT Hellcat | Challenger Hellcat Redeye | Challenger SRT Super Stock | |
| Engine | 3.6L V6 | 5.7L V8 | 6.4L V8 | 6.2L SC V8 | 6.2L SC V8 | 6.2L SC V8 |
| Horsepower | 305 | 375 | 485 | 717 | 797 | 807 |
| Torque | 268 | 410 | 475 | 656 | 707 | 707 |
| MPG Cty/Hwy | 19/29 | 16/25 | 14/23 | 13/22 | 10/18 | 10/18 |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Auto | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 8-Speed Auto | 8-Speed Auto | 8-Speed Auto |
| Drive Type | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD |
| Weight | 3819 / 4150 | 4040 | 4140 | 4440 | 4300 | 4200 |
| 0-60 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 2.7** | 2.6** |
| 0-¼ mile | 14.8 @ 95 mph | 13.5 @ 105 mph | 12.7 @ 113 mph | 11.6 @ 127 mph* | 10.8 @ 133 mph** | 10.5 @ 131 mph*** |
| MSRP | $27,500 / $31,095 | $34,900 | $38,995 | $59,000 | $70,000 | $82,000 |
*11.2 w/ street drag tires, 10.7 Euro version.
** estimate
***mftr estimate
As like the past few years, the SXT and GT are for posers, the Scat Pack is for the performance frugal, and the Hellcat is for those who need to make a statement everywhere they go.
I am pleading at this point for Dodge to do something with the 305hp V6. There should be enough money in the cash box to offer a 350hp starting engine and a 505hp upgrade. I cannot see anything but value through this and am thoroughly annoyed at Dodge’s lazy approach to each new year.
2021 Dodge Challenger Interior
The Challenger has come a long way after 13 years. Well, maybe not. There is a lot of similarities in the overall look, but today’s Challenger is 200% more tech-savvy than the 2009. The 2021 carries Parkview rear backup assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and much more. The 2009 seems more of a relic behind the plastic dashboard. While that is true, you’d have to get behind the wheel of the Hellcat or above to crush the 2009 SRT8’s performance, however. Seems some things do remain the same.
The 2021 Challenger does carry dozens of fabric, pattern, and color combos, however – awesome style inside and out. The newest Challenger looks like it has matured, become less cheap-plastic looking, and gained a whole lot of leather goodness as well.
2021 Dodge Challenger Wheels
The big change is the standard 20″ rims available on the GT AWD model. Aside from that, the choices remain plentiful and exotic looking. If you can’t match the fancy or angry look with the Challenger you’ve selected, you might be trying too hard.
2021 Dodge Challenger Colors
No, you can’t select colors or rotate. This was Dodge’s screen to show colors. Use the link to check em out on the car yourself. Sinamon Stick shown.
2021 has the smallest change from year to year in the new Challenger’s history – one color. Smoke Show, which has a far better name than look, joins the exact same crew of colors from 2020. Still surprised that there is not enough demand for Yellow Jacket or Sublime, but Dodge apparently knows best… even if they are wrong.
Beyond the colors, the same laundry list of stripes, blackened add-ons and crazy hoods all add end result. What you take home should be as epic as you need it.
2021 Dodge Challenger Option Packages
1320 Package:
Includes Drag Mode w/adaptive damping suspension, transbrake, torque reserve, Nexen P275/40R20 street-legal drag radial tires and 20×9.5in low gloss black drag wheels, Drag Mode Performance Pages, Houndstooth cloth seats, Passenger seat delete, rear seat delete, cargo net, drivers side floor mat, 1320 illuminated air-catcher headlamp, 1320 instrument-panel badge, Angry Bee fender badge, and Dodge Alacantara Performance Steering wheel.
Alpine Audio Group:
Includes 9-speaker premium amplified Alpine speakers with 506-watt subwoofer and surround sound.
Alacantara Appearance Package:
Includes Alacantara/Nappa leather ventilated seats with logo and 4-way lumbar adj. and Wildwheel Alacantara steering Wheel (req. Plus grp).
Blacktop Package:
Includes Gloss Black instrument cluster trim rings, leather performance steering wheel (SXT), Black grille with Blacktop badge, GT grille badge (GT), R/T badge (R/T), Hemi fender badge (R/T), black rear spoiler, black fuel door, 20in black noise wheels (SXT,GT,R/T), 245/45ZR20 BSW all-season performance tires (SXT), 19″ black noise wheels (SXT & GT AWD).
Cold Weather Group:
Includes 180-amp alternator, heated front seats & heated steering wheel.
Driver Convieneience Group:
Includes power multi-function foldaway mirrors, HID headlamps, Rhombus illuminated air-catcher headlamp (R/T), foglamps (SXT), ParkSense Park Assist System (SXT RWD), Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection, Remoe start, and Universal Garage Door Opener (SXT).
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 forged wheels.
Mopar Interior Appearance Group:
Includes Trunk Mat w/ logo, Mopar bright door sills, premium logo floor mats and Mopar bright pedal kit..
Premium Sound Group:
900-watt amplifier, 18 Harmon Kardon speakers, and tire service kit (replaces spare).
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 and 20″ polished forged aluminum Classic II wheels.
Technology Group:
Includes rain-sensing wipers, Auto High-Beam Headlamp Control and Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control Stop.
Plus Group:
Includes Nappa leather-trimmed sport seats (SXT), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats (GT,R/T), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats with Scat Pack logo (R/T Scat Pack), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats with Hellcat logo (SRT Hellcat), Performance brakes (SXT), ventilated front seats, door trim panels with ambient lighting, black-edged premium floor mats or red-edge mats (GT,R/T), Dodge Performance Pages (GT, R/T), heated front seats (SXT,GT,R/T), 6 premium speakers with 276-watt amp (SXT,GT,R/T), power steering column, 245/45ZR20 BSW all-season performance tires (SXT), 20in Granite Crystal painted wheels (SXT), 20in Saton Carbon painted wheels (GT,R/T), Rear Park Assist, Bright pedals (SXT,GT), Universal Garage Door Opener (SXT), dark interior engine turn accents (SRT Hellcat)
Lightweight Package:
Includes floor mats, lightweight washer bottle and tilt/telescoping steering column. (req. Harmon audio grp, sunroof, and Widebody pgks).
Widebody Package:
Includes Widebody fender flares, Widebody competition steering, adaptive damping suspension, Brembo 6-piston brakes (R/T Scat Pack), performance shift indicator (R/T Scat Pack), 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires and 20x11in Devil’s Rim forged aluminum wheels.
2021 Dodge Challenger Production Figures
Obviously the numbers aren’t in for the 2021 production year, but the outlook is fantastic. The Challenger kept pace with the high-selling Mustang for Q1 and actually outsold the pretty pony for Q2. I think the Challenger is in serious need for an update, but the populous apparently are happy with the same ole same ole. Good enough for me I suppose.
| 2021 Dodge Challenger |
N/A |
Source: GoodCarBadCar.net
