2012 Dodge Challenger

There’s a lot of historical sentiment attached to the Challenger badge, but it's not the only one. With equal legacy, the American duo, Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang have been in the market with similar heritage. And to make things interesting, even Japanese automaker Nissan offers a similar mechanical alternative in the form of the 370Z. So, in these advanced times, is the Dodge Challenger modern and practical enough to be bought over such an exciting competition? Let’s find that out.

For 2012, Dodge has renamed and shortened the number of trim models, bringing it down to three - SXT, R/T, and SRT8 392. Thebase Challenger SXT comes reasonably equipped for its price tag of $25,195. Standard equipment with the base model includes clothed upholstery, four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, power mirrors and windows, air conditioning, keyless access, tilt, and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio control, cruise control, and 18” aluminum wheels.

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The mid-spec R/T trim with the 5.7 L V8 is potent enough to pull off a 0-60 mph stint in flat 5 seconds. It is fast and gets the added benefit of 20” aluminum wheels, and a functional hood scoop. Not only do they all add to the benefit of being a proper muscle car, but you also get all that without splurging for the 6.4 L V8, which would bring in additional maintenance costs.

Each Challenger model receives its own set of engines. Starting with the base SXT model with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine. This model is based on the Charger and it also drives like one. The Challengers’ 3.6-liter V6 is a good improvement over the Charger’s 3.5-liter in both power and fuel economy. There’s enough power on the throttle to whisk past heavy traffic, with 305 hp at the tap. Next comes the mid-spec R/T trim, this model features a Hemi V8 that produces 375 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The power surge in this V8 comes strong but runs out quickly due to the 5100 rpm limit. The top trim gets a bigger capacity Hemi 6.4-liter V8 and the SRT8 392 is also the heaviest Challenger with a curb weight of 4170 lbs. The power and torque ratio is a break-even 470 hp and 470 lb-ft, revving all the way up to 6000 rpm. The SRT8 392 can do a quarter-mile run in just 12 seconds and 0-60 mph is in the range of 4 seconds.

The SRT8 392 is the fastest muscle car in this competition despite being heavier than the 370Z which can do the same by nine-tenths of a second later than the top-specced Challenger. But with the base V6 engine, all three cars - Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro have the same acceleration timing. All three take around 6 seconds to do 60 mph and about 14 seconds (approx.) for quarter-mile timing.

Despite the best measures, the Challenger is a muscle car at its core and like all muscle cars, being fuel-efficient is not its forte. The base Challenger SXT with the Pentastar V6 returns 18/27/21 mpg in city/highway/ combined situations. Standard across the line-up is the 19.1-gallon tank which is marginally better than its competition, the Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan 370Z. When it comes to range, both the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger offer the longest range in the competition with 532 miles and 516 miles, respectively.

When seen in comparison, the Mustang is the most fuel-efficient muscle car in the city with 19 MPG to its credit. The 2012 Mustang is again the most fuel-efficient out on the highway next to the Camaro with 29 and 28 MPG respectively to its credit. The Challenger performs decently but does not create any records.

The interior of the 2012 Dodge Challenger gives proper tribute to its early muscle car days. It’s not flashy and with a standard dark material used throughout, it comes off across as a very practical cabin. The sheer size of the Challenger also plays to its advantage, which opens up the front headroom space, leaving owners surprised. The SRT 392 gets a race-inspired interior which is manifested on the front with sports seats. 

The rear seats have reasonably good legroom for adults, and the second row can be folded down to expand trunk space. All trims get the option of heated steering wheels with tilt and telescopic adjustments. There's a center armrest console wrapped in dark-colored soft material with two cup holders behind the shifter and is practically laid out for easy accessibility.

Except for the Nissan 370Z, all three muscle cars get a second row and the Challenger has the best room at the rear with a fairly adequate 32.6 inches of legroom. The legroom on the Camaro and the Challenger is not ideal for adults while headroom and legroom space in the front row is also marginally compromised in these cars. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats
• Cupholders
• Backlit instrument cluster

How intuitive is the 2012 Dodge Challenger’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment unit of the 2012 Challenger is restricted to an AM/FM stereo with seek-scan radio in the base SXT trim. The R/T model gets the benefit of SiriusXM AM/FM and Satellite radio. But the main party-trick lies with the top-of-the-line SRT8 392 model that gets an LCD screen that displays all the radio controls. Also new for the 2012 Challenger model is an 18-speaker Harman Kardon high-performance audio system as an option. Some key features of infotainment are:

• 6.5-inch LCD screen
• 6-speaker audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Navigation
• 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (In top trim)
• USB port

The exterior design of the 2012 Dodge Challenger has remained faithful to its original design that was introduced in 1970. And part of the modern-day Challenger’s commanding presence is also shared with the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 Sedan. The Challenger is wider and shorter than both Charger and 300. Standard on the base Challenger SXT model are 18” wheels, but both R/T and SRT8 392 models get 20” wheel options. Many options enhance the exterior design of the Challenger. Many performance enhancement features like a functional hood scoop, add to the exclusivity of the Challenger as well.

The 2012 Challenger weighs more, has a longer wheelbase, and is taller than both the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. Precisely the reason why its drive feels less nimble than both. However, this gives it the generous cabin space that is missing in its rivals. Some of the standout exterior features are:

• 18-inch alloy wheels/ 20-inch aluminum wheels
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Heated mirrors
• Rear spoiler
• Automatic headlights
• Functional hood scoop
• Illuminated visor mirrors

The 2012 Dodge Challenger has not been tested by the NHTSA but the IIHS has awarded it “Good” in categories like - Moderate Overlap Fronts, Side, Roof Strength, and Head Restraints & Seats. Aside from that, all 2012 Challenger models come standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbag, and side curtain airbags. The Dodge Challenger has also been recognized by the IIHS as a Top Safety Pick+ which is the highest honour. Some of the noticeable safety features are:

• Stability control
• Traction Control
• Active front head restraints
• Front side airbags
• Side curtain airbags

As mentioned earlier, the Dodge Challenger model comes with a lot of emotion. The current Challenger model looks every bit of the old-school muscle car. It is long, wide, and even has two Hemi V8 engines in its line-up. With a competitive starting price tag, the 2012 Dodge Challenger will appeal to you with its spacious and practical interior as well as an iconic exterior design. If you think that a Mustang or a Camaro is too mainstream, then the Challenger is the one for you.