Challenging the 2015 Dodge Challenger

I’ve never been one to fawn over “American muscle”, but I’ve always had a crush on the third-generation Dodge Challenger since its relaunch in 2008, after a 25-year hiatus. It has been my favorite retro muscle car ever since. As I took to the driver’s seat, I was eager to learn whether the 2015 Dodge Challenger would live up to the title I had given it in my head. Photo Credit: Dodge Our favorite basics (standard equipment):

• • Performance brakes
  • Sport Suspension
  • Keyless Enter ‘n Go
  • Uconnect Access – Yes, WiFi!

Our favorite add-ons (optional equipment):

• • Blind spot and rear cross path detection
  • Remote start system (bless!)
  • Harman Kardon premium sound

*Check out all the features and options here*

Affordable Awesomeness

Don’t want to spend a fortune but want to feel like a bada$$? Go with the SXT Plus trim level. The sound of its 3.6-Liter V6 24-Valve VVT engine packed with 305 HP for a base price of under $30,000 is enough to make you scoot over to your nearest Dodge dealership. The 2015 Challenger is a good marriage of “sporty daily driver” and “can’t help but burnout” in that you can own it without concerning your family yet you can still have a little fun when appropriate. I took my dad for a spin in the Challenger SXT Plus (he’s the guy that races this ’93 Camaro) and he was grinning ear-to-ear. The car even includes a 0-60 timer in its digital cluster display – is Dodge trying to get us in trouble here? Photo Credit: Dodge Living in Central Florida, I quickly grew fond of the Remote Start feature. In this heat, you don’t want to burn your bum on scorching black leather seats, so being able to crank the A/C and prevent stepping into an oven is a marvel. I personally think every car should include this feature. Blindspot detection technology has officially become one of my favorite safety features and I appreciated it so much in the Challenger. While gorgeous, that classic body style isn’t achievable without creating some degree of a blind spot, so I was glad I had the tech to prevent any wrecks. Photo Credit: Dodge If you really want to persuade your significant other, especially if you have children, you’ll be pleased to read that I found out the Challenger could “technically” be considered a family car. It’s not uncommon for me to be toting around town with my baby nephew and his rear-facing car seat. Surprisingly, the car seat fit in the back seat with no problem. My sister even mentioned that she thought the back seat was comfortable. So there you have it, folks: believe it or not, the Dodge Challenge could be your next family car. Photo Credit: Dodge Base price: $29,995 Our loaner’s price w/optional features: 36,165 Fuel economy: 23 MPG (19 city, 30 highway) There is a lot to love in the Challenger SXT Plus. I was pleased to learn that the muscle car lives up to its retro-inspired look – it isn’t just a pretty shell. I really liked that the Challenger was fun to drive, but not too overwhelming to be a daily driver. With a bottom line like this, it’s hard to ignore the Challenger in your “new cars to consider” list.