Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after the first 90 days of ownership, the Dodge Challenger received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the Dodge Challenger received 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Predicted Reliability – The Dodge Challenger is too new to have been included in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures owner satisfaction with the reliability of a vehicle after three years of ownership. Based on the historical performance of other Dodge models in our initial quality and dependability studies, the Dodge Challenger receives 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings for predicted reliability.

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Fuel Economy – The 2009 Dodge Challenger is equipped with the buyer’s choice between three different engines: a 3.5-liter V-6, a 5.7-liter V-8, or a 6.1-liter V-8. A five-speed automatic with manual gear selection is standard on all models. A six-speed manual transmission is available on models with one of the V-8 engines.

Fuel economy, as might be expected, varies widely depending on powertrain choice. For models with the V-6 engine, fuel economy is rated 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. For the V-8 models, the range is between 13 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Our review vehicle, a Challenger R/T with the 5.7-liter V-8 engine and six-speed manual transmission, is rated by the EPA to get 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. We averaged 16.4 mpg in mixed driving. Combined with the Challenger’s standard 19-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 310-mile range between fill-ups.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Dodge Challenger receives 5-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact, 5-star crash-test ratings for front and rear seat occupants in the side-impact test, and a 4-star rollover rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not performed crash tests on the Dodge Challenger at the time this review was published.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Dodge Challenger SE equipped with the V-6 engines consumes between 17.1 barrels of petroleum annually with a carbon footprint rating of 9.2 tons of air pollution per year. The Challenger R/T and SRT8 equipped with one of the V-8 engines consumes between 18 and 22.8 barrels of petroleum annually, depending on engine and drivetrain, with a carbon footprint rating ranging between 9.6 and 12.2 tons of air pollution per year.

When equipped with a V-6 engine, the Challenger’s national air pollution score is 6 out of 10. In California and New England, the Challenger V-6 scores 7 out of 10 for those two regions. When equipped with the 5.7-liter V-8 engine, the Challenger’s national air pollution score is 7 out of 10 with the standard automatic transmission and 6 out of 10 with the available manual transmission. Those score are mirrored in the California and New England regions. The EPA does not publish air pollution scores for the Challenger SRT8’s 6.1-liter V-8 engine.