2010 Dodge Challenger SE, the popular retro offering from Chrysler's automotive division. The car reappeared to much fanfare in 2008, and has since emerged as a survivor even in times of recession.
Our tester came dressed in entry level trim of three available Challengers, the other two being the R/T 5.7 Hemi V8 and the SRT8 6.1 Hemi V8. The cost for the Hemi V8 powered Challengers, however, is way higher as the base priced for the 376 horsepower R/T is $31,585 while the SRT8 Hemi, which develops 425 horses, starts at $43,655.
With this in mind, we welcomed the opportunity to drive the V6 with its standard 5-speed "Auto Stick" automatic and came away pleasantly surprised. Specifically, the 3.5 Liter V6 with single overhead cam technology performs like a V8 from years ago, yet is capable of delivering 17 city and 25 highway EPA fuel mileage numbers. The high output V6 delivers 250 horsepower and an identical torque figure, helping motivate SE in a peppy manner. Another important aspect is weight, with the V6 lighter than the Hemi models by up to 321 pounds.