2017 Dodge Challenger SXT

About this Challenger

There are three muscle cars left and the Challenger is the one that actually looks like the original. Long hood, flat roof, hard creases down the side, quad headlights sunk into a blacked-out grille. This one is White Knuckle on gloss black wheels with a dark roof, which is about the best color combination Dodge offered on this car.

Here's the part people don't expect: the SXT is genuinely livable. The 3.6-liter V6 makes real power - enough to be fun merging and passing - but returns 19 city and 30 highway, which is better than most midsize SUVs. You can drive this every day and not dread the gas station, which is not something you can say about a Hemi car.

It's also the biggest of the muscle cars inside. The back seat fits actual adults and the trunk is enormous - you can fit luggage for a week, or golf clubs, or a stroller. It's the only one of the three you could reasonably use as a family car and still enjoy every time you start it.

Everything works, it drives straight and strong, and the paint is sharp. Inside you get the Uconnect touchscreen, backup camera, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate, and keyless entry with push-button start - so it's genuinely modern to live with, not a stripped-out throwback. Come drive it. This is one where five minutes behind the wheel does the selling for us.

Features & equipment