DODGE Challenger SRT8 392 Review

In even more numbers, the Challenger SRT8 392 plays the 0 to 60 mph game in the high 4s, while an automatic like our own tester will do the quarter mile in the mid-12-second range. You can add a few fractions of a second for the manual models.

When you get down and dirty with the throttle, the Challenger SRT8 392 can show the Ford Mustang GT and the Camaro SS what offering a brutal feeling to your human means. It’s a pity, then, that the current Challenger range doesn’t include something that can compete with the Shelby GT500 or the Camaro ZL1.

Inside the car, it’s all a bit muffled - at first we were temped to say we would’ve liked things louder in the cabin, but this is just the right level for everyday driving.

Step outside though and you’ll be assaulted by the aural anarchy. The somewhat hemispherical nature of the combustion chamber (this is not quite the original design principle) will join forces with an exhaust that likes to troll everything and everybody around the car.

The only time when you will not be laughing is at the pump. During our time spent together, the Challenger returned 11.6 mpg (20 liters per 100 km). We do plead guilty to the spirited driving accusations though.

There is a weak link in the Challenger’s tech package though and that’s the five-speed automatic. A bit faster than the manual it may be, but it still feels old. First of all, the shifts can become jerky at times. Just as important, having five forward gears isn’t exactly something to brag about these days, when there are cars out there with almost double this number.

We’re approaching a highway exit now and, despite our application of the throttle, the transmission doesn’t rush to downshift. There’s plenty of torque anyway, so there is no need for that sort of behavior. The thing with this gearbox is that you can forgive its flaws, all thanks to the car around it.

The valley on our right suddenly decides to open up and we think this is a good moment to take a short break. Even now, at idle revs, the exhaust generates even more drama than the landscape surrounding us.

We climb back inside and find the engine as rather refined at tide. The hydroelastic engine mounts definitely play a part here.

We didn’t want to leave the tires to cool off for too long, so we head north onto the canyon road. Muscle cars weren’t supposed to be very good around corners, were they?

Well, the Charger SRT8 392 is one hell of a toy up here. They weren’t lying when they measured the 0.9g official skidpad figure of the Challenger. There’s plenty of grip to play things safe. Please keep in mind that our tester was running the standard Goodyear RSA all-season rubber. You can have Goodyear F1 Supercar (Three Season) tires as an option, but we didn’t get to play with these.

One of the really smart tricks here comes from the rear suspension. With a five-link configuration, the setup features something called roll-steer geometry. What this means is that the suspension can independently play with the camber and toe changes through the bends.

With the three-mode stability control sent to sleep, the Challenger displays surprising discipline.

The transition into and out of oversteer is gradual and you always know what the car is going to do next.

The steering deserves some credit too. There’s good feel into it, but this is rather thanks to the hydraulic nature than to the particular setup of the Challenger.

And when you stop for the mandatory burnout (why else would you come to a halt in one of these?), you can rely on the Brembo calipers. These work with 14.2-inch front rotors and 13.8-inch rear discs. There is enough stopping power and bite to keep the massive Challenger in check.

Ah yes, let’s not fool ourselves here: at 4,160 lbs (1,886 kg), this is a heavy car and you can feel it. Still, all the aforementioned technical spices mean we enjoyed working with all that mass. While the Mustang GT can stumble if taken too hard around the bend and the Camaro SS can feel disconnected, the Challenger SRT8 392 just bites the weight pillow and goes round the bend. With pleasure.

Now about that burnout... The Mustang’s solid rear axle still gives it the most... solid feel during such maneuvers, but the Challenger feels pretty immune to such stress too.

Speaking of tough trials, the Challenger seems to face the safety hazards rather well. We wish it would have gone through the IIHS series of crash tests, but this didn’t happen. However, the Challenger was targeted by the NHTSA. It received a five-star safety rating, the highest available, for all the tests, with one exception. This was the rollover test, which saw the Challenger receive a four-star safety rating.

From the driver’s seat, the Challenger SRT8 392 feels pretty safe for the beast that it is. The car handles the road in a sure-footed manner and its electronics manage to keep it on track.

Dodge’s Challenger SRT8 392 is that kind of car that can build the story of your life.

Not only does it bring back the spirit of the original, but it also serves as a perfect daily driver. The muscle is definitely here and it is delivered in a truly comfortable package.

Who said the Challenger SRT8 392 is a gas guzzler? We think this is more of an EV and that’s because we get an overwhelming electric shock whenever we look this creature in its headlights.

For us, the SRT8 392 part battles the Challenger’s appearance for the “best part of the car” title. And the brilliant part is that you get almost the same visual effect even if you go for the V6.

Speaking of the SRT8 bits, we expected the 392 to be every bit as thoroughbred in a straight line as it is. Of course, this doesn’t make the experience less involving when you’re aboard.

The tech package is not perfect though. If someone could just upgrade that “good old” five-speed automatic, everything would be great. Oh and the same can be said about the interior. The massive shapes and the few retro styling cues of the cabin make it acceptable, but it still shows the car’s age, something that’s virtually undetectable otherwise.

Well, somebody actually did this and we’re talking about Dodge itself. The carmaker introduced a massive revamp for the 2015 model year Challenger at the New York Auto Show. Light exterior updates, quite some cabin changes and serious tech upgrades. This is what the 2015 Challenger brings. Still, you won’t see this in showroom until fall, so we’re left with our tester for now. Who knows, maybe you can grab a good deal on one.

Speaking of this, the Challenger already is a truly reasonable financial offer. The Challenger with a Pentastar V6 has a MSRP of US$24,490, exculding destination charges. As for the SRT8 392 range-topper, this comes with a MSRP of US$45,685 - the prices do not include the destination charge.

You've probably figured this out by now, but we'll mention it anyway - If these were our dollars, we’d definitely spend them on the Challenger over the Mustang and the Camaro.

There are more complete American go-fast machines out there such as the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and the US auto industry has also given us more visceral creatures like the SRT Viper. But truth be told, the Challenger definitely matches their magic and that’s thanks to the fact that it feels the most American of them all.