Dodge Challenger: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?

Most significant changes: The 2022 has an upgraded alarm system optional or standard depending on trim level. At the top end, there’s a new SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak trim level that lets buyers customize their car via an a la carte menu of colors, trim, graphics and wheels.

Pricing: The base SXT starts at $31,275 including destination. That’s a $230 boost over the 2021 entry price for the Challenger if you want one in black or white. For 2022, all other colors are an additional $95 to $395 extra. Higher trim levels get starting price bumps from $505 to $1,230.

On sale: Now

Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022? The less expensive 2021 Challenger is a better value on essentially the same car — unless you feel the need to create a custom SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak.

American muscle cars might be an endangered species, but the Challenger coupe heads into 2022 with as much muscle — up to 807 horsepower — and in-your-face bravado as ever. The current Challenger dates to when the name was revived for the 2008 model, with retro styling inspired by the 1970 original but in near full-size two-door form.

Related: 2020 Dodge Challenger Super Stock: It’s No Demon, But It’s No Slouch, Either

The 2022 edition carries over from the 2021 with one new feature — an upgraded alarm system standard on higher, more powerful trim levels and optional on tamer versions. Whether that’s significant might depend on where you park your car overnight. There’s also a new Jailbreak Package ($995) for the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody model that unlocks the full roster colors, exterior and interior trim, graphics and wheels; it also adds more factory-custom options to create a one-of-a-kind Challenger. For extra bragging rights, the Jailbreak version also gets a horsepower boost to 807 from 797 hp.

Take Your Pick

Not that the rest of the lineup is short of choices. Multiple trim levels offer regular and more aggressive Widebody versions, with fatter tires and fender flares as well as other upgrades. There are more than a dozen paint colors ranging from mild to heritage wild — though for 2022, all but black and white now cost $95 to $395 extra. There also are accessory stripes, panel graphics and an array of rims to choose from. Even the hood comes in regular, one- and two-scoop variations, including one with an opening in the middle for the signature Shaker air intake sticking out. Since the Shaker is mounted on the engine, it moves with the engine’s vibrations, hence the name.

Power From Tame to Fierce

Power choices carry over and start with a 303-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 with an eight-speed automatic in the base SXT and GT trim levels. All-wheel drive is an option ($2,605 for the SXT, $3,000 for the GT) only for these V-6 trim levels.

Higher trim levels all have Hemi V-8 muscle and rear-wheel drive. The R/T has a 5.7-liter V-8 putting out 372 or 375 hp depending on the transmission. The R/T Scat Pack regular and Widebody models have a 485-hp, 392 V-8 (392 cubic inches or 6.4 liters). These engines are offered with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

Topping the line are the SRT-branded performance Challengers with supercharged 6.2-liter V-8s. Output in the SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Widebody is 717 hp with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. It’s 797 hp in the SRT Hellcat Redeye and SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody models and bumped to 807 in the Jailbreak and the drag-strip-optimized SRT Super Stock, all with the eight-speed automatic.

Safety Is Still Optional

While even many economy cars today have standard bundles of electronic safety and driver-assist features, the Challenger offers only a limited selection — and all remain optional. They include forward collision warning (but without automatic emergency braking), adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

2022 Challenger Pricing

Here are the 2022 Challenger prices including the $1,595 destination fee. Prices below also include a federal Gas Guzzler Tax of $1,000 for Scat Pack versions; $1,700 for Hellcat models and the Hellcat Redeye; and $2,100 for the Hellcat Redeye Widebody, Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak and Super Stock.

• SXT: $31,275 ($230 increase)
• GT: $34,550 ($505 increase)
• R/T: $38,825 ($1,080 increase)
• R/T Scat Pack: $44,600 ($780 increase)
• R/T Scat Pack Widebody: $50,595 ($780 increase)
• SRT Hellcat: $64,675 ($1,230 increase)
• SRT Hellcat Widebody: $70,675 ($1,230 increase)
• SRT Hellcat Redeye: $76,275 ($1,230 increase)
• SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody: $82,675 ($1,230 increase)
• SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak: $82,075
• SRT Super Stock: $85,675 ($1,230 increase)

More From Cars.com:

• 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye: You’re Not Actually Surprised, Are You?
• 2021 Dodge Durango: Brand’s Only SUV Gets New Lease on Life, Hellcat Model
• 5 Ways the 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock Is Not a Demon
• More Power Never Hurts: 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye First Drive
• 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack and Hellcat Widebody Review: Which to Buy?
• Performance Car News

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