Dodge Challenger 0-60 Review: Speed and Time

From 1969 to today, the Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 and quarter-mile performance cemented this icon of American muscle in the history books. But that history is a result of more than just speed; few sights in the world are as exciting as the sharply aggressive body lines of a Challenger roaring by. Beyond just sight, though, the Challenger is primed to thrill all your other senses.

You'll be thrown back in the plush seats, holding on to the leather-trimmed steering wheel with a smile when you take command of this leading muscle car. But before you do, you'll want to know just how fast the Challenger 0-to-60 times truly are. So, read on to see the wicked performance that a Challenger is capable of and the history of its pack-leading power, then visit DARCARS CDJR of New Carrollton to take home a Challenger of your own.

The Brawn Behind the 2023 Dodge Challenger 0-60 Performance

The Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 speed is made possible by a high-power arsenal of engines and a strong portfolio of off-the-line performance features. You'll find one of six engines in your next new Dodge Challenger:

Choose a Challenger from our new Dodge inventory to get available 0-to-60 optimizing features like an SRT Power Chiller® for more effective supercharging, Line Lock for effortless smokey burnouts, launch assist and launch control for off-the-line perfection, and Race Cooldown to prepare your Challenger to do it all over again.

2023 Dodge Challenger 0-60 MPH & Quarter-Mile Times

Now that you've seen what makes the Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 runs possible, here's a look at the tire-smoking performance. Of course, if you're a fan of the Challenger, you're likely a fan of drag racing, so we've included available quarter-mile times to compare.

Dodge Challenger 0-60 MPH Times Through History

The Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 speed wasn't born out of thin air. The Challenger roared to life in 1969 as a 1970 model, ushered in by the same-platform Plymouth Barracuda and HEMI 'Cuda. Its Plymouth siblings may be gone, but the flame they lit together remains one of the brightest from American muscle's Golden Age.

Just how fast was it? The glorious 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack exploded off the line with 390 cast-iron horsepower, setting a 0-to-60 time of around 6.0 seconds.

1971 saw the ground-shaking Challenger R/T 426 join the party, letting loose 425 horsepower and setting a Dodge Challenger 0-60 record of approximately 5.2 seconds.

In 2008, the third, and according to recent news, final generation of the Dodge Challenger hit the scene. The 2008 Challenger SRT8 had 425 horsepower, but with modern advancements on its side, it dethroned its predecessor with a new Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 record of 4.7 seconds.

This record would be inched forward several times as the model was refined, but the most noteworthy upping of the ante came in 2018: The Challenger Demon.

With 840 horsepower, drag radial tires, significant weight reduction, exclusive drag-race features, and more to let launch like a rocket, the 2018 Dodge Challenger Demon claimed the record for the fastest-ever Dodge Challenger 0-to-60 time on its debut: a mind-boggling 2.3 seconds.

However, for the historic final year of pure-gasoline Dodge muscle cars, the record has been raised to unparalleled heights by the Demon trim's second act: The Challenger SRT Demon 170.

With E85 flex-fuel capabilities and a vicious suite of upgrades letting it make 1,025 horsepower, plus specialized drag-racing equipment similar to – but more intense than – the 2018 Demon, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 has set an awe-inspiring Dodge Challenger record: A 0-to-60 mph time of just 1.66 seconds.

Experience the Thrilling Challenger 0-60 Speed Today

Ready to feel the daily-driving power of a Challenger SXT? Or are you brave enough to step inside a Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye? Whichever Challenger suits your style, we can help you drive it home. Visit our dealership today to explore our new and used Dodge inventory, and discover a Challenger lease deal with your name on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest Dodge Challenger in the world?

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the fastest factory-built Dodge Challenger in existence, raising the model's 0-to-60 and quarter-mile record to heights that defy belief. For context, its predecessor, the 2018 Dodge Challenger Demon, blasted from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and took 9.65 seconds to cross the quarter-mile traps; the 2023 Demon 170 achieves a 1.66-second 0-60 mph time and an 8.91-second quarter-mile time.

Who's faster, 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat or 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat?

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat 0-to-60 time is slightly faster than the 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye 0-to-60 time, as the Charger is a larger and heavier vehicle. By numbers, the 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye can make this sprint in 3.5 seconds, while the 2023 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye launches from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

Is an Audi R8 faster than a Hellcat?

The 2023 Audi R8 is fast, but a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye goes faster. According to Car and Driver estimates, the Audi R8 takes between 3.4 and 3.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph.¹ The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye makes the same 0-60 sprint in 3.4 seconds while costing a fraction of the Audi R8's price.

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¹This information is not verified by the official manufacturer and shall serve solely as unofficial general information. For details, visit: https://www.caranddriver.com/audi/r8