2016 vs 2015 Dodge Challenger Comparison ? What?s New?

Performance

Muscle cars are built for performance, and the 2015 and 2016 Challengers most definitely deliver on that front. The smallest engine available for the cars is a 3.6-liter V6 producing an already-impressive 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. The two V8 engine options – 5.7 and 6.4 liters - output 375 and 485 horsepower respectively, while the Challenger's most powerful engine – a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 – clocks in at a monstrous 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Both the 2015 and the 2016 models use the same engines.

But horsepower and torque don't tell the whole story. The car's impressive power is channeled through either a highly-responsive 8-speed sport automatic transmission with manual shifting paddles or a 6-speed manual transmission for the more hands-on-the-stick driver. Connecting the car to the road is a well-tuned suspension system - featuring a fully-independent rear suspension - which gets firmer in the higher-horsepower models. The 2016 model fine-tunes the suspension a little, making the ride firmer and more responsive in the 3.6L-equipped SXT models.

Appearance

Muscle cars are meant to be flashy and eye-catching, and the 2015 and 2016 Dodge Challengers rise to the occasion with style. Both feature a dizzying array of customization options for both the interior and the exterior. Each model features its own default wheel style as well as a full catalog of alternatives. Fourteen different interior designs are available as well, matching with the vivid exterior color options. Other accessories, such as the Shaker cold-air intake scoop blur the line between performance and appearance. The 2016 model improves on the 2015 in exactly the way that one expects: by adding more options. Those include the high-contrast Blacktop Appearance package, Laguna leather option for the high-power Hellcat model and a deep purple Plum Crazy color that looks back to the glory days of American muscle.

Safety

With the amount of power that the Dodge Challenger puts at one's disposal, safety becomes a very important priority. The standard safety features include powerful anti-lock brakes that stop the car from 60 miles per hour in just over 100 feet, front, side and knee airbags, as well as traction and stability control. Together with the car's durable chassis, these features earn it a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As you move up the trim levels, more technologically sophisticated safety features are added, including a rear-view camera, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert and a forward collision warning system. The 2016 update to the Challenger adds some incremental improvements, such as the Siri Eyes-Free functionality to the UConnect infotainment system.