The Dodge Challenger does 20.3 mpg combined (17.1 city, 26.5 highway), which works out to about $1,892 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.6L 6-cyl does 22.4 mpg while 6.1L 8-cyl does 15 — a difference of $846 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Dodge Challenger engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge Challenger ranges from 22.4 down to 15 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $846 a year across 4 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 18.7 / 29.1 | 2011–2023 | $1,714 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 / 25 | 2009–2010 | $1,920 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 15.9 / 24.9 | 2009–2023 | $2,032 | |
| 6.1L 8-cyl | 13 / 18 | 2008–2008 | $2,560 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge Challenger burns a gallon every 20.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 591 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,460 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$493 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,337 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge Challenger gives up 9.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.5 out there against 17.1 in town, a 55% drop worth $797 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 17.1 mpg | $2,246 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.5 mpg | $1,449 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.4 mpg (55%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Challenger changed over the years
The Challenger peaked in 2023 at 21 mpg (17.5 city, 27.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2008 at 15 — 6 mpg apart, or $731 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2023 car does 21. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2022 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2021 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2020 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2019 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2018 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2017 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2016 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2015 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2014 | 16.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2011 | 17 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2010 | 16.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2009 | 16.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2008 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 31 EPA ratings of the Dodge Challenger — 4 engines across 2008–2023. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,337. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge Challenger get?
20.3 mpg combined on average — 17.1 in the city and 26.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2008–2023.
How much does a Dodge Challenger cost in fuel per year?
About $1,892 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,460 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which Challenger engine is the most economical?
The 3.6L 6-cyl at 22.4 mpg, against 15 for the 6.1L 8-cyl — a difference of about $846 a year.
Is the Challenger good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Challenger figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Dodge Challenger is $3,337 against the $1,892 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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