Do Dodge Challengers have 4 wheel drive?
The short answer: most Dodge Challengers are rear-wheel drive, and the only factory all-wheel-drive Challenger is the Challenger GT with a V6 engine; high-performance V8 variants are rear-wheel drive only. Production for Challengers largely ended after the 2023 model year, so there are no new AWD Challengers on sale today.
Overview of Challenger drivetrain layouts
To understand the answer, it helps to know how Dodge structured the Challenger lineup in terms of traction and powertrain. The brand’s muscle-car tradition favors rear-wheel drive for performance, with one notable exception that combined all-wheel traction with a V6 engine. Below is a concise look at how drive layouts have been allocated across the model range.
- Challenger GT — All-wheel drive (AWD) paired with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6; introduced to add weather and low-traction capability, available across several model years but not with the V8 variants.
- Other Challenger variants — Rear-wheel drive only; includes SXT, R/T, Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and Demon models, which use various V6 or V8 powertrains but do not offer factory AWD.
In short, the Challenger lineup has one AWD option, and everything else remains rear-wheel drive. This distinction has shaped how the car handles in rain or snow versus how it performs on a dry road or track.
In-depth look at the AWD Challenger: the GT model
The Challenger GT represents Dodge’s all-wheel-drive offering within the nameplate. It typically used the 3.6-liter V6 and a rear-to-front AWD system designed to improve traction in adverse conditions without significantly compromising the car’s everyday usability. This model was available for several years, bridging the gap between a traditional V6 coupe and the more extreme, power-focused V8 variants.
Why Dodge offered AWD on the Challenger
Automakers add AWD primarily to improve stability and grip in poor weather and challenging road surfaces. For the Challenger, AWD on the GT provided a more practical daily-driver option while preserving the Challenger’s signature styling and interior. It also helped broaden the model’s appeal to buyers who live in climates with winter or wet conditions, without turning the car into a full-time heavy-duty all-terrain vehicle.
Performance and practicality considerations
Compared with the V8, the GT’s V6 and AWD setup emphasizes tractable, predictable traction over raw straight-line acceleration. The AWD system distributes torque to the front and rear axles to maximize grip, which can slightly temper acceleration and fuel economy relative to the RWD V6 equivalents—but it delivers a more confident drive in slippery conditions. The high-performance Challenger variants—R/T, Scat Pack, Hellcat, and beyond—remain aimed at enthusiast performance and are typically offered in rear-wheel drive only.
Current status and what shoppers should know
As of the 2023 model year, Dodge’s Challenger line effectively concluded its modern run, with no new-generation Challengers introduced thereafter. Among existing inventory and in the used market, the Challenger GT remains the sole factory all-wheel-drive option within the lineup, limited to the V6 configuration, while the more powerful V8-powered models stay rear-wheel drive.
Summary
Key takeaways for understanding whether Dodges Challenger has four-wheel drive:
- The Challenger GT is the only factory all-wheel-drive version of the Challenger, and it uses the 3.6L V6 engine.
- All higher-performance Challenger variants (R/T, Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, Demon) are rear-wheel drive only.
- Production of Challengers for the modern lineup effectively ended after the 2023 model year, so there are no new AWD Challengers on sale today.
For buyers seeking a modern Dodge with all-wheel drive, alternatives exist outside the Challenger family, such as the all-wheel-drive configurations offered on some other Dodge models and cross-brand platforms, but within the Challenger lineup itself, AWD is confined to the GT variant with the V6.
Is the Dodge Challenger 4 wheel drive?
Gutsy Hemi V-8s, available all-wheel drive, surprisingly comfortable ride. Handling's a little too old-school, déclassé cabin materials.
Which Dodge Challengers have AWD?
The Dodge Challenger GT is the all-wheel drive (AWD) model. Available since 2017, this version uses a 3.6L V6 engine and is the only two-door muscle car to offer AWD.
- Model: The GT trim is the all-wheel drive version of the Challenger.
- Engine: It comes with a 3.6L V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
- Availability: AWD was introduced for the 2017 model year.
- Performance: The AWD system was designed to provide better traction and handling, especially in winter conditions, making it a usable all-season muscle car.
Are all Dodge Challenger rear-wheel drive?
No, not all Dodge Challengers are rear-wheel drive; some models, specifically certain V6-powered trims like the SXT and GT, are available with all-wheel drive (AWD). However, rear-wheel drive is the standard and is the only option for most Challenger trims, particularly those with V8 engines. The AWD system on available models seamlessly transitions to rear-wheel drive for fuel efficiency under normal conditions and engages all four wheels when it detects a need for more traction.
You can watch this video to see the Dodge Challenger GT AWD in action and learn how its all-wheel drive system works: 51sDPCcarsYouTube · Aug 18, 2017
- Standard: The majority of Dodge Challenger models come standard with rear-wheel drive, providing a classic sports car experience.
- Available AWD: Select V6 models, such as the SXT and GT trims, offer an available all-wheel drive option.
- How AWD works: The AWD system is designed to be efficient. Under normal driving conditions, it operates in rear-wheel drive mode. The system automatically engages the front axle to provide all-wheel drive only when sensors detect that more traction is needed, such as in adverse weather.
- V8 models: Higher-performance Challenger models with V8 engines are not available with all-wheel drive and come exclusively in a rear-wheel-drive configuration.
What year did the Challenger become AWD?
2017
For the 2017 model year, a GT model was introduced with an all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the SXT Plus, making the Challenger the only two-door muscle car with available AWD. The Challenger GT uses the same AWD system and suspension as the Dodge Charger Pursuit.
