MotorMouths

The 2012 Dodge Challenger might look and move like a muscle car, but its ability to double as a grand touring coupe confirms its status as the most livable of the reborn muscle cars.

The Dodge Challenger always had the personality, but now it has the performance – both in a straight line and in the twisties – to run with the Chevy and Ford. And with only a minor price increase too.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger is the kind of car that can bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded car enthusiast. Try as you might, it’s impossible to escape the considerable charm of this ultimate modern-day boulevard cruiser.

Those old enough to remember the first muscle car era will appreciate the Challenger’s nostalgic looks, but even younger shoppers will admire the coupe’s clean lines. The interior is in serious need of an upgrade, but Dodge spent its refresh budget on improving the Challenger’s ride and handling.

Loaded up with accessories, this a Mopared-out 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T is two earrings and a nice leather black belt away from a fashion shoot in Cosmo.

Styling, first and foremost, is eye-catching and probably the true reason behind the allure of the Challenger. Though, for us, it’s all about the Hemi engine and its rumbly 372 horsepower.

The 2010 Dodge Challenger SE is for consumers who love the looks of the vehicle but aren’t interested in the performance — or additional cost — of the V8 models. A similarly equipped Challenger R/T would cost you at least $7,000 more.

Even though the Dodge Challenger looks like it could have stepped out of the 1970s, there’s a thoroughly modern car under that classic sheet metal — and it’s a surprisingly comfortable and quiet one.

The Challenger SE no longer feels like it’s stuck in a tractor beam when you clobber the throttle. But good, old fashioned cruising — be it on the freeway or a gently winding back road – is still the V-6 Challenger’s raison d’etre. And it carries out this prescribed duty admirably well.

The Dodge Challenger is a worthy, if somewhat softer, competitor to its born-again muscle car rivals.

If you want to cruise—and only cruise—by all means, buy the 2011 Dodge Challenger SE V6. People like the way it looks, and it’s comfortable. But if you really love to drive, you should visit a Ford dealership.

If this Dodge Challenger fails as a performance car, a musclebound cruiser and a rental, what is it good for? Unless you can’t live without its looks but can’t afford a Hemi, look elsewhere.