The sporty car Dodge Challenger is often termed the pony car. It is an American automobile manufactured by Dodge.
There is a wide range of variations of the Dodge Challenger in its three generations. The first generation was made from 1970 to 1974, the second generation from 1978 to 1983, and the third and last generation of it was introduced in early 2008 as a rival to the Ford Mustang of the fifth generation.
Key Takeaways
- The SRT-8 boasts a more powerful 6.4L HEMI V8 engine, producing 470 horsepower, whereas the RT features a 5.7L HEMI V8 with 375 horsepower.
- SRT-8 offers better performance upgrades, such as Brembo brakes, an adaptive suspension system, and a more aggressive exterior design, giving it an edge over the RT.
- The SRT-8โs higher price reflects its superior performance, features, and style, making it a more premium choice than the budget-friendly RT.
Dodge Challenger SRT 8 vs. RT
The difference between Dodge Challenger SRT 8 and RT is that of the engines that are fitted in them.
SRT 8 has a large engine with a 6.4 L capacity that is capable of producing around 100 hp power meaning that it has more acceleration and speed; these features make it costlier; on the other hand, RT has a comparatively small engine with 5.7 L capacity, and therefore it is less costly than SRT 8.

Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is a pony car fitted with a large 6.4 L engine. It provides a torque of about 470 lb-ft and has manual and automatic transmissions.
It is a costlier pony car.
Dodge Challenger RT is fitted with a 5.7 L engine. It provides a 410 lb-ft torque; it also has two transmissions.
It is cheaper than the SRT 8 model.
Comparison Table
Parameter of Comparison | Dodge Challenger SRT 8ย | Dodge Challenger RT |
---|---|---|
Engine Capacity | Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has been fitted with a 6.4 L capacity engine. | Dodge Challenger RT comes with a 5.7 L capacity engine. |
Transmission | Dodge Challenger SRT 8 also offers two transmissions. A six-speed manual transmission and a five-speed automatic transmission. | Dodge Challenger RT has a six-speed manual transmission and eight-speed automatic transmission. |
Torque | Dodge Challenger SRT 8 can provide 470 lb-ft torque. | Dodge Challenger RT can provide 410 lb-ft torque. |
Features | Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has almost the same specifications as that of RT, but it provides more horsepower than a RT which means that it has more acceleration and speed. It is fitted with HID headlights, leather, heated seats, which are more comfortable in winter, a parking sensor, and a garage door transmitter. Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has 20-inch rims and is wider, providing more traction and increasing power. | Dodge Challenger RT can fit 5 passengers and has only two doors. Its width is 75.7 inches, and height is 57.7 inches, and it has an overall length of 197.9 inches with a wheelbase of 116.2 inches. It has 18-inch sported rims. |
Cost-effectivenessย | When it comes to cost, Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is costlier. | Dodge Challenger RT is available at a low cost compared to the SRT 8 and is also a fuel-efficient car in the long run. |
What is Dodge Challenger SRT 8?
Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is a sporty and muscle pony car. The most important feature of SRT 8 is its strong engine which has a capacity of 6.4 L.
It has two transmissions, a six-speed manual transmission and a five-speed automatic transmission. Dodge Challenger SRT 8 can provide 470 lb-ft torque and more horsepower.ย
Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has 20 inches rims that have provided more width, giving it more traction. It has seats covered with leather, and heated seats, giving more comfort in the winter.
It has HID headlights, a parking sensor, and a garage door transmission.
Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is costlier than the RT model because it has a higher-capacity engine. It is also less fuel efficient but provides more power.

What is Dodge Challenger RT?
Dodge Challenger RT is a pony car with a 5.7 L capacity engine. It has two transmissions, a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
It provides 410 lb-ft torque and has less power than an SRT 8.
RT has 18 inches of sported rims. Seats are not covered with leather.
It also does not have features like HID headlights, parking sensors, and garage door transmitters.ย
Dodge Challenger RT is comparatively cheaper and is also fuel efficient.

Main Differences Between Dodge Challenger SRT 8 and RTย ย
- The major difference between Dodge Challenger SRT 8 and RT is that of their engines.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has a high 6.4 L capacity engine, whereas Dodge Challenger RT has a 5.7 L engine.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has two transmissions, a six-speed manual transmission, and a five-speed automatic transmission; on the other hand, Dodge Challenger RT has a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 can provide 470 lb-ft of torque; however, Dodge Challenger RT can provide 410 lb-ft of torque.
- SRT 8 provides more horsepower than the RT model.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 has 20 inches rims whereas RtT has 18 inches rings.
- The rims of SRT 8 are also wider than the rims of RT.
- The seats of SRT 8 are covered with leather which is absent in RT.
- The seats of RT are also heated, providing more comfort in the winter.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is fitted with HID headlights which is not present in RT.
- Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is fitted with a parking sensor and garage door transmitter, which means one can open the garage door without leaving the car; however, these features are lacking in Dodge Challenger RT.
- Regarding cost, Dodge Challenger SRT 8 is costlier than the RT because it has an engine of larger capacity.ย
- Dodge Challenger RT is more fuel efficient than the SRT 8.

- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=mprHvW7LspIC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=dodge+challenger+rt&ots=0Ou8QD_YiC&sig=RCvQfA_sk7sAoHD1oNbqGRGb9Oo
- https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2017-01-2532/
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.