Some days I ago I wrote here that I'd taken a 1,000-mile road trip to Willows, California, in our 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, but I neglected to follow up with fuel economy totals. That changes today.
Total trip mileage was 1,277 miles and the Challenger went through 61.266 gallons for an average of 20.8 mpg against an EPA rating of 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. The combination of a big gas tank (19 gallons), the six-speed manual transmission's conservative top gear (0.50) and the 3.73 final drive (it would be 3.91 if we'd gotten the 20-inch wheels) give the oversized coupe incredible range on the highway.
My longest tank spanned 390.9 miles, after which I put in 17.054 gallons for an average of 22.9 mpg.
I backed off on my usual manic pace for most of the nighttime drive back to Los Angeles. Keeping a 75-mph pace significantly reduced consumption, and I averaged 25.8 mpg over 342.3 miles (putting in 13.270 gallons). This is impressive, considering our Dodge weighs two tons and doesn't have cylinder deactivation. Had I been able to wait longer to fuel up, I would easily have seen 450 miles on this tank. (Oddly, no one has ever driven more than 396.8 miles on a single tank in our Challenger R/T.)
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 16,079 miles
7driver says:
05:50 PM, 12/ 7/09
I'd be willing to bet that if you'd have set the cruise control to the speed limit (65/70) you'd have seen 27+mpg. Something tells me your lead foot will forever keep us from knowing the winner of that bet, though :-)
sferrv6 says:
07:25 PM, 12/ 7/09
I averaged 29.5 mpg on my trip to NY from NC. I got 475 miles on one tank...I think the computer said I had 30-40 miles left. I have the same setup as the long term tester...6-speed and 3.73 gears. This car truly is amazing...had the wife and my 2 kids in the back and a full trunk to boot! And I've read that I can put 89 octane in and not have a problem so long as I'm just cruising...never will though. The more I drive this car the more and more I like it each day...this ones a keeper.
audisport says:
07:39 AM, 12/ 8/09
That's some good mileage for an almost 400hp 4000lb beast.
chuckg says:
07:52 AM, 12/ 8/09
In my auto Challenger R/T I average 26-28mpg at highway speeds. I didn't purchase this car for the gas mileage, but I consider it a bonus to get this type of mpg's and range.
This car is a pleasure to just get in it and drive to nowhere.
heartland says:
01:57 PM, 12/ 8/09
"Had I been able to wait longer to fuel up, I would easily have seen 450 miles on this tank".
Please don't call this beautiful car a "tank". LOL
bodyblue says:
05:13 PM, 12/ 8/09
To the dismay of the MOPAR haters out there, the Challenger continues perform admirably. It does what it was designed to do and does it very well. And is it a hell of a lot better looking than Camaro. :)