Review: 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker 5.7L 

Big thing for me choosing between a rt and srt was the insurance cost. I simply didn’t think it was worth double the price on that one for doing 0-60 in 4,7 instead of 5.1. With an RT i get the sound and feeling of a musclecar without having to live on rice and noodles for the next 8 years.

Got 2015 R/T 6speed manual super track pack gets 21 to 22 mpg everyday driving. Had for 4 years an has been a practical, comfortable, fun car.

The 5.7 is an unsung hero. As you can hear, that thing is a brute with power and hauls ass perfectly fine. Not slow at all.

Most people with the negative comments don’t own one or can’t afford one. No it’s not as fast as the 392, who cares. It’s still a fast car. And cares what’s faster!!!

Just bought a 2020 challenger rt I love it!

7:12, 12:14, 14:18... You know the drill!

I recently rented a base Challenger RT for the week. I have driven both the RT and the Challenger with the 6.4 and I honestly do not think you are giving up that much in terms of sound and fun factor by buying the 5.7. Plus when I was easy on the gas pedal I was getting 30+ MPG on the highway which is pretty good for such a big engine. The best I could seem to get in terms of real time gas mileage on the 6.4 was like 25MPG which is pretty good. In both cases this was with the 8 speed auto.

Seriously looking to buy this car, video won me over

Finally a fun car. this is where you shine most Matt!!!

0-60 in 4.8-5.1 is definitely not slow. Anyone who says thats slow is used to crazy acceleration or has watched too many hellcat tributes

The best part of RWD if you wanted to daily drive in areas where it snows just slap on a good pair of snow/winter tires and you'll be good. How do people think they drove around back in the day when AWD wasn't available.

A Shaker 6.4L manual is pretty much guaranteed to be a collector's item. Get an odd color for bonus points. I feel like it will be more rare than a Hellcat by the time all is said and done on these cars, it probably already is.

Ah South Park Mitsubishi, almost nostalgic. #SWF

I wish Chevy made a Chevelle that looked like this.

Great job! I think the 5.7 is a beast, and all you have to do is add aftermarket cat back exhaust for the right sound and a few more hp!

It should be noted that this is a ton of power compared to the average car on the road. If a potential buyer was used to owning a car with 150 to 220 horsepower and then stepped in this, this is probably going to feel like a Supercar to them LOL. But coming from the perspective of you reviewing very high-end and powerful muscle and supercars, I can understand your comments about this being pretty powerful but not the most powerful. I actually think your average buyer would be more than happy with an SXT Plus V6. Those still have 300 horsepower.

Agree.... I had a rental 3.6 challenger auto....was PLENTY of fun... dont knock it until you drive it

Like the 5.7 but I feel like the 6.4 with the dynamics package is the sweet spot for a challenger. Great review matt!

I lovveeee how poeple keep saying a v6camaro would smoke this thing. If you are so into racing then why even have a v6 Camaro lol. The v6 camaro is made to look cool and still be quick and nimble. The 5.7 chally is made to cruise and rumble around town with some jump when you want it. IMO the 5.7 is the best way to get a daily with a v8. Both awesome cars but so different

Love the old challengers! Ones that won’t overkill you with horsepower lol. Yet another great review Matt!

I just bought a 2016 Challenger RT Blacktop Edition with the 8 Speed Auto and I couldn't be happier. It is so comfortable and I love it

But why buy this for 33k... you can get the 6.4 scat pack shakers for 35-36..

People who keep hating on this car clearly never driven one.

Hey Matt, I wonder when Dodge is going make the Durango Srt Shaker? Since they displayed it at the auto show.

You get a lot of car for the money!

What great timing, I'm about to pull the trigger on a new '18 T/A 5.7. :) Also, since 2017, all the 5.7 models get the active exhaust, which ups the noise, including a glorious cold start. :)

The 5.7 with the auto has 372 hp and 400 tq while the 5.7 with the manual has 375 hp and 410 tq

Matt, a straight road isn’t the same as a backroad...😢

Hey Matt. Test drive the 2019 challenger RT shaker. It’s Extremely loud and fast!!

Who cares what’s faster out there!

Love my 15 rt plus shaker. With flowmaster outlaws on them it's a loud m.f.er

Got my 16 Torred shaker RT plus 2 months ago. It had 858 miles for under 33k. A lot of fun, scary power.

watch out for the You Tube police. Challenger drivers are tending to get arrested for making youtube videos😃

Camaro has the middle ground car. The v6 with 335 ish horsepower is great.

The 5.7 is for people that want the pure V8. I would definitely get a manual 5.7. Oh and if you're in auto mode blip the throttle to raise the revs and stomp on it

I own a ‘14 Challenger SXT Plus 100th Anniversary. The interior is beautiful to me including the pre 2015 instrument cluster change. A few changes like H & R lowering springs and Different Trends 49265 mufflers make my car stand out. As the Challenger platform is dated having been borrowed from the ‘08 Daimler Chrysler Mercedes E class but is a stable and solid unit. I own a ‘19 Camaro and ‘04 Monte Carlo SS along with the Challenger. The Challenger is a beautiful daily driver with great interior room and trunk space. If you want to have fun in the twisties the Camaro is the obvious choice (600lbs lighter). The Challenger is the more livable car versus the Camaro. To me both are drop dead gorgeous. I had a ‘90 Mustang 5.0L sedan notchback when I was a teen for nearly 10 years. The Mustang has come along way from the Fox body platform days. We’re lucky to have the choices available to us from which to choose.

I envy you Matt. 😤 good review though

You're earned my subscription man .

The one I reviewed was a manual and the only thing that owner did was removing the mid mufflers. It sounded awesome under acceleration and rowing the gears. The only issue I had with it was power. In 2018 the owner of an RT still has to watch it around my almost decade and a half old 2005 Mustang GT and that is a major shortcoming they got to fix. With that out there... If I could I would walk into a Dodge dealership and replace my daily with a scat pack shaker. I am super impressed with the Challengers (2015 and up) as well. Got to have the manual however... So no MDS for me.

For anyone who owns an R/T Challenger I would love for a response on this comment! I’m looking to buy my very first challenger (my dream car being the red eye) and I’m taken away by the R/T challenger. I had an opportunity to drive one of these cars recently and had the best 10 minutes of my life! The dealer let my mother and I drive the car by ourselves and told us the route to take, I punched it a total of 3 times and my adrenaline was rushing through my body pretty hard. Love the challengers! My question for anyone who knows the answer, is why are the 2016-2019 models so quiet? This car doesn’t seem quiet at all in the video. Am I able to tune the exhaust to make it louder when I buy it? Hate to hate on my favorite car, but I was hoping a V8 would sound loud on the challengers but they don’t? Why is this? I’m not buying the car to race either, I’m buying it purely for the fun of the horsepower and torque as well as the color and look of a muscle car. I’m not interested in a V6 (for anyone who’s wondering).

This RT shaker is the trim package challenger that is best suited and practical for me and my life. Thanx!

I hear that giggle Matt! Its a good sign. How abou the lane departure and adaptive cruise control option on this model, do you have any comments?

Nice review. Not a huge fan of the 5.7, but it is a great choice for a daily driver. Sounds like you're tester has several options which makes it a great cruiser but at a price. I believe you said the car was listed around $35,000 which brings the price close to a new basic Challenger RT. I looked at a 2016 Challenger RT 5.7 Shaker online at a local dealership with only 5,000 miles listed for $27,900. Missing some of your car's options, but still a solid deal. For daily street use, 375 HP is plenty of power and a lot less expensive than the 392 or 6.2 Hellcat.

The Super Track Pack gives you lower 392 gears in rear end which really wakes the 5.7 up big time, I have the 2014 R/T with STP & love it. I paid $28,000 for my Blacktop Edition with only 14K miles, Flowmasters & high end factory stereo.

Love that shaker hood!

This has the manual option correct? I would definitely go for that option if I was in the market for a challenger.

Pretty sure this newer 5.7 8A challenger is quicker than my old '09 SRT8 with the 6.1 and 6M.

review a Subaru Outback

I'm 1 minute in, I swear if you don't show that shaker shaking...

I’m your insurance agent i see you did 157 mph we need to talk!!! Lol

I have a 2010 Challenger R/T. With some exhaust mods, they can sound AMAZING! When I bought mine used, it had a Corsa Sport cat-back system. Even that wasn't enough for me, so I had a shop remove the resonators. Now it sounds like a proper V8 monster. :D

Today I went with my dad to a dealership... we test drove it .. we didn’t doubt it for a second so we bought it

I love ❤️ This car 🚘❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

hi Matt: The manual has 375 hp but the automatic has 372hp. Awesome video.Cheers.

hi Matt. nice vid. liked b4 watching b/c i knew it was going to be good

Honestly this car is no slouch but it’s so heavy and not really that quick

I am in the process of purchasing one now. Thank you for the video! I can’t WAIT!

It’s crazy a dealer by me has one right now but not a shaker with 146,000 miles for 15,900

Always love your reviews Matt. Clear and well spoken. Gotta say though, it sounds pretty sick to me! :))

doesnt sound that quiet to me lol

the 5.7 in automatic mode will get around 28-30 mpg because of the 4 cyl mode, its deactivated when in sport mode. Also i got my 2016 charger for 19k + tax and the challengers, if you dont want the shaker, is around the same

Thanks for the great review! I forgot that you hadn't done in RT review so I was very happy to stumble upon this. I guess I had been waiting for this ans had forgetten. It's great when you review different trim lines - it gives a personalized review to someone that would want a specific trim.

Matt I just wanted to say you are absolutely the best car reviewer ever ! I absolutely love you. Keep up great work! ❤💪never change

I want one. Your video helped win me over.

Got my 16 rt shaker this week and I’m in love!

I have one exactly like that but white. I love it! It feels so good.

I’d leave it stock exhaust. Engineers designed it that way to give it the great torque.

157 top speed bruhhhh how can ppl call this slow

Alright, Challenger reviews are done....until the next package comes out👏👏👏

Retired SCHP Trooper, currently Sheriff`s Deputy, I`ve professionally driven the SCHP Mustangs in years past. I purchased a 2018 Challenger Shaker 5.7 L and can say it is a dream ride capable of daily driving and family driving. On the Sport End it has all the instant HP to Road launch capabilities that I personally require. Beautiful in design and weight distribution as well. I hope you find one today. Thanks for the informative video.

Great review Matt! The options are great for the Challenger trims. I think the RT is more than just a have fun on your daily commute car. My 2020 RT Plus Shaker 5.7 with active exhaust is badass! It will beat a lot of cars in its class. Very intoxicating exhaust note, and with the 6 speed manual, it is a performer, especially on a tire! I will say that the Challenger at any trim level is the best muscle car made, IMO....

Shouldn't squeaks and rattles addressed under warranty? I know per Consumer Reports FCA stated that they have fix these issues. But if one happened to be an owner of a 2015 or 2016 Challenger, how would you go about identifying the squeaks and rattles and getting them fixed? This question is for anyone

You should do a review on my DODGE RAM R/T ,,

Are we skipping over that the owner did 157 in it?

Someone maxed that mf out at 157 😂 anyone else catch that

With the seats, is there any trims with a darker grey with the shaker labeling? I feel like that would be a nice touch to this model imo

After owning both the shaker and non shaker, I can say there’s a difference in performance and sound with the shaker hood.

Hmmm, squeaks & rattles? Well , as you indicated , maybe due to original owner usage ... otherwise just bitchen’ all around muscle car fun🤟🏻

I rented a base R/T in San Diego and it was a ton of fun! I think for the price differential you don't see too much of a difference between this and other models, then again 2018 was a totally different era lol.

Ayeeee i got a camaro and you cant tell me the back seat is unusable cause ive fit 5 people in mine😂😂

im prying to get this car for myself for my birthday in march

These cars are faster than people think they are my friend had one and that thing would get it!!!! 😀

beautiful interier...

It’s a great car but Dodge is just covering more price range by offering the 5.7 but the scat pack is just that much more of a dream muscle car

I just bought a 2019 charger rt...I was hoping to get the scat pack but it ended up being 6grand more...It’s my daily so this is more than enough for me, it’s not like ima use all that power on the streets any ways

Top speed 157 mph and 0-60 in 7.9 sec ....... hmmmmmmmm Come on Matt, you can do better......

My wife has a 2011 Chrysler 300 60k miles.... the dash makes a few noises when you stress the frame (large bumps quick tight turns)

What's the Doug score?

"Not as loud as the 6.4L" put a aftermarket exhaust on it, if you the 5.7L Hemi loud.

I agree with that comment Matt, I was looking to get a mustang but not looking to get one anymore because they do not offer AWD and I live in NE.

Matt is the type of guy to fart and flush it

Hi I know this is off topic. Just curious does your Mustang have the typewriter tick engine problem? Great channel, I love your videos!

The 2016 and below 345 hemi chally and charger exhausts were very quiet from factory and that's a con. It was because they lacked the active exhaust system that the scatpack and above and the 2017+ rt models had. But at least now, they have the active exhaust and sound like there's a v8 under the hood

Would be nice to get the Subaru WRX fan intro once a year just for old times sake

What is the super trak pak?

"boat" loads of power 😂

How weird I’m in Cali and the challenger I’m getting is a a Mitsubishi dealer 😂

Nice review! I'm surprised how much you hear the interior rattling through the camera. Especially on a car that's 2 years old with 10k miles...

I love my 5.7 Challenger, but the scat pack is so much better.

The 2019 R/Ts come with variable exhaust standard so they’re not so quiet anymore