2009 Dodge Challenger MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Every trim takes regular — no premium needed.
Is the 2009 Dodge Challenger good on gas?
At up to 20 MPG combined, the 2009 Dodge Challenger is worse than average for a Compact Cars — that class averages about 24.1 MPG across 6,481 EPA-tested versions, so it's on the thirsty side for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,850/year (roughly $238/month, about $19.00 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 750 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2009 Dodge Challenger trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, RWD | REGULAR | 20 | $2,850 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, RWD | REGULAR | 20 | $2,850 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl, 6-spd manual, RWD | REGULAR | 19 | $3,000 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, RWD | REGULAR | 19 | $3,000 |
| 6.1L 8-cyl, 6-spd manual, RWD | REGULAR | 16 | $3,562 |
| 6.1L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, RWD | REGULAR | 15 | $3,800 |
2009 Dodge Challenger specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 3.5L 6-cyl · 5.7L 8-cyl · 6.1L 8-cyl |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd · Automatic 5-spd · 6-spd manual |
| Drive type | RWD |
| EPA body class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel | Regular |
| Gas guzzler tax | Yes — at least one trim carried the federal guzzler tax |
Other years of the Dodge Challenger
Similar cars (Compact Cars)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
6 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-08-01 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.