It used to be that you could get a vehicle with 300 horsepower, but only on some of the world’s most exotic and expensive sports cars. Nowadays, you can find some hefty power under the hood of pretty average vehicles, like the Chevy Impala and muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger. 

To help you find some of the most inexpensive vehicles on the market offering 300 hp engines, Automobile magazine has a list of 12 such cars available and the Dodge Challenger is one of them. 

What you’ll find on the list

All the vehicles on the list are less than $38,000, but all of them come with engines that can produce at least 300 hp. The cheapest vehicle you’ll see is the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback. This sporty little car packs a punch with its 2.3-liter turbocharged Inline-four motor that puts out 310 hp and only costs $27,865.

The most expensive one listed in the top 12 is the Honda Civic Type R. Under the hood of this compact vehicle is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It puts out 306 hp and comes with a price tag of $37,950.

Listed with the highest amount of horsepower is the 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LS Coupe. It has a 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out 335 hp, which comes with a six-speed manual transmission. But to get the 335 hp, you have to upgrade from the base engine, which only produces 275 hp. The total price for the Camaro with the V6 motor is $30,090.

The list of engine options along the Challenger line

The SXT, or base model of the Dodge Challenger as well as the GT, both have a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model will get you 305 hp for less than $30,000.

Stepping up to the R/T trim will get you a 5.7-liter V8 motor, which puts out 372 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Pairing up with it is a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed automatic transmission as an option. The R/T Scat Pack sports a 6.4-liter V8 engine that produces 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. 

The SRT Hellcat comes with a 6.2-liter V8 motor that puts out a whopping 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque. You can choose either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

If you step up to the next trim, the SRT Hellcat Redeye, you’ll get even more power. It produces 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, which comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. But it’s not even the most powerful. The SRT Super Stock gives you another 10 hp on top of what the Redeye offers.

What you can expect from the Dodge Challenger

An Edmunds reviewer pegged it “the truest incarnation of the classic early 1970s muscle car.” The Challenger continues to get upgrades to keep it modern and competitive, but it still reminds us of the good old days of the classic muscle machines. 

Standard features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 7-inch touchscreen, keyless ignition, keyless entry, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all the trims, but you can opt for an all-wheel-drive on the SXT and the GT trim levels. 

If you’re looking to purchase a car that packs at least 300 hp with its engine, you won’t need to look too far. The 2020 Dodge Challenger offers you some pretty decent power for an inexpensive price.