Back in 2018, Dodge introduced the Challenger GT as the only all-wheel-drive option in the segment, and although there were rumors that the latest generation of the Ford Mustang would come with all-wheel-drive, those rumors have not yet become reality. As a result, those drivers who want to enjoy a sporty two-door American muscle car through harsh winter weather can go one of two routes – they can buy snow tires and hope for the best with rear-wheel-drive, or they can buy a Dodge Challenger SXT or GT with all-wheel-drive.

When the all-wheel-drive Challenger was first introduced, it was only available in GT trim and the GT trim level was only available with all-wheel-drive, but since them, the lineup has expanded a bit. The lower-priced Challenger SXT can now be equipped with all-wheel-drive while the more upscale GT models can be ordered with rear- or all-wheel-drive, but having spent quite a few miles battling Mother Nature at her wintry worst, I recommend the Challenger GT AWD to anyone who wants to get the most out of their muscle car all year long. When loaded up, the Challenger GT AWD comes with many of the interior amenities that are found in my SRT^® Hellcat, so in addition to the ability to conquer the slickest roads, GT AWD owners can do so with premium Dodge comfort.

Premium Amenities

What I enjoyed the most about every Dodge Challenger GT AWD test car I have had thus far is that the cabin has a very similar look and feel to my Challenger SRT Hellcat. The layout of the driver gauge cluster, the 8.4-inch Uconnect^® infotainment screen, the hard buttons for the sound system and HVAC controls below the big touchscreen, the shifter and the controls on the steering wheel are all similar to the design in my SRT Hellcat. Even the seats in the Challenger GT AWD have a similar feel to those in my SRT Hellcat, with deep side and base bolsters that provide a very snug, comfortable feel on a long drive in the snow. My test cars were also equipped with the same Harman Kardon sound system that I have in my SRT Hellcat, as well as a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, so shy of a differently shaped steering wheel, the overall interior feel of the GT AWD provides the same comfort and technology as my SRT Hellcat.

In fact, I’ve met a handful of Challenger owners in the SRT Hellcat community who have purchased a GT AWD model to get around in the snow. That way, they can enjoy the same general interior feel all year long, even in deep snow.

Incredible Abilities in Harsh Conditions

Since the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger was introduced, I have had several opportunities to spend time driving one on snow-covered roads. This includes driving through Maine and New Hampshire during a Nor’easter that laid down a couple feet of snow along with traversing roads around Metro Detroit when they were layered in ice and snow. I even dealt with a few dirt roads that had been converted to rivers of ice and mud, and nothing proved to be too tough for the Challenger GT AWD with an all-season tire.

I have driven my own Challenger SRT Hellcat in the snow on local paved roads and I have had a handful of sporty rear-drive test cars with expensive snow tires, and the Challenger GT with all-wheel-drive and all-season tires was clearly more capable with average snowfall. On the other hand, one of my test sessions with the Dodge Challenger GT AWD occurred in Maine and New Hampshire on a day following a Nor’easter and in those conditions, I learned that the only all-wheel-drive muscle car on the market is just as capable in heavy snow as the top-selling trucks and SUVs.

The night before my day of testing the Dodge Challenger GT AWD, snow began to fall outside of my hotel in Portland, Maine. They told us to expect heavy snowfall, but I was not prepared for the amount of snow that fell in such a short time. It didn’t look too bad in downtown Portland, as the city did a great job of clearing the streets and the sidewalks, but once we got into more rural areas, the snow got much deeper. My drive route took me through very rural sections of Maine and New Hampshire, and at some points, the snow was deep enough that the car was collecting it in the lower grille – essentially plowing the road with the front fascia. At times, the snow on the sides of the road was deep enough that I couldn’t see over it from the driver’s seat.

About an hour outside of Portland, the roads were layered with packed snow with more fresh snow falling, and from that point on, I only saw trucks and SUVs. I would say that I was probably facing some of the worst driving conditions that I had ever experienced and I was doing so in a Dodge Challenger. It sounds a bit crazy, but the GT AWD is that good in the snow. There was even one situation where I approached a long, steep uphill climb during a period of hard snow. About halfway up that hill was a late-model half-ton four-wheel-drive pickup, stuck with two wheels off into the deep snow on the side of the road. I was able to stop next to him, check to make sure that he was ok and had a tow truck coming, and continue up the hill with the all-wheel-drive Challenger.

The destination of my day of testing the Dodge Challenger GT AWD in New England was Club Motorsports, a stunning road course racing facility in New Hampshire. When we got there, it was also completely covered in snow, but with the guidance of some professional off-road rally racing instructors, we got to enjoy some track time with heavy snow on the surface. Dodge also provided us with a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet Camaro, but since those cars are both only offered with rear-drive, it was literally impossible to even get them out of the parking lot. The video below shows some in-car footage from the spirited driving at the track facility.

In case you are wondering just how much snow it takes to bring the Dodge Challenger GT AWD to a stop, another member of the media found out. That person drove one of the all-wheel-drive Challengers into a portion of the track facility that had not been cleared at all during the storm. The snow in that area was so deep that when the driver pushed the door open, the snow was higher than the base of the seat, nearly deep enough to engulf the wheels and tires. However, I found that in snow that wasn’t deeper than the axles, the Challenger had no issue conquering the worst winter driving conditions that I had ever experienced – and I have lived my entire life in Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Best of all, with more than 300 horsepower, when you do have clear roads, the Dodge Challenger GT AWD offers solid acceleration and the driving dynamics that you want from a modern muscle car.

If you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snowfall and you want a muscle car that you can drive all year long – and actually get to your destination without the help of a tow truck – the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger is the only option in the segment. If you are less interested in the premium interior features and you would like to save a few dollars at the dealership, the SXT AWD package provides all of the go-anywhere capabilities that I discussed above, but with fewer standard interior features. As for the GT AWD, it offers most of the interior goodies from my Challenger SRT Hellcat in an all-wheel-drive muscle car that will go anywhere in the roughest winter conditions. It is truly a muscle car that you can enjoy all year long, no matter where you live.