Rent Dodge Challenger 2022 in Dubai

A supercharged 6.2-litre V8 making 797 hp is not a car you rent by accident, and the Dodge Challenger 2022 we hand over in Dubai is exactly that machine. This is the SRT Hellcat Redeye spec, the wild end of the Challenger range, and we deliver it to your door in Dubai with a no-deposit option so you can put one of the fastest muscle coupes on sale under you for a few days without locking up a big hold on your card. Our honest take: rent this one for the experience, not the errands. If you want a Challenger you can run cheaply all week, the V8 5.7 or the new six is the smarter buy. This is the one you take because 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h still makes you laugh.

The engine is the whole point

Everything about this car flows from the supercharger up front. The 6.2-litre V8 puts 797 hp to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic, and the way it gathers speed on the on-ramp to Sheikh Zayed Road is genuinely violent. Dodge quotes 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, and you feel every bit of it. Roll onto the throttle at 80 in the right lane and the car simply leaves, which makes overtaking a non-event and makes restraint the actual skill you'll need.

That power lands on the back axle only, and in Dubai's heat that matters. On a 45-degree afternoon the road surface is hot and the rear tyres give up grip earlier than you'd expect. Treat the first quarter of the throttle as the usable part in traffic and save the rest for a clear road. The car is faster than almost anything you'll pull up next to, so you have nothing to prove from the lights.

Spec at a glance

What it costs you to feed

This is where the Redeye asks for commitment. The tank holds 70 litres, and a supercharged V8 driven the way it wants to be driven will empty it fast. Combined economy sits around 15 L/100 km, and stop-and-go Marina traffic with the AC fighting the heat pushes it well past that. Plan on a fuel stop every couple of days of normal use, and more often if you actually use the performance. None of this is a surprise on a 797 hp car, but it's the cost of entry, so budget for it rather than being caught out on day two.

Size, parking and the Dubai reality

At over five metres long and 2.17 metres wide with the mirrors, this is a big, broad coupe. The widebody arches make it wider than most sedans, so tight multi-storey bays and the spiral ramps at Marina malls need patience. Reverse in where you can, use the cameras, and leave yourself room on both sides. The long doors are heavy and swing wide, which is awkward in a packed car park, so pick the end bay when one's free.

It's a genuine five-seater on paper, but the back is a coupe back: fine for two adults on a short hop, tight for a full week with luggage. The 459-litre boot swallows a couple of large cases, so a couple heading out for a few days is well covered. Four adults plus airport bags is where I'd point you at a sedan instead.

Staying cool inside

A dark coupe parked in a Dubai July is an oven, and the Challenger is no exception. Left in the sun the cabin gets brutal, and the question is recovery time. The climate system pulls it down to comfortable within a few minutes of driving, the front vents hit hard, and the cabin is sealed and quiet once it's cooled. Crack the windows for a few seconds before you set off to dump the worst of the trapped heat, then let the AC do its work. There's no rear-vent luxury to expect here, so back-seat passengers rely on the front system reaching them.

Salik, fines and the rules

The tolls are yours. Salik charges as you pass the gantries go on your rental, and any RTA speeding or parking fines during your hire pass to you too. On a car this fast that's worth saying plainly: the speed limits are enforced by camera across Dubai, and it's easy to be well over before you've noticed. Seat belts are mandatory in every seat, and a child under four needs a child seat, which we can fit on request.

Who should rent it

Rent the Challenger 2022 Redeye if you want the experience of a near-800 hp supercharged muscle car for a weekend or a short trip, you'll respect the fuel bill, and you understand it's a wide, thirsty coupe built around one spectacular engine. For a Dubai photoshoot, a special weekend, or simply ticking it off the list, nothing in this price bracket feels like it.

Skip it if you need a practical week of running around. The 5.7 V8 Challenger gives you the muscle-car sound and look for far less fuel, and the new Hurricane six adds real range on top. And if you're carrying four adults and luggage, this isn't the car at all, so size up to a sedan. The Redeye earns its keep on drama, not daily duty.