10 Cheap European Sports Car Alternatives To The New Dodge Challenger

Dodge last redesigned the modern Challenger in 2008. Despite its age, the modern Challenger is an automotive oddity with a great selection of trims, engines, and prices. The Dodge Challenger is among the few muscle cars that have aged gracefully. While Dodge will no longer offer the Challenger in its current form, there’s a lot of hope for future variants.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger is an iconic gas-powered muscle car that mainly competes with the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. However, these cheap European sports cars are also great alternatives to the Dodge Challenger, thanks to their impressive performance.

Looking at Kelly Blue Book’s pricing data, we’ve compiled a list of some cheap European cars that are great substitutes to the new Dodge Challenger.

10 2010 BMW M6

Starting Used Price: $19,163 – $22,182

BMW first introduced the M6 for the 2006 model year. It was a high-performance variant of the 6 Series coupe and convertible, and like most of its BMW siblings, it had impressive performance and luxury. Unlike the new Dodge Challenger, the BMW M6 was available in two body styles, a coupe or convertible – both with a gentle, peaceful ride, be it on the highway or the city.

Performance

Under the hood of the BMW M6 sat a 5.0-liter V10 engine with 500 ponies and 383 lb-ft of torque. The engine paired with a 7-speed single-clutch automated manual gearbox, sending power to the rear wheels. While BMW no longer produces the legendary M6, it remains an automotive icon thanks to its impressive resume, stellar handling, and daily driver ride quality.

9 2013 Audi RS 5

Starting Used Price: $22,166 – $24,647

For the 2013 model year, Audi graced U.S. enthusiasts with their first RS 5 variant. It’s an impressive sports car and a high-performance variant of the already impressive A5 and S5 coupe. The 2013 Audi RS 5 also had a sharp interpretation of the already admirable S5 coupe, retaining the sleek shape and getting some new aggressive accents to emphasize its impressive performance.

Performance

Under its hood sat a 4.2-liter V8 engine with 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque that helped rocket the RS 5 from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. Unlike the Dodge Challenger that uses rear-wheel drive, Audi put the power to good use by giving the RS 5 a well-balanced chassis and all-wheel drive.

Related: The 10 Most Important Audi RS Cars In History

8 2017 BMW 440i Coupe

Starting Used Price: $22,890 – $25,633

In 2017, BMW gave the entire 4 Series lineup a birthday present; new engines. These new engines gave the lineup more power and torque while introducing new nomenclature, the 430i and 440i. Both variants offered an immersive driving experience, especially in either the Coupe or convertible body style.

Performance

The 2017 BMW 440i was the most powerful of the two variants, boasting a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. This translated into impressive performance, especially when mated to the optional 6-speed automatic transmission.

7 2016 Audi S5

Starting Used Price: $24,219 – $27,097

The 2016 Audi S5 capitalized on the already impressive A5 coupe. It was a sportier alternative to the A5, thanks to a punchier turbocharged V6 motor with impressive performance. Like with the A5, Audi offered two body styles of the S5, a coupe and a convertible.

Performance

All models of the S5 had a well-built interior with upscale materials and creature comforts. Under the hood of the 2016 Audi S5 sat a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine churning 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The engine offered snappy response, commendable fuel economy, and silky smoothness. Nowadays, these amazing European sports cars have a fair market range of between $24,219 and $27,097, according to Kelly Blue Book.

Related: These Are The 18 Safest Cars In The World In 2023

6 2015 Mercedes AMG C 63 Coupe

Starting Used Price: $25,674 – $28,591

For the 2015 model year, Mercedes upgraded the C-Class lineup closer to the upscale stablemates. This left the CLA variants to handle entry-level duties, giving enthusiasts more powerful and luxurious options. While the lineup mainly consisted of sedans, Mercedes-Benz also offered coupes.

Performance

The 2015 C 63 Coupe was a high-performance variant of the C-Class, boasting a potent 6.2-liter V8 engine with 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. While this was the predecessor’s engine, it gave enthusiasts classic Mercedes-AMG performance before the introduction of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8.

5 2013 Audi TT RS

Starting Used Price: $26,164 – $30,527

In 2012, Audi finally decided to grace Americans with the first TT RS. It was the performance variant of the TT sports car, sitting at the top of the lineup. The Audi TT RS also offered more performance, desirability, and price. It also received multiple enhancements over the base TT including 19-inch wheels, side sills, a more aggressive-looking front fascia, a rear diffuser, and a larger rear wing.

Performance

Audi also gave the TT RS a huge dose of power, adding 149 ponies over the standard TT. The TT RS used a unique turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 engine with 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque. This engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard, helping to rocket the Audi TT RS from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Nowadays, the fair market range of the 2013 Audi TT RS is between $26,164 and $30,527, according to Kelly Blue Book.

Related: Audi E-Tron Spyder Is The Insane 1-Of-1 Concept Hidden In This Secret Location

4 2016 BMW 650i Coupe

Starting Used Price: $27,279 – $30,168

For the 2016 model year, BMW offered the 6 Series lineup in three body styles, a coupe, a convertible, and a 4-door model known as the Gran Coupe. The 6 Series was BMW’s luxury sport coupe (and sedan) lineup featuring sleek lines, stout performance, and a sumptuous interior.

Performance

The 650i Coupe was among the fastest models in the lineup, thanks to a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Beyond having pure acceleration, the 2016 BMW 6 Series lineup had premium materials everywhere, including wood or carbon fiber accents, a comfortable driver’s seat, and a high-end audio system.

3 2018 BMW M240i Coupe

Starting Used Price: $28,191 – $31,079

Since its introduction, the BMW 2 Series has been a quick, nimble, and engaging sports car. For the 2018 model year, BMW offered two variants of the 2 Series, the 230i and the more powerful 240i. Both variants had optional all-wheel drive in either the Coupe or convertible body styles.

Performance

While the base 230i used a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the 240i got a bigger turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, helping the 2017 BMW 240i sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

Related: We Love The BMW 5 Series, But These 10 Sleeper Cars Can Outrun It

2 2015 Jaguar F-Type

Starting Used Price: $35,966 – $39,587

Jaguar reintroduced the F Type in 2014, its first sports car in four decades. For the 2015 model year, Jaguar added a hardtop coupe to the lineup. Besides adding a roof to the sports car, Jaguar created a super stiff structure that allowed the engineers to sharpen the steering and suspension.

Performance

Jaguar offered the 2015 F Type with two engine options, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Both engines had multiple potencies, with the V6 producing either 340 or 380 hp. The V8 raised the performance to either 495 or 550 hp. The high-performance V8 variants had a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.0 seconds and a 186 mph top speed.

1 2015 Porsche Cayman

Starting Used Price: $38,004 – $42,299

While most enthusiasts believe that the pricier 911 is the most exhilarating sports car, taking the 2015 Porsche Cayman might convince them otherwise. Porsche designed the Cayman to mimic the weight balance of sophisticated racecars, making it a mid-engine sports car that was a driver’s dream come true.

Performance

For the 2015 model year, Porsche offered three variants of the Cayman, the base, S, and GTS. These coupes had impressive performance, with the base variant using a 2.7-liter 6-cylinder engine with 275 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque. The S upped the performance to 325 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, thanks to a larger 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine. The GTS used the same 3.4-liter engine but produced 340 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.