Dodge once again shines a warm light on the 1970s with its 2013 Challenger, a sleek and quick rendition more than willing to step up to the starting line of the nation’s roads alongside its American muscle-car brethren, the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger may give up a little in nimbleness, agility and interior niceties to its longtime niche-mates, reviewers concede, but it more than holds its own in several other areas and overall may be the throwback most true to its classic roots, particularly when it comes to its long and lean exterior styling.

Some experts eagerly look forward to an anticipated makeover, perhaps as early as the 2014 model year, and hope it might usher in a somewhat lighter and smaller Challenger that will compete even better against Ford and Chevy. Others, meanwhile, feel the gap has already been closed with tweaks to the Challenger’s engines, steering and suspension over the last couple of years. Dodge has fine-tuned the 5-seat, 2-door coupe bit by bit since bringing it back in 2008 after a quarter-century off.

Thanks in large part to the power delivered by the 2013 Dodge Challenger’s lineup of engine choices and the comfortable ride it provides, most reviewers feel the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) cruiser is well worth a look without any further changes.

The base 2013 Dodge Challenger SXT—it also comes in R/T and SRT8 trims—kicks things off on the power front with a 3.6-litre V6 good for 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque that teams with a 5-speed automatic transmission. That setup earns a fuel mileage rating of 18 mpg city/27 highway. The power numbers bump up quickly from there.

The R/T and SRT8 each feature a Hemi V8. The R/T gets a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 at 376 hp and 410 lb ft of torque with a 6-speed manual transmission that comes standard. It has mileage numbers of 15/24. The SRT8’s Hemi is a 6.4-liter V8 that produces 470 hp with 470 lb-ft of torque, also with a 6-speed manual transmission, and rated at 14/23. Either Hemi can be delivered with a 5-speed automatic.

The size that makes the 2013 Dodge Challenger a little unwieldy on the road does have its bright side. The Challenger offers a spacious cabin with lots of cargo space, lets passengers ride in that comfort and efficiently chews up the miles on a road trip. Reviewers remain unimpressed, though, with both its interior styling and the quality of materials in its cabin. They also find fault with visibility toward the rear.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger SXT starts the lineup off with full power accessories, automatic climate control, rear AC/DC outlets, a 6-way driver's seat with power lumbar adjustment, a trip computer, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition and a 6-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary radio jack.

A performance-tuned suspension, steering and brakes come standard in the 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T, along with automatic headlamps, heated mirrors and a USB/iPod interface, satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity/streaming audio.

The 2013 Challenger SRT8 392 bumps things up further to include 20-inch wheels, heated leather sports seats, a Boston Acoustics sound system, upgraded brakes and suspension, and an upgraded trip computer along with other goodies.

A wide array of options and packages are available for each of the Challenger trims.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger has antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control and a full offering of airbags, including a driver's knee airbag. A rear-view camera and blind-spot monitors are available.