Best Dodge Challenger & Charger Exhaust Systems (HEMI)

A cat-back exhaust is the single most satisfying upgrade you can bolt to a HEMI-powered Dodge Challenger or Charger, and it is the one mod every owner hears before they see it. Swapping the restrictive factory muffler section for a mandrel-bent stainless system wakes up the 5.7L, 6.4L 392, and supercharged 6.2L Hellcat with a deeper idle, a hard-edged wide-open-throttle bark, and a few extra horsepower — all without a tune. Below we round up the best Dodge Challenger & Charger cat-back exhaust systems we stock at NLP Performance, from Borla's million-mile ATAK to a budget-friendly MagnaFlow axle-back, with real sound-level data and fitment notes for every HEMI.

Why Upgrade the Exhaust on a HEMI Challenger or Charger?

A cat-back exhaust replaces everything from the catalytic converters back — the mid-pipe, resonators, mufflers, and tips — with larger-diameter, mandrel-bent tubing that flows more freely than the pinched factory setup. On a Dodge Challenger or Charger the payoff is three-fold: a dramatically better sound, a modest power and weight reduction, and a more purposeful look out back.

Be honest with yourself about power, though. On the naturally aspirated 5.7L (roughly 375 hp / 410 lb-ft) and 6.4L 392 (485 hp / 475 lb-ft), a cat-back alone typically frees only a handful of horsepower — think single digits to low teens at the wheels. The meaningful gains come when you pair it with long-tube headers, a cold-air intake, and a 93-octane tune. On the 707-hp supercharged 6.2L Hellcat, a freer-flowing 3-inch system helps the blower breathe and can be worth slightly more. For 95% of owners, the real reasons to buy are the sound and the drop in weight — a stainless cat-back can shed 15-30 lbs versus the heavy factory pieces.

How Loud Is Too Loud? Borla's Sound Tiers Explained

Sound is the number one reason owners buy an exhaust, and Borla is the only major brand that publishes measured decibel data using the SAE J1492 drive-by standard. Those numbers make choosing a volume level simple:

• Stock — 85.7 dB: The muted factory baseline with active valves closed.
• Borla Touring — 94.2 dB: A refined "factory-plus" tone; the choice for quiet highway cruising.
• Borla S-Type — 97.0 dB: Aggressive but daily-drivable; the best balance of bark and comfort for most drivers.
• Borla ATAK — 102.3 dB: Acoustically-Tuned Applied Kinetics — Borla's loudest profile, built to announce the car. Expect real drone potential on the highway.

MagnaFlow does not publish drive-by dB numbers, but its straight-through, deep-flow street systems land in the aggressive S-Type range, while the 3-inch Competition and axle-back systems trend louder. If you commute daily and value your sanity, the S-Type or a MagnaFlow street cat-back is the smart move. If you want your Charger to set off car alarms, choose ATAK.

Best Dodge Challenger & Charger Exhaust Systems Compared

Here are our six picks side by side. All prices are current at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL. Match the system to your engine (5.7L R/T, 6.4L 392 Scat Pack, or 6.2L Hellcat) and your tolerance for volume.

1. Borla ATAK — Best Overall for the 5.7L R/T

The Borla ATAK cat-back is our top pick for the 5.7L HEMI Challenger R/T. ATAK stands for Acoustically-Tuned Applied Kinetics — Borla's most aggressive, patented sound design — and it produces a measured 102.3 dB drive-by note, the loudest in this roundup. It is built entirely from premium T-304 austenitic stainless steel (not the cheaper 409 series), fully mandrel-bent for maximum flow, and backed by Borla's legendary million-mile warranty. This 2016-2017 application is engineered for cars with MDS cylinder-deactivation valves and reuses your factory tips for a clean OEM-plus look.

2. Borla S-Type — Best for the 6.4L 392 Scat Pack

The 6.4L 392 Scat Pack makes 485 hp and 475 lb-ft, and it deserves an exhaust that matches its attitude without punishing you on the daily commute. The Borla S-Type is exactly that: a measured 97.0 dB — noticeably more aggressive than stock's 85.7 dB, but livable at highway speed. This single-split-rear-exit system is built from the same T-304 stainless as the ATAK and lets the free-breathing 392 sing on the way to redline. If you love the Borla growl but want to keep the peace with your neighbors, this is the one.

3. Borla ATAK — Best for the 6.2L Hellcat Charger

The 707-hp supercharged 6.2L Hellcat is the ultimate factory HEMI, and it wants a 3-inch system to breathe. This Borla ATAK cat-back for the Charger Hellcat is a full 3-inch design with a Merge X-pipe that boosts exhaust velocity and gives the blown V8 its unmistakable ATAK snarl over the supercharger whine. Like every Borla here it is T-304 stainless with the million-mile warranty, and it retains the factory active-exhaust valves so you keep valve control from the drive mode menu.

4. MagnaFlow 2.5in Street — Best Value for the 5.7L Charger

MagnaFlow's stainless Street-series cat-back is our value pick for the 5.7L Charger and Chrysler 300C. It uses a straight-through, deep-flow design with a dual split-rear exit and reuses your factory tips for a sleeper look with a serious voice. At $1,943.00 it undercuts the Borla systems while still delivering an aggressive, throaty tone that suits the four-door HEMI. MagnaFlow builds these from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and backs them with a lifetime warranty.

5. MagnaFlow 3in Quad-Tip — Best for a Bigger Pipe & Bold Look

Want larger 3-inch tubing and polished quad tips that fill out the rear valance? MagnaFlow's 409 stainless Competition-style cat-back for the 2017+ Challenger is the answer at $1,550.00. The larger-diameter piping supports higher flow for cammed or headered builds, and the polished quad tips give the car an unmistakable modern-muscle stance. It is louder and deeper than the 2.5-inch street system, so it suits owners chasing both a bolder look and a bigger sound.

6. MagnaFlow 3in Axle-Back — Best Budget Sound Upgrade

Not everyone needs a full cat-back. If you want a big jump in sound for the least money and the easiest install, the MagnaFlow 3-inch axle-back is the smart entry point at $975.00. An axle-back replaces only the mufflers and tips behind the rear axle, so it bolts on in under an hour with basic hand tools and no exhaust shop required. This stainless system with 3.5-inch quad tips fits the 2015+ Challenger — including the Hellcat — and delivers a noticeably deeper, louder tone while leaving the mid-pipe stock for a quieter cruise than a full cat-back.

Cat-Back vs Axle-Back: Which HEMI Exhaust Is Right for You?

A cat-back replaces the entire exhaust from the catalytic converters back, while an axle-back swaps only the mufflers and tips behind the rear axle. The practical differences come down to sound, flow, install time, and price:

• Cat-back: Biggest sound change, the most flow for power builds, and the cleanest look with matched piping. It is more expensive ($1,500-$2,300 here) and typically a 1.5-3 hour install on a lift.
• Axle-back: The budget path ($975) with the easiest bolt-on — often under an hour in your driveway. You get a strong sound bump but slightly less volume and no mid-pipe flow gain.

If sound is your only goal and you are watching your budget, start with an axle-back. If you want the full transformation — or plan to add headers and a tune later — buy the cat-back once and be done.

Installation & Fitment Notes

Every system in this roundup is a direct bolt-on that mounts to factory hangers with no cutting or welding. Budget about 30-60 minutes for an axle-back and 1.5-3 hours for a full cat-back, ideally on a lift. Watch three fitment details before you order:

• MDS valves: Some 5.7L systems (like our top-pick Borla) are built specifically for cars with Multi-Displacement System cylinder-deactivation valves — confirm your year and engine.
• Tips vs no tips: Several systems reuse your factory tips or bezel to match the OEM valance. Check whether tips are included if you want a new look.
• Active exhaust valves: Hellcat and some R/T applications retain the factory electronic valves, so you keep drive-mode sound control after install.

Not sure which system fits your exact year and trim? Our team at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL verifies fitment on every order — message us your VIN and we will confirm the correct part before it ships.