A cold air intake is one of the first upgrades most Dodge Charger owners reach for, and for good reason. The factory airbox on the 5.7L HEMI, 6.4L 392, and 3.6L Pentastar is built to be quiet and emissions friendly, not to feed the engine the coolest, freest flowing air it can get. Swap it for a properly designed intake and you wake up the throttle response, add a deeper growl under load, and on the bigger V8s you can free up a real, measurable handful of horsepower.
The catch is that the market is full of shiny tubes that look fast and do almost nothing, or worse, pull in hot underhood air and cost you power. We sorted through the kits that actually fit a Charger, looked at how each one manages heat, how its filter media holds up, and whether the tune stays happy without a check engine light. Below are the seven intakes we would actually bolt onto our own car, ranked best first.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
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K&N 63 Series AirCharger Cold Air Intake (63-1562) Best Overall Roto-molded tube, heat shield, washable cotton-gauze filter, 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI fit |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake Best Sealed Airbox One-piece sealed airbox, Pro 5R or Pro DRY S filter, available for 5.7L, 6.4L, and Hellcat |
9.3 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
S&B Filters Cold Air Intake Kit Best Filtration Sealed airbox with large surface-area filter, oiled or dry cotton media, HEMI applications |
9.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Airaid Cold Air Dam (CAD) Intake System Best Heat Shield Design Cold Air Dam enclosure, SynthaMax dry or oiled filter, 5.7L HEMI fit |
8.9 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Volant Cold Air Intake with PowerCore Filter Best Enclosed Box for V6 Fully enclosed airbox, PowerCore or cotton-gauze filter, fits 3.6L and HEMI applications |
8.7 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Injen Power-Flow Cold Air Intake System Best Sound and Throttle Feel Mandrel-bent aluminum tube, heat shield, oiled filter, HEMI fit with MR Technology |
8.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Spectre Performance Air Intake Kit Best Value Starter Kit Powder-coated tube, conical washable filter, heat shield, 5.7L HEMI fit |
8.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. K&N 63 Series AirCharger Cold Air Intake (63-1562): Best Overall
The K&N 63 Series is the intake we keep coming back to for the Charger because it does the boring things right. The heat shield actually seals to the hood and fender, so the filter sits in its own pocket of cooler air instead of baking next to the headers. The roto-molded tube has smooth internal walls that keep airflow clean all the way to the throttle body, and on the 5.7L and 6.4L cars it reliably picks up power you can feel from a roll. It is the kit we would hand a first-time modder without a second thought.
Its one real weakness is the cotton-gauze filter, which is also its biggest selling point. It is washable and lasts forever, but you have to clean and re-oil it correctly. Over-oil it and the film can foul the mass airflow sensor, which throws off fueling and can trip a code. Follow the instructions and it is a non-issue, but careless owners do get burned, so factor in a little maintenance discipline.
- Sealed heat shield isolates the filter from hot engine bay air
- Reusable cotton-gauze filter cleans and re-oils instead of being thrown away
- Dyno-backed airflow gains with a 50-state legal CARB EO number on most applications
Pros: Proven, repeatable power gains on the HEMI; Filter lasts the life of the car if maintained; Bolts in with hand tools and clear instructions
Cons: Filter must be re-oiled correctly or airflow sensor readings can drift; Re-oil kit is sold separately
2. aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake: Best Sealed Airbox
If the K&N is the safe default, the aFe Momentum GT is the choice for owners who care most about keeping hot air out. Instead of a heat shield that leaves the filter partly exposed, aFe gives you a fully enclosed airbox with a clear lid, so the filter only ever sees air drawn from outside the engine bay. On the 392 and the Hellcat especially, that sealed design helps keep intake air temperatures down during repeated hard pulls, which is exactly when a cheaper open kit starts losing the plot.
The trade-off is install effort. There are more pieces, the box has to seat and seal properly, and rushing it undermines the entire point of the design. We also like that aFe offers the Pro DRY S filter for anyone who never wants to deal with oil, though purists will tell you the oiled 5R flows a touch more. It is a more demanding kit to fit, but the heat management is genuinely excellent.
- Fully enclosed rotomolded airbox blocks underhood heat from every angle
- Choice of oiled Pro 5R or dry, no-oil Pro DRY S filter media
- Large diameter intake tube and clear airbox lid for a clean engine bay look
Pros: Among the best heat isolation of any kit we tried; Dry filter option removes any over-oiling worry; Covers everything from the V6 up to the Hellcat
Cons: One of the more involved installs in this group; Premium kit aimed at owners who want the full sealed-box benefit
3. S&B Filters Cold Air Intake Kit: Best Filtration
S&B built its name on protecting engines in dusty, abusive conditions, and that filtration-first mindset carries over to its Charger intakes. The filter is large with a lot of surface area, which lets it flow freely while still trapping the grit that would otherwise sand down your cylinder walls over the years. For anyone who drives gravel roads, tows, or just wants long-term engine protection alongside the power bump, S&B is the intake that takes filtration most seriously.
Where it falls short is selection. S&B does not chase every single Charger trim and model year the way the bigger names do, so you need to confirm there is a kit for your exact engine before you get attached to it. The filter is also genuinely big, so double-check clearance under your hood. Get those two boxes ticked and you have one of the best protected intakes on the list.
- Oversized filter delivers high airflow with strong dust holding capacity
- Fully sealed box with a viewing window in the lid
- Backed by an airflow and filtration efficiency rating you can actually read
Pros: Excellent balance of airflow and real-world filtration; Sealed box keeps intake temps in check; Available with a dry filter for zero oiling hassle
Cons: Fewer Charger-specific fitments than K&N or aFe; Filter is physically large, so confirm clearance for your year
4. Airaid Cold Air Dam (CAD) Intake System: Best Heat Shield Design
Airaid’s Cold Air Dam is a smart middle ground between a cheap open filter and a full sealed airbox. The dam is a tall wall that seals against the underside of the hood when it closes, so the filter ends up nearly enclosed and shielded from radiant header heat. On the 5.7L HEMI it gives you most of the benefit of a sealed box with a simpler, faster install, and the SynthaMax dry filter means you can skip the oil routine entirely if you want.
Because the top of the dam relies on the hood to complete the seal, it is not quite as airtight as aFe’s or S&B’s fully enclosed designs, and on a back-to-back the very top kits will edge it out on intake temps. That said, for most street-driven Chargers the difference is small, and the ease of installation makes this a genuinely sensible pick for someone doing their first intake at home.
- Cold Air Dam wall seals against the hood for a near-enclosed filter
- SynthaMax dry media available for maintenance-free running
- Molded intake tube with a factory-style, bolt-on fit
Pros: Strong heat blocking without a full enclosed box; Dry filter option keeps the MAF sensor safe; Straightforward, beginner-friendly install
Cons: Open-top dam is not quite as sealed as a full airbox; Power gains trail the top sealed-box kits
5. Volant Cold Air Intake with PowerCore Filter: Best Enclosed Box for V6
Volant is a name a lot of Charger owners overlook, which is a shame because its fully enclosed airbox punches above its reputation. The box seals up tight with a weather strip, so the filter is protected from both engine heat and the water spray that open kits hate. We especially like it on the 3.6L Pentastar cars, where it is one of the few quality enclosed options, and the PowerCore filter variant can run impressively long between services.
The honest limitation is character. Because the box is sealed and the V6 simply does not move the air a 392 does, the intake-roar drama that V8 owners chase is much more subdued here. You are buying this for clean cooler-air delivery and protection, not theater. The PowerCore media is also a bit less common on the shelf than a standard cotton filter, so plan replacements ahead.
- Closed airbox with weather seal keeps heat and water spray off the filter
- PowerCore dry filter option offers long service intervals
- Cross-linked polyethylene box resists heat and cracking
Pros: Fully enclosed design rivals pricier sealed kits; PowerCore filter goes a long time between cleanings; Good fitment coverage including the V6 Charger
Cons: Sound increase is milder than the open V8 kits; PowerCore replacement media is less commonly stocked
6. Injen Power-Flow Cold Air Intake System: Best Sound and Throttle Feel
Injen is the enthusiast favorite for owners who want their Charger to sound as good as it feels, and the Power-Flow delivers exactly that. The mandrel-bent aluminum tube looks the part, and Injen’s MR Technology tuning ports help keep the airflow signal clean so fueling stays sensible. On the HEMI it produces among the most satisfying intake notes in this roundup, with a sharper throttle response that makes everyday driving feel more alive.
What you are giving up is a little bit of the cold-air purity the top sealed kits offer. The heat shield does its job, but it does not enclose the filter as completely as a full airbox, so on a brutally hot day the very best kits will keep intake temps a touch lower. The oiled filter also needs the standard clean-and-re-oil routine. For a street car chasing sound and feel, though, Injen is hard to beat.
- Patented MR Technology tuning ports smooth airflow signal
- Mandrel-bent polished or wrinkle-black tube for a sharp look
- Heat shield separates the filter from hot engine bay air
Pros: Aggressive, addictive intake sound on the HEMI; Crisp throttle response improvement; Eye-catching tube finish options
Cons: Heat shield is less enclosed than full airbox rivals; Oiled filter needs the usual cleaning care
7. Spectre Performance Air Intake Kit: Best Value Starter Kit
Spectre is the no-nonsense option for someone who wants the intake look, sound, and a modest bump without overthinking it. It comes with a powder-coated tube, a washable conical filter, and a basic heat shield, and it bolts onto the 5.7L HEMI without drama. As a first mod that gets you the deeper induction note and a slightly snappier throttle, it does the job and the reusable filter means you are not buying replacements every service.
You should go in clear-eyed about what it is, though. The heat shield is the simplest design here, so it does not isolate the filter from engine heat nearly as well as the sealed-box kits, and the measured power gains sit at the back of this pack. It is a sensible starting point and a solid value buy, but if you later get serious about heat management you will likely want to step up to one of the enclosed designs above.
- Washable cotton conical filter you can reuse for years
- Includes a heat shield to block some underhood air
- Powder-coated steel tube with a simple bolt-on design
Pros: Easy entry point into intake upgrades; Reusable filter keeps long-term running simple; Honest sound and throttle bump for a basic kit
Cons: Heat isolation is the most basic of the group; Gains trail the engineered sealed-box intakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a cold air intake add horsepower to my Dodge Charger?
Yes, but be realistic about how much. On the 5.7L HEMI and 6.4L 392 a quality intake typically frees up a real, feelable handful of horsepower along with sharper throttle response, especially in the upper rev range. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 sees smaller gains because it simply moves less air. The bigger everyday benefits across all engines are improved throttle feel and a deeper induction sound. To unlock the full potential you pair the intake with a supporting tune, but even on its own a well-designed sealed kit is a worthwhile upgrade.
Does a cold air intake void my Charger's warranty?
Installing an intake by itself does not automatically void your factory warranty. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a dealer has to show that the part actually caused the failure they are denying. So if your intake leads to a fueling-related issue, that specific claim could be refused, but unrelated repairs like an axle or infotainment fault cannot be denied just because you have an aftermarket filter. Choosing a kit with a CARB EO number where required, and re-oiling filters correctly, keeps you on the safest possible footing.
Oiled cotton filter or dry synthetic filter, which is better for a Charger?
Both work well, and the right answer depends on your habits. Oiled cotton-gauze filters, like the ones K&N is famous for, generally flow a touch more air and are washable, but they must be re-oiled carefully because too much oil can foul the mass airflow sensor and trip a code. Dry synthetic media, such as aFe Pro DRY S, S&B dry, or Airaid SynthaMax, skips the oiling step entirely and removes any MAF worry, at a very small airflow trade-off. If you are hands-off about maintenance, go dry. If you want maximum flow and do not mind the routine, oiled is fine.
Will a cold air intake throw a check engine light or cause problems?
A properly installed intake from a reputable brand should not trip a light on its own. The most common cause of trouble is an over-oiled cotton filter contaminating the mass airflow sensor, which skews the air reading and can set a lean or rich code. Loose clamps that let in unmetered air are the other usual culprit. Stick to the torque and oiling instructions, make sure every connection is sealed, and the vast majority of owners run trouble free. If you do see a code after install, recheck the clamps and the filter oiling first.
Are these intakes hard to install at home?
Most cold air intakes for the Charger are a genuine driveway job that takes roughly thirty minutes to an hour with basic hand tools. Heat-shield style kits like K&N, Airaid, Injen, and Spectre tend to be the quickest because there are fewer pieces. Fully sealed airbox designs from aFe, S&B, and Volant give you better heat isolation but ask for a bit more patience to seat and seal the box correctly. The key with any of them is to follow the instructions, snug every clamp, and confirm the filter sits clear of the hood when it closes.
Our Verdict
For most Dodge Charger owners the K&N 63 Series AirCharger is our top pick, because it nails the fundamentals with a sealed heat shield, a smooth roto-molded tube, and proven, repeatable gains that bolt in with hand tools. If keeping intake temperatures down during repeated hard pulls is your priority, the aFe Power Momentum GT is the runner up and arguably the best sealed-airbox design here, especially on the 392 and Hellcat. Whichever you choose, match the kit to your engine and your appetite for filter maintenance, and you will have a very satisfying upgrades you can make to a Charger.
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