Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger: We Break Down The Differences
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The muscle car era of the 1960s and 1970s brought about a multitude of timeless classics - two of the best ones are arguably the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. With their retro styling and updated V8 engine, the modern Charger and Challenger remain super popular, and they appeal to the speed demons in all of us.
So Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger, what is the difference? Which muscle car should you get? Both are top-shelf muscle cars and have the performance pedigree to back up their heritage - we know that this isn’t an easy choice.
Today, we’re pitting two of Dodge’s classic American muscle cars against each other. We break down the differences to make it easy for you to choose your next muscle car.
Exterior Design
The most obvious factor for choosing between the Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger is the number of doors. Want a two-door coupe? Get the Challenger! Do you prefer a family-friendly sedan? The Charger is a no-brainer!
Aside from the number of doors, there are some distinctive differences in the bodies. The Challenger features a sleek body and stays true to its muscle car heritage. Over the years, it has received several feature updates but has retained its classic muscle car profile - a wide rear, aggressive-looking grille, the works.
On the other hand, the Charger has benefited from a more modern look that will surely turn heads. From the menacing front grille to the wide-body fender, the Charger exudes strength, power, and style.
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Interior Features and Cargo Space
Another significant difference between the Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger is the space. Considering that it’s a comparison between a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan, it’s no surprise that the Charger is the better people hauler.
Just to be clear, both vehicles can seat up to five passengers, but the clincher lies in comfort. There’s no debating that the back seat passengers in a Charger are likely to be more comfortable than in a Challenger - thanks to the extra 4 inches of shoulder room and 8.3 inches of hip room.
However, that’s not saying that the Challenger is space-challenged in the back seat, but it’s more difficult to access with a coupe. Conversely, the Challenger does have more trunk space, and the lid opens wider compared to the Challenger. Therefore, the Challenger is no less practical when compared to its sedan counterpart.
Both cars are offered in an identical range of trim levels, so both are available with high-quality interior materials - unless you have the older models with dated and plasticky materials. Both models have similar tech offerings like the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, optional 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, a six-speaker audio system, and more.
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Performance and Fuel Economy
Of course, you can’t have a duel between the Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger without comparing their performance.
Both the Charger and Challenger come standard with a 3.6-liter V6 with a Variable Valve Timing base engine. On top of that, both vehicles’ engines boast high-flow exhaust ports, dual overhead camshafts, Integrated Speed Control, and Electronic Throttle Control. Both engines are also connected to a Torqueflite® 8-Speed Automatic Transmission system.
Although they’re powered by the same powertrains, there’s a bit of a gap between the two vehicles’ horsepower. With the base engine, the Dodge Challenger offers 305 hp and 268 lb.-ft. of torque compared to the Charger’s 295 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque. Both cars are offered with a rear-wheel-drive system, with AWD available in some models.
Perhaps the most noticeable difference in performance is highlighted at the top engine specs. Below are the top-most trims for both the Charger and Challenger, along with their respective performance stats and fuel economy:
- 2021 Dodge Charger Top Engine: Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® High Output SRT V8 - 707 hp / 707 lb-ft of torque, EPA-estimated 13 mpg city/22 mpg hwy
- 2021 Dodge Challenger Top Engine: Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® High Output SRT V8 - 807 hp / 707 lb-ft of torque, EPA-estimated 13 mpg city/22 mpg hwy
As you can see, if you want the king of the drag strip with an acceleration of 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, your best bet is the Dodge Challenger’s top trim. In addition, purists will appreciate that the Challenger is available in manual transmission while the Charger is not.
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Safety
Unfortunately, neither the Dodge Charger nor Challenger has been chosen for the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick award. The 2021 Dodge Challenger received a ‘Marginal’ score for the Small overlap front: driver-side test and ‘Acceptable’ scores for the Roof strength and Head restraints & seat tests.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Dodge Charger also suffered from a ‘Marginal’ rating for the Small overlap front: driver-side test but earned ‘Good’ ratings for the rest of the Crashworthiness test.
Unfortunately, Dodge doesn’t include any standard safety and driver assistance features. If you want access to advanced safety features, you will have to get Dodge’s Technology package which includes the following:
- Automatic High-Beam Headlamps
- Blind Spot Monitoring System
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
- ParkView® Rear Back-Up Camera
- Electronic Stability Control
- All-Speed Traction Control
- And more…
The lack of standard safety and driver-assist features is a bummer. Therefore, keep this in mind if you’re looking for a vehicle with top-notch safety features that won’t cost you extra.
Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger: Which Muscle Car Should You Get?
For pricing, the Charger is a little more expensive than its two-door counterpart. For instance, the base trim 2021 Dodge Charger SXT costs $31,490, which is about $1,700 more expensive than the base model Challenger.
When choosing between the Dodge Charger vs. Dodge Challenger, the biggest deciding factors are likely the exterior design and space. Do you want a sportier vehicle with retro styling and classic muscle car design? The Dodge Challenger gets our vote. Or maybe, you want a more practical car that can transport several people regularly? The Dodge Charger wins easily.
Regardless of your choice, both are excellent cars that offer plenty of speed, practicality, and wow factor.
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