For enhanced safety, the Chevrolet Camaro’s rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Dodge Challenger doesn’t offer height adjustable seat belts.
The Chevrolet Camaro has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Challenger doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.
The Camaro LT/SS offers optional Rear Park Assist to help warn drivers about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind their vehicle. The Camaro LT/SS also offers an optional backup monitor to help drivers see any and all obstacles behind their vehicle. The Challenger doesn’t offer any parking assist system.
The Camaro has standard OnStar ®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Challenger doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.
Both the Camaro and the Challenger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Camaro is safer than the Dodge Challenger:
Camaro |
Challenger |
|
Driver |
||
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
121 |
157 |
Neck Injury Risk |
24% |
28% |
Neck Stress |
175 lbs. |
250 lbs. |
Passenger |
||
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Neck Injury Risk |
31% |
40% |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
37/47 lbs. |
52/151 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Camaro is safer than the Dodge Challenger:
Camaro |
Challenger |
|
Front Seat |
||
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Abdominal Force |
196 G’s |
400 G’s |
Hip Force |
355 lbs. |
463 lbs. |
Rear Seat |
||
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
44 G’s |
46 G’s |
Into Pole |
||
STARS |
5 Stars |
2 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
16 inches |
17 inches |
HIC |
317 |
383 |
Spine Acceleration |
45 G’s |
51 G’s |
Hip Force |
593 lbs. |
1242 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Camaro, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 2.3% less likely to roll over than the Challenger, which received a four-star rating.
The Camaro’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Challenger’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).
Chevrolet pays for scheduled maintenance on the Camaro for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Chevrolet will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Challenger.
There are over 43 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Camaro’s warranty.
A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Chevrolet Camaro V6’s reliability will be 11% better than the Challenger.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 21st, below the industry average.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 13th in reliability. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 30th.
The Camaro has more powerful engines than the Challenger:
Horsepower |
Torque |
|
Camaro LS/LT 3.6 DOHC V6 |
323 HP |
278 lbs.-ft. |
Camaro SS Automatic 6.2 V8 |
400 HP |
410 lbs.-ft. |
Camaro SS Manual 6.2 V8 |
426 HP |
420 lbs.-ft. |
Challenger 3.6 DOHC V6 |
305 HP |
268 lbs.-ft. |
Challenger R/T automatic 5.7 V8 |
372 HP |
400 lbs.-ft. |
Challenger R/T manual 5.7 V8 |
375 HP |
410 lbs.-ft. |
As tested in Motor Trend the Camaro SS is faster than the Dodge Challenger (manual transmissions tested):
Camaro |
Challenger R/T |
Challenger SRT |
|
Zero to 60 MPH |
4.3 sec |
5 sec |
4.6 sec |
Quarter Mile |
12.7 sec |
13.5 sec |
13 sec |
Speed in 1/4 Mile |
111.8 MPH |
105.9 MPH |
111.3 MPH |
As tested in Motor Trend the Camaro V6 is faster than the Dodge Challenger V6 (automatics tested):
Camaro |
Challenger |
|
Zero to 60 MPH |
6 sec |
6.4 sec |
Quarter Mile |
14.6 sec |
14.8 sec |
Speed in 1/4 Mile |
96.3 MPH |
94.8 MPH |
On the EPA test cycle the Camaro gets better fuel mileage than the Challenger:
Camaro |
Challenger |
|||
V6/Manual |
17 city/28 hwy |
n/a |
||
V8/Manual |
16 city/24 hwy |
15 city/23 hwy |
5.7 V8 (375 HP) |
|
6.4 V8/Manual |
n/a |
14 city/23 hwy |
||
V6/Auto |
19 city/30 hwy |
18 city/27 hwy |
To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Camaro uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Camaro SS Automatic for maximum performance). The Challenger SRT requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.
The Camaro’s brakes have 26% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Challenger with its standard brakes (659 vs. 523 square inches), so the Camaro has more braking power available.
The Camaro’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Challenger SXT are solid, not vented.
The Camaro Z/28 has standard heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Challenger doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.
The Camaro stops much shorter than the Challenger:
Camaro |
Challenger |
||
80 to 0 MPH |
191 feet |
198 feet |
Road & Track |
70 to 0 MPH |
156 feet |
160 feet |
Car and Driver |
60 to 0 MPH |
101 feet |
118 feet |
Motor Trend |
For better traction, the Camaro has larger standard tires than the Challenger (245/55R18 vs. 235/55R18). The Camaro SS 1LE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Challenger (285/35R20 vs. 245/45R20).
The Camaro LT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Challenger’s standard 55 series tires. The Camaro SS 1LE’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Challenger SRT-8’s optional 45 series tires.
For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Camaro offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Challenger’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.
The Camaro is 7.1 inches shorter than the Challenger, making the Camaro easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.
As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the Camaro SS Coupe is quieter than the Challenger SRT:
Camaro |
Challenger |
|
At idle |
45 dB |
61 dB |
50 MPH Cruising |
64 dB |
71 dB |
70 MPH Cruising |
69 dB |
73 dB |
The Camaro LT/SS offers an optional heads-up display which projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts onto the windshield, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Challenger doesn’t offer a heads-up display.
The Camaro has a lever hand brake in the console, easy to use while keeping both feet free and not impeding entry and exit. The Challenger’s foot pedal parking brake is not handy to use as a hill holding device with a manual transmission.
The Camaro’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Challenger’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.
The Camaro has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Challenger only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.
The Camaro LT/SS offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Challenger offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.
Standard Chevrolet MyLink for the Camaro LT/SS allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including playing internet radio stations and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Challenger doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.
Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Camaro, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Challenger.
Insurance will cost less for the Camaro owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Camaro will cost $1020 less than the Challenger over a five-year period.
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Camaro is less expensive to operate than the Challenger because typical repairs cost much less on the Camaro than the Challenger, including $31 less for a fuel pump, $56 less for front struts and $541 less for a power steering pump.
Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Camaro will be $2477 to $5583 less than for the Dodge Challenger.
The Camaro was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2013. The Challenger has never been an “All Star.”
The Camaro was selected by Automobile Magazine as their 2010 Car of the Year. The Challenger has never been chosen.
The Chevrolet Camaro outsold the Dodge Challenger by 57% during 2013.
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