2018 Chevrolet Camaro vs. 2018 Dodge Challenger

Camaro vs. Challenger: Which Muscle Car Should You Buy?

Some people still call the Chevrolet Camaro a muscle car, though it fits the bill as a true sports car more than the Dodge Challenger. Reviewers laud the Camaro for its agile handling and stellar driving dynamics. The Challenger is arguably a true iconic muscle car with its burly, retro façade and absurdly powerful, drag-strip-ready variants.

We’ve put the Camaro and Challenger head to head in the categories that matter most to sports car buyers. Using U.S. News scoring data, we’ll take a look at what sets these cars apart.

Keep in mind that we update our scores regularly as new expert reviews and data become available. So, the scores in this slideshow may not match the scores in our sports car rankings.

Read through the following slides to learn which sports car wins this race.

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Price

Winner: 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

The base 2018 Camaro (1LS) starts at $25,905. The 1LT and 2LT are priced at $26,700 and $30,500, respectively. If you want a V8 engine, you’ll have to choose at least the 1SS ($37,000). The top-of-the-line ZL1 starts at $61,500 and offers a $7,500 performance package.

The 2018 Challenger will cost you a minimum of $26,995 in its base (SXT) configuration. The GT ($33,400) comes standard with all-wheel drive and is the only trim that offers it. To get a V8, you need to move up to the Challenger R/T ($33,000). There are several other trims and subtrims, topping out with the high-performance SRTs, which range from $50,200 to $84,995.

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Reliability

Winner: Tie

According to J.D. Power, the Camaro and Challenger are both part of generations that consistently earn predicted reliability ratings of three out of five, which is average.

Both automakers back these sports cars with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

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Seat Comfort

Winner: 2018 Dodge Challenger

The Camaro seats four passengers, while the Challenger seats five. The Camaro offers spacious, supportive front seats, but the rear seats are very tight. The Challenger will comfortably accommodate adults in all seats, though rear-seat access is still a challenge since it’s a two-door.

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Cargo Space

Winner: 2018 Dodge Challenger

The Camaro offers 9.1 cubic feet of trunk space in coupe models, while convertible models provide 7.3. The Challenger has a huge trunk for a sports car. It offers 16.2 cubic feet of room. Both cars have a high liftover height, which makes it difficult to load heavy items.

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Interior Quality

Winner: 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

Material quality in both sports cars isn’t up to par with many rivals. However, the Camaro offers a modern, stylish cabin. The Challenger’s interior is much more simple and has more hard plastics. Both sports cars rely on function over form.

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Interior Features

Winner: Tie

The Camaro comes standard with a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, voice controls, OnStar with 4G LTE, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Many other features are available, including wireless smartphone charging, an upgraded Bose audio system, a customizable 8-inch driver information display, and an 8-inch touch screen.

Standard features in the Challenger include a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. You can opt for extras like satellite radio, a power sunroof, navigation, multiple upgraded audio systems from Alpine and Harman Kardon, and an 8.4-inch touch screen.

Both vehicles offer solid features lists and easy-to-use infotainment systems, making this a tie.

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Acceleration

Winner: 2018 Dodge Challenger

The base Camaro comes equipped with a 275-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Other options include a 335-horsepower V6, a 455-horsepower V8, and a 650-horsepower V8. The top-tier ZL1 boasts a 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph time.

The Challenger’s base engine is a 305-horsepower V6. You can also choose between four V8 engines, which range from 375-horsepower to a whopping 840-horsepower. Both the Dodge SRT Hellcat and Demon provide incredible acceleration. According to Dodge, the Demon can tackle a zero-to-60-mph sprint in just 2.3 seconds.

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Fuel Economy

Winner: 2018 Dodge Challenger

The base Camaro returns 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. However, it requires premium gas, so it’s still not cheap at the fuel pump. The V6 gets 19 and 29, respectively. However, it will save gas money since it takes regular fuel.

The Challenger’s base V6 earns 19 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. The V8s don’t even compare. If you opt for the Hellcat or Demon you’re looking at about 13 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

According to the EPA, the base Challenger will cost you less in gas than the base Camaro, making it the winner here.

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Ride and Handling

Winner: 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

Test drivers appreciate the Camaro’s sharp handling and smooth ride. It’s agile around corners and delivers responsive steering and strong braking.

The Challenger is not a corner carver. It’s better suited for the drag strip, though it still offers a smooth ride, accurate steering, and sturdy brakes.

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Safety

Winner: 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2018 Camaro received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) top score in four out of five categories, earning its second-best score in the roof strength test. The Challenger’s IIHS crash test scores lag behind the Camaro’s. Both the Camaro and Challenger received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Camaro received four stars in the frontal crash tests, while the Challenger received four stars in both the frontal and rollover tests.

Both cars come standard with a rearview camera. The Camaro is also equipped with Chevrolet’s Teen Driver technology, which lets parents set speed and audio volume limits to keep new drivers safer.

You can choose available safety features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and rear parking sensors in both cars. The Challenger also offers forward collision warning, while the Camaro has an available head-up display.

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The Winner Is ...

2018 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2018 Dodge Challenger has more space for passengers and cargo. It also offers more powerful engine options, and if you opt for the base engine, you’ll save money on gas.

Aside from the above victories, the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro comes out ahead. It’s less expensive than the Challenger, and if you choose the V6 engine, it’s equally fuel-efficient. Upgrading to the V6 costs $1,495, which puts the Camaro’s price at only $400 more than the base Challenger. The Camaro also provides a nicer cabin with more standard features, it handles appreciably better, and it is the safer vehicle.

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More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

To learn more about the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, check out their reviews. See how they compare to the competition by exploring our sports car rankings.

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