Dodge Challenger vs Chevy Camaro - A Comparative Review

2010 Dodge Challenger

Challenger Design

There is no doubt about it; the 2010 Challenger has a commanding road presence. We are talking about a big car here, just four inches shorter than the Charger sedan but wider and lower; it's also just five inches shorter and two inches narrower than Dodge's big Grand Caravan box and fills the average garage slot. For trims, the SE gets Touring suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment. The R/T adds performance-tuned suspension and steering, traction control, stability control, 18-inch alloy wheels, body color spoiler and bright dual exhaust tips. The SRT8 features sport suspension with Bilstein shocks, Brembo brakes, limited slip differential, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, high-intensity headlights, and dual hood stripes. The SRT8 rear spoiler is flat black, the front spoiler deeper and ducted for brake cooling, hood scoops are functional, and the fuel filler is polished aluminum.

Inside the Challenger

The Challenger holds five occupants and has a decent amount a cabin space in the front. Challenger SE comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, 60/40 split-folding rear bench, tilt/telescoping steering column, cruise control, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 four-speaker stereo, visor vanity mirrors, and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Challenger SRT8 includes a better audio system, bi-xenon headlamps, trip/data computer, leather, keyless go, and Sirius satellite radio.

Dodge Challenger Powertrain

The SE is powered by a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The R/T's 5.7-liter HEMI V8 features 370 horsepower with the standard 5-speed automatic with sequential shift control, and 375 horsepower with the optional 6-speed manual. The SRT8's 6.1-liter HEMI V8 engine is mated to a standard 5-speed automatic with sequential shift control or an optional 6-speed manual, and whips up 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.   

Driving the Challenger

On a fuel economy basis the SE is the only one you'd want to use for a commuter car. The Challenger is too big and heavy to consideration it as a sports car and isn't ideal for tossing around on tight racetracks or mountain roads. But considering its weight and size it copes well. The Challenger SE drives a lot like the Charger because the Challenger is based on the Charger with just four inches taken out between the front and rear wheels. Safety features on all Challengers include dual frontal airbags and side curtain airbags front and rear. Antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control and traction control are available on the SE and standard on R/T and SRT8.

2010 Chevy Camaro

The new Chevy Camaro is finally here; a vehicle with design cues from the legendary 1969 model, paired with the perks of modern day vehicles. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro undoubtedly drives with the spirit of the classic American muscle car. On the other hand it handles like a modern performance coupe. The Camaro is available in three trims: LS, LT and SS.

Camaro Design

The 2010 Camaro is 5.7 inches longer and 3 inches wider than the '67 Camaro. The new one is 2.8 inches taller than the vintage model, that height coming largely from big tires. You can certainly see a retro theme that borrows from older models. The Camaro has a long hood and short rear deck. The front end features a honeycomb grille, and the rear has aggressively styled fenders with air intakes shaped liked gills. The back has four rounded taillamps, similar to the ones found on the Corvette.    

Inside the ?10 Camaro

The front passenger area in the 2010 has a decent amount of space, but the rear seat legroom measures 29.9 inches, not much space for an adult. Another con against the Camaro is its lackluster interior materials, as they lag behind other competitive models. The small trunk opening makes it difficult to fit much in. Standard equipment for the base LS includes 18-inch black keyless entry, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats with power-reclining seatbacks, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, cruise control and a CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. The 1LT adds foglamps, 18-inch alloy wheels and a six-way power driver seat.     

Camaro Power

The rear-wheel-drive 2010 Chevy Camaro is powered by either a 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 (LS, 1LT, 2LT) or a 6.2-liter V8 (1SS, 2SS). Both are offered with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with manual shift control. The V6 is rated at an even 300 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque. The V8 on manual transmission-equipped cars makes a honking 426 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Camaro V8s with the automatic have slightly less power (400 hp, 410 lb-ft) but come with a cylinder-deactivation feature for enhanced fuel economy.

Driving the Camaro

The Camaro boasts an independent rear suspension and refined handling characteristics. The new Chevy Camaro is an excellent performance-car value whether it's equipped with the base direct-injected V6 or the optional V8. The V6-powered base Camaro can sprint to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, thanks to 300 horsepower. Even the V6's fuel economy is impressive compared to its competition. The V8-powered Camaro SS with the manual transmission goes 60 mph in a blistering 5.0 seconds. The Camaro handles smartly, too, with even the base car surpassing the rarefied 68 mph mark on our slalom course.

Summary

Along with the release of the new Ford Mustang, theDodge Challenger and the Chevy Camaro have created a new segment of modern but retro muscle cars. The 2010 Dodge Challenger boasts a distinctive look that attracts a lot of attention and positive comments. The V6-powered Challenger SE comes with a moderate price, while the V8-powered R/T is a good performance value. The SRT8 is the ultimate Challenger, and it is easy to make it go fast. The Camaro gets extraordinary acceleration with either engine, capable handling, excellent value, and good fuel economy. The starting MSRP for the 2010 Camaro is $22,245 ? $33,430, the Dodge Challenger comes in at $22,220 ? $40,220. These are two cars with super cool styling, a commanding road presence, and similar pricing.