Nothing says triple threat more than the battle of the world’s top 3 muscle cars. There’s the Mustang from Ford, the Challenger from Dodge, and the Camaro from Chevrolet – all represent the top 3 US automakers. All 3 are fast and exciting and loaded with tech. But only one of these monsters can be the best American muscle car. So, the following is the legendary battle – Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro.
Let’s put their latest versions head-to-head and see which one comes out on top:
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Powertrain
Let’s start with the engines; the Ford Mustang offers you two – a 2.3-liter EcoBoost and a 5-liter V8. The power outputs for these are 310 hp and 350 lb-ft, and 450 hp and 410 lb-ft respectively. There are some versions with higher power outputs but they feature the same engines. There is a 6-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic available to choose from.
The Challenger (6-speed manual or 8-speed auto) offers several engines. The first is a 3.6-liter V6 which made 305 hp and 268 lb-ft when unveiled. The second one is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 which produces 375 hp and 398 lb-ft. The 392 HEMI V8 makes 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft. You also have multiple 6.2-liter supercharged V8s that give you between 717 to 807 horses; 656 to 797 torques based on the model.
The Chevy Camaro is no slouch when it comes to engine options. The first engine on the Camaro is a 2-liter with 275 hp and 295 lb-ft. Then there’s a 3.6-liter V6 with 335 hp and 284 lb-ft. Above that is a 6.2-liter V8 with 455 hp and lb-ft. Finally, there’s the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 650 horses and torques. You get a 6-speed manual as standard, which is upgradable to an 8- or 10-speed automatic.
All 3 of these muscle cars come with rear-wheel drive.
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Figures
The following are some important numbers showcased by these 3 muscle cars:
Acceleration
The fastest accelerating Mustang available is the GT which has a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.3 seconds. In comparison, the quickest Challenger to 62 mph is the Redeye, which does the milestone in 3.4 seconds. Equip the Camaro ZL1 right and you’ll get an acceleration time of 3.5 seconds.
Top Speed
These cars have quick acceleration times but what about their top speeds? Well, the Mustang GT’s top speed maxes out at 180 mph. The Challenger Redeye can do up to 203 mph. Meanwhile, the Camaro ZL1 will do up to 200 mph.
Fuel Economy
This really isn’t a consideration for most people when they’re buying American muscle but the numbers do exist. The most fuel-efficient auto Mustang will give you a fuel economy of 21 city/32 highway mpg. The V6 Challenger can do up to 19/30 mpg. The V6 10-speed auto Camaro does 18/29 mpg.
Reliability
The reliability ratings for the 2022 Mustang aren’t out yet. The Challenger gets a great score by JD Power. The Camaro is not too far behind with an average reliability rating by JD Power again.
Below is a review of the interior and tech in these 3 muscle cars:
Design
The Mustang features an attractive interior design with many retro styling cues. Reviewers do complain about the quality of some materials though. Regardless, you get a lot of functionality from it. The storage space is more than adequate as well.
In comparison, the Challenger has an outdated interior design. While there’s certainly a lot of room available, reviewers say that the materials used in it lack quality. The storage space is quite good though; better than its rivals.
The Camaro’s interior feels the most futuristic here. You also won’t hear anyone complain about its build quality. Reviewers do criticize its rear seats for being kind of cramped. The storage space is also less compared to its peers.
Equipment
All 3 muscle cars offer you infotainment systems. The Mustang’s system is not as responsive as its rivals. The Challenger is the best one for ease of use and robustness; it also offers you the most speakers. As far as the screen size is concerned, the Camaro takes the win. Its system is criticized for being non-user friendly though.
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Drivability
Now we get to the most important part, how do these 3 cars drive?
Starting with the Mustang, you’ll have a blast driving it. We know how quick it is but it is also very engaging to drive in the corners. The Challenger is considerably poorer to drive through turns. It is considered to be less responsive as far as the steering is concerned. It is much better in straight lines. The Camaro is the best one to drive and is the nimblest. It also offers its occupants the smoothest ride.
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Safety
Safety equipment is paramount, especially in fast cars such as these.
All 3 offer you blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and forward-collision warnings. The Mustang also combines its forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking. The Mustang offers tech to keep you safe in your lane and while you’re changing lanes.
The Challenger is not much further behind in this regard, as it has a lot to offer. It offers you an adaptive cruise control system along with automatic high beams. You also get other safety features such as a blind-spot monitoring system combined with rear cross-path detection.
The Camaro has been criticized for the poor visibility from inside the cabin. It also has the lowest number of safety features out of the 3. Still, it gives you important goodies like lane change alerts and a rear vision camera.
All 3 of these muscle cars have done quite well in their crash tests though. You can view their data on the NHTSA’s website.
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Exterior
The exteriors of all of these cars are based on their legendary OG models. They all look great as a result. The Camaro and the Mustang are the newest as far as refreshes are concerned. Meanwhile, the Challenger has maintained the same shape for more than a decade now. Due to this, the Mustang and the Camaro look much sharper and more modern than their Dodge counterpart.
Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro – Price
The starting price of the base Mustang is $28,600; the Challenger starts at $32,025, and the Chevy is the cheapest at $26,395. It is also the most inexpensive when you move up the trim levels.
Verdict
So, who wins the Ford Mustang vs Dodge Challenger vs Chevrolet Camaro debate? Well, this is a tough one since these all have advantages over each other in different categories. It can be said that the Camaro barely wins this comparison. This is because it is the best to drive, is almost as quick as the other two, and is the second-fastest as well. It’s also the cheapest, which is the whole point of a muscle car.
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