2023 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T: A Real-World Comparison I have had the honor of driving a 2023 Corvette Stingray for the past month. Both sports cars are undoubtedly stunning in their own way; Each one will put a smile on your face with a stab of the throttle. However, after trying both of these powerful American cars, I figured I’d compare their strengths and weaknesses with each other when it came to everyday driving.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T: A Real-World Comparison
If the 2023 Corvette is a ballerina, then the 2022 Dodge Challenger is the ballerina. Both cars can dance around tight corners quite well, but the Corvette does so with more agility and ease. That’s to be expected, considering the Vette is a rear mid-engine car, and the Challenger hides its powerful V8 up front.
The scale weights at 4,373 pounds, while the Corvette weighs 3,366 pounds. In this case, it’s hard to deny that the extra 1,000 pounds could have something to do with a Challenger through corners compared to a Corvette.
After all, the Chevrolet Corvette is the obvious choice if you’re looking for canyon carving fun. But if you want something more from a cruiser, the Challenger will save you.
The Dodge Challenger is a hit with the Corvette when it comes to storage options
2023 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T: A Real-World Comparison
For storage, the Dodge Challenger has a Corvette cadence. According to the Challenger, it has 16.2 cubic feet of cargo volume compared to the Corvette’s 12.6 cubic feet. Sure, the Vette has a box front and a back, but I tried fitting random things into each one, and the results weren’t very great.
I could only fit tall, narrow items in the back box, and the front box was fine for some groceries. If anything, the passenger space in the ‘Vette can carry larger things.
On the other hand, the Challenger has a large trunk that can accommodate a variety of cargo, like a regular sedan. It also has a back seat, which is better for storing larger items than actual people.
The fuel efficiency of these cars is similar
If you’re shopping between these two sports cars, you probably don’t care about fuel efficiency. But if you do, it’s worth noting that the Corvette can achieve up to 16 mpg EPA in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The Challenger returns similar numbers at 15 and 24 mpg, respectively.
In my real-world testing, it averaged about 15 mpg in both cars. That’s pretty good, since a lot of my driving consisted of hopping between stop signs and the Jack-rabbit starting off the line so I could feel the thrilling “pull” from each car as much as possible. It was fun, to say the least.
The Corvette’s interior feels more sophisticated
2023 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T: A Real-World Comparison
As for the interiors of each of these cars, the Chevrolet Corvette beats the Challenger. I was surprised by how well the Corvette feels the buttons when sitting in it. The leather seats have a nice feel, and there are soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door panels.
The Dodge Challenger felt luxurious too, with its suede and Alcantara seats. There were soft-touch materials in that car as well, but the hard plastic on some surfaces made it look a bit cheap. I also did not like the look of the plastic dials and buttons on the dashboard; It felt a little bit 90’s.
Corvette has a nice touchscreen that sits inside the dashboard, and the interior is driver-centric. The only part I didn’t care about was the landing strip buttons the driver clips off the passenger. Finding out about HVAC and radio controls made it a little confusing at first.
How about the power of each car?
I can’t compare these two cars without talking about the horsepower and torque numbers. The Chevrolet Corvette is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The Dodge Challenger R/T is powered by 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.
We can race on the bench with these two cars all day and pretend we know which one will beat the other. But in the real world, the Corvette feels faster when you rub it across the rpm range, and the Challenger feels faster off the line. They are both fast and make a range of loud noises that make you feel proud to be an American. Although I think the Corvette looks better.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray vs. 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T
If you’re shopping between these two sports cars, or any iteration of them, these four points can give you a hint of what they love to live with every day. The Dodge Challenger is great straight-line speed, while that won’t stress you out whether you’re driving to work or cutting through canyons.
Ultimately, it is up to you to choose the experience you want. But if it were up to me, I would pick a Corvette any day of the week.
