Compare the2022 Dodge ChallengerVS 2020 Honda Civic Si

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/01

The Challenger has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Challenger offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic Si doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Challenger’s optional cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Challenger and the Civic Si 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, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Dodge Challenger weighs 935 to 1592 pounds more than the Honda Civic Si. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Dodge Challenger is safer than the Honda Civic Si:

	Challenger	Civic Si
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	209	265
Neck Injury Risk	29%	34%
Leg Forces (l/r)	190/375 lbs.	445/224 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 Dodge Challenger is safer than the Honda Civic Si:

	Challenger	Civic Si
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	145	204
Abdominal Force	174 G’s	252 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	307	404
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	68 G’s
Hip Force	262 lbs.	356 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	176	260
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	565 lbs.	727 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Challenger’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Challenger has a standard 730-amp battery. The Civic Si’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the Challenger is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Challenger’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Civic Si’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Challenger’s reliability 29 points higher than the Civic Si.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge 17th in reliability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

Engine

The Challenger’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 98 more horsepower (303 vs. 205) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (268 vs. 192) than the Civic Si’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Challenger R/T automatic’s standard 5.7 V8 produces 167 more horsepower (372 vs. 205) and 208 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 192) than the Civic Si’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Challenger R/T manual’s standard 5.7 V8 produces 170 more horsepower (375 vs. 205) and 218 lbs.-ft. more torque (410 vs. 192) than the Civic Si’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Challenger R/T Scat Pack’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 280 more horsepower (485 vs. 205) and 283 lbs.-ft. more torque (475 vs. 192) than the Civic Si’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Challenger SRT Super Stock’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 602 more horsepower (807 vs. 205) and 515 lbs.-ft. more torque (707 vs. 192) than the Civic Si’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Challenger is faster than the Honda Civic Si (manual transmissions tested):

	Challenger R/T Scat Pack	Challenger SRT Hellcat	Civic Si
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	3.9 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.2 sec	8.1 sec	16.9 sec
Quarter Mile	12.9 sec	11.9 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	113 MPH	124 MPH	94 MPH
Top Speed	176 MPH	199 MPH	136 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Challenger 5.7/6.4 V8 Auto’s fuel efficiency. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Challenger has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Civic Si (18.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Challenger offers an optional automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The Civic Si doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

All wheel drive, available in the Challenger, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Honda Civic Si is not available with all wheel drive.

The Challenger R/T Scat Pack/Hellcat/Super Stock’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Civic Si doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Challenger’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Civic Si:

	Challenger SXT	Challenger Hellcat/Redeye	Civic Si
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	15.7 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	13.8 inches	11.1 inches

The Challenger R/T/GT’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Civic Si are solid, not vented.

The Challenger stops much shorter than the Civic Si:

	Challenger	Civic Si
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	109 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Challenger SRT Super Stock’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Civic Si (315/40R18 vs. 235/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Challenger offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Civic Si’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Challenger has a standard space-saver spare (not available on R/T Scat Pack/Hellcat/Super Stock) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Civic Si; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Challenger has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Civic Si’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Challenger’s wheelbase is 9.7 inches longer than on the Civic Si (116 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Challenger is 3.8 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Civic Si.

The Challenger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Civic Si’s (60.3% to 39.7%). This gives the Challenger more stable handling and braking.

The SRT Hellcat Redeye handles at .98 G’s, while the Civic Si Coupe pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Challenger has 5.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Civic Si Coupe (93.7 vs. 88.6).

The Challenger has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Civic Si Coupe.

Cargo Capacity

The Challenger has a much larger trunk than the Civic Si Coupe (16.2 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Challenger. The Civic Si doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Challenger has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Civic Si has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Challenger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Civic Si uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Challenger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Civic Si. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Challenger Automatic offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Challenger, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Challenger’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Civic Si does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Challenger’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Civic Si’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Challenger’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Challenger keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Civic Si doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Challenger’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Challenger and the Civic Si offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Challenger has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Civic Si Sedan doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Challenger’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Civic Si’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Challenger owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Challenger with a number “1” insurance rate while the Civic Si is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Challenger is less expensive to operate than the Civic Si because typical repairs cost much less on the Challenger than the Civic Si, including $34 less for a water pump and $345 less for a starter.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Dodge Challenger and the Honda Civic Si, based on reliability, safety and performance.