Compare the2023 Dodge ChallengerVS 2023 Ford Mustang

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 Mustang 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 Mustang doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Challenger and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Ford Mustang:

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 Ford Mustang:

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

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 Mustang’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

The Challenger has more powerful engines than the Mustang:

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Challenger is faster than the Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8 (manual transmissions tested):

As tested in Motor Trend the Challenger SRT Hellcat 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8 (automatics tested):

As tested in Motor Trend the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 6.4 V8 is faster than the Ford Mustang 2.3 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Challenger gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

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 Mustang doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Challenger has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Challenger has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16 gallons).

The Dodge Challenger comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Mustang.

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 Ford Mustang is not available with all wheel drive.

For better stopping power the Challenger Hellcat/Redeye’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

The Challenger stops much shorter than the Mustang:

For better traction, the Challenger SRT Super Stock’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mustang (315/40R18 vs. 305/30R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Challenger SRT Demon 170 has standard 18-inch front wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Challenger’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the Mustang (116 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Challenger is 1.9 inches wider in the front than the track on the Mustang.

The SRT Hellcat Redeye handles at .98 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The SRT Widebody Hellcat Redeye executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (24.3 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Challenger Scat Pack is quieter than the Mustang Mach 1 (85 vs. 90 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Challenger a Compact car, while the Mustang Fastback is rated a Subcompact.

The Challenger has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Mustang can only carry 4.

The Challenger has 10.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (93.7 vs. 82.8).

The Challenger has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Fastback.

The Challenger has a much larger trunk than the Mustang Fastback (16.2 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The Challenger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang 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 Challenger’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Mach 1.

The Challenger has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Mustang doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Challenger has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Mustang.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Challenger has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 Mustang is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Challenger is less expensive to operate than the Mustang because typical repairs cost less on the Challenger than the Mustang, including $1 less for fuel injection, $158 less for a timing belt/chain and $1 less for a power steering pump.

The Dodge Challenger outsold the Ford Mustang by 16% during 2022.