Compare the2023 Dodge ChallengerVS 2023 Lexus RC

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 RC doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Challenger and the RC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, collision warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are almost 10 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Challenger’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Challenger’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the RC’s camshafts. If the RC’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Challenger has a standard 730-amp battery. The RC’s 580-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 RC’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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

The Challenger has more powerful engines than the RC:

As tested in Car and Driver the Challenger SRT Hellcat 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Challenger 3.6 DOHC V6 8-speed Auto RWD gets better fuel mileage than the RC 350 RWD (19 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/28 hwy).

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

The Challenger has a gallon more fuel capacity than the RC (18.5 vs. 17.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Challenger offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RC doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

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 RC doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Challenger stops much shorter than the RC:

For better traction, the Challenger SRT Super Stock’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (315/40R18 vs. 235/40R19).

The Challenger Widebody’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RC’s optional 40 series front tires.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Challenger’s wheelbase is 8.5 inches longer than on the RC (116 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Challenger is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the RC.

The SRT Hellcat Redeye handles at .98 G’s, while the RC 350 AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

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

The Challenger has 9.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RC (93.7 vs. 83.8).

The Challenger has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 5.8 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the RC.

The Challenger has a much larger trunk than the RC (16.2 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).

The Challenger has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The RC has no towing capacity.

The Challenger has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The RC doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

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 RC’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 RC doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 RC 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 RC because it costs $173 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Challenger than the RC, including $384 less for a water pump, $538 less for a starter, $384 less for fuel injection, $34 less for front struts, $698 less for a timing belt/chain and $250 less for a power steering pump.

The Dodge Challenger outsold the Lexus RC by almost 21 to one during 2022.