Compare the2023 Dodge ChallengerVS 2023 Nissan GT-R

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

Safety

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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 GT-R doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Challenger (except Redeye/Super Stock/Manual) offers an optional collision warning system, which detects an impending crash through forward mounted sensors and flashes a bright light and sounds a loud, distinctive tone to warn the driver to brake or maneuver immediately to avoid a collision. The system also pre-charges the brakes to begin deceleration more quickly. The GT-R doesn't offer a collision warning system.

The Challenger’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The GT-R doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

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

Both the Challenger and the GT-R 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 and rear parking sensors.

Warranty

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

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Challenger has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Challenger optional and 220 392/Hellcat). The GT-R’s 150-amp alternator 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 GT-R’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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan 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 Nissan 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, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

The Challenger has more powerful engines than the GT-R:

	Horsepower	Torque
Challenger R/T manual 5.7 V8	375 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
Challenger R/T Scat Pack 6.4 V8	485 HP	475 lbs.-ft.
Challenger SRT Hellcat 6.2 supercharged V8	717 HP	656 lbs.-ft.
SRT Hellcat Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	797 HP	707 lbs.-ft.
Challenger SRT Super Stock 6.2 supercharged V8	807 HP	707 lbs.-ft.
Challenger SRT Demon 170 6.2 supercharged V8	1025 HP	945 lbs.-ft.
GT-R 3.8 turbo V6	565 HP	467 lbs.-ft.
GT-R NISMO 3.8 turbo V6	600 HP	481 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Challenger gets better mileage than the GT-R:

			MPG
Challenger
RWD	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy
GT-R
AWD	Auto	3.8 turbo V6	16 city/22 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 GT-R doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Challenger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GT-R.

Brakes and Stopping

The Challenger stops shorter than the GT-R:

	Challenger	GT-R
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	104 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 GT-R (315/40R18 vs. 255/40R20).

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 GT-R’s 40 series front tires.

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 GT-R; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Challenger’s wheelbase is 6.6 inches longer than on the GT-R (116 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Challenger is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GT-R.

Passenger Space

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

The Challenger has standard seating for 5 passengers; the GT-R can only carry 4.

The Challenger has 14.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GT-R (93.7 vs. 79).

The Challenger has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 4.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear headroom, 6.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the GT-R.

Cargo Capacity

The Challenger has a much larger trunk than the GT-R (16.2 vs. 8.8 cubic feet).

The Challenger’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GT-R doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Towing

The Challenger has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The GT-R has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Challenger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GT-R 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 has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The GT-R doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer a memory system.

On a hot day the Challenger’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GT-R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Challenger’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The GT-R’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Challenger detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The GT-R doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Challenger has standard extendable sun visors. The GT-R doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Challenger’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GT-R’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Challenger and the GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Challenger (except Redeye/Super Stock/Manual) offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The GT-R doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Model Availability

The Challenger is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The GT-R doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Dodge Challenger outsold the Nissan GT-R by almost 966 to one during 2022.