Compare the2024 Lexus LCVS 2023 Dodge Challenger

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus LC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Challenger doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus LC has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Challenger doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The LC has a standard Pre-Collision System, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Challenger offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The LC has standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Challenger doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The LC’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Challenger doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The LC has a standard Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Challenger only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The LC has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Challenger’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the LC has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Dodge charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the Challenger.

The LC’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Challenger doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the LC and the Challenger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The LC comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Challenger’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the LC 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Dodge covers the Challenger. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Challenger ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The LC’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Challenger’s (6 vs. 5 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the LC have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Challenger.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Dodge is rated lower.

As tested in Car and Driver the LC 500h 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Dodge Challenger V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the LC Coupe gets better mileage than the Challenger:

The LC can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for .6 miles. The Challenger can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the LC Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Challenger doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the LC Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Challenger doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The LC’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Challenger (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The LC Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Challenger (22.2 vs. 18.5 gallons).

The LC has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Challenger. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus LC higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Dodge Challenger (1 to 5). This means the LC produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Challenger every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus LC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Challenger.

The LC 500h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Challenger doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The LC’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Challenger SXT are solid, not vented.

The LC stops much shorter than the Challenger:

For better traction, the LC has larger tires than the Challenger (F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The LC’s standard 245/45R20 front and 275/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Challenger SXT’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the LC has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels are standard on the Challenger SRT Demon 170. The LC’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Challenger.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the LC can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Challenger doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The LC 500 handles at .93 G’s, while the Challenger SXT pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The LC 500 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Challenger Scat Pack (24.6 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .81 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the LC Active Rear Steering’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Challenger R/T Scat Pack’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.8 feet).

The LC is 10.1 inches shorter than the Challenger, making the LC easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the LC has standard flush composite headlights. The Challenger has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The LC Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Challenger doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the LC 500h is quieter than the Challenger SRT Hellcat:

With its coupe body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the LC offers cargo security. The Challenger’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 57% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

The LC’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Challenger doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The LC offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Challenger doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The LC’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Challenger’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The LC’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower both of them with the lock engaged. Dodge does not offer a locking feature on the Challenger’s standard power windows.

The LC’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Challenger’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the front windows are left open on the LC the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Challenger can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The LC’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Challenger’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The LC’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Challenger’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The LC’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Challenger’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the LC has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Challenger doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The LC’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Challenger has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Lexus LC comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Dodge Challenger isn’t available as a convertible.