Compare the2024 Nissan ZVS 2023 Dodge Challenger

The Z has standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, which use 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 Z’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Challenger doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Z has standard Front and Rear Sonar System to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Challenger doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Z 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 Z has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Dodge charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the Challenger.

The Z’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 Z and the Challenger 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 and rearview cameras.

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Z 3.0 is faster than the Dodge Challenger V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Z gets better mileage than the Challenger:

The Z has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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 Nissan Z higher (5 out of 10) than the Dodge Challenger (1 to 5). This means the Z produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Challenger every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is available on the Nissan Z, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Challenger.

The Z’s brakes have 18% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Challenger R/T/GT (603 vs. 513 square inches), so the Z has more braking power available.

The Z’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 Z stops much shorter than the Challenger:

For better traction, the Z has larger standard tires than the Challenger (245/45R18 vs. 235/55R18).

The Z Sport’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series 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 Z Sport has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch rear wheels are standard on the Challenger SRT Demon 170.

The Z has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Challenger doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

For better maneuverability, the Z’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Challenger SXT/GT/R/T’s (32.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Z’s turning circle is 5.9 feet tighter than the Challenger Supercharged/Widebody’s (32.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Nissan Z may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 800 pounds less than the Dodge Challenger.

The Z is 2 feet, 1.1 inches shorter than the Challenger, making the Z easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Z Performance/NISMO 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.

The Z Manual can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Z can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Challenger can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Z has a lever hand brake in the console, easy to use while keeping both feet free and not impeding entry and exit. The Challenger’s foot pedal parking brake is not handy to use as a hill holding device with a manual transmission.

The Z’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Dodge does not offer a locking feature on the Challenger’s standard power windows.

The Z’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.

The Z’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 Z’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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Z, based on reliability, safety and performance.