Summary
- The Chevrolet Corvette C8 and Dodge Challenger are both powerful and stylish performance cars with rich heritage and multiple trim options.
- The C8 outperforms the Challenger in terms of acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds, but the Challenger SRT Demon remains the quickest production muscle car.
- The C8 has a modern interior inspired by fighter jets, while the Challenger combines modern tech with retro aesthetics and offers more trunk space. Dodge announced that 2023 will be the last model year for the Challenger and Charger, with an electric version to come.
American muscle cars have always had a dedicated fan base, and not without reason. Few names resonate as powerfully as the Dodge Challenger. With the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang, muscle cars have triggered a ton of debate. Sports cars are arguably the most loved models by gearheads. The speed, the power, the styling, all of it is bound to leave jaws on the floor. The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is one such machine.
Both the Chevy Corvette and the Dodge Challenger carry rich heritage on their backs. Their modern variants offer performance and style at the same time. A recent drag race pitted the modern C8 against the classic Challenger, and the results were quite interesting.
The C8 and Challenger Are Powerhouses Under The Hood
It can seem slightly unfair to pit a sports car against American muscle, but one mustn't be so quick to judge. To dissect the matter, we dive straight into the specs starting with their engines. The 2023 Corvette C8 kicks things off with its 6.2L V8 LT2 engine, producing 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet offers the C8 Stingray with a 6.2-liter V8, while the more expensive Z06 is fitted with the 5.5-liter V8 LT6.
The Corvette sports car is in its 8th generation, launched in 2020. Every single Corvette since its debut in 1953 has had its engine in the front, with power going to the rear wheels. The C8 Corvette is the first mid-engine 'Vette. It basically means its engine is placed behind the driver. Since the engine is the heaviest part of the car, its positioning affects the handling dynamics. Placing it in the center thus ensures equal weight distribution.
The 2023 Dodge Challenger comes with a range of engine options. The base model has a 3.6-liter V6 producing 303 hp. If you seek more brute force, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack comes with a 6.4-liter V8 engine. This V8 churns out an impressive 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Challenger SRT Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye come with supercharged 6.2-liter V8s.
Based just on trims and engine power, both stack up pretty well. In the drag race, however, we witness the C8 smoking the Challenger by a fair margin, thanks to its remarkable acceleration.
The performance figure, however, can depend on multiple factors. The condition of the tarmac, the skills of the driver, and other such variables can come into play. It is essential not to make sweeping assessments on just the result of a race or two.
The Challenger and Corvette C8 Come In Multiple Trims
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 comes in the 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trims.
The starting price of the base model is around $65,895. The recently launched 70th Anniversary edition can cost around $83,840. A game-changer in the sports cars segment, the C8 offers a lot to justify the price tag. Among sports cars, this is a very competitive pricing.
The C8 Corvette Z06 is priced at around $109,295. A fully loaded model can creep up to the figure of around $160,000. This would include the Z07 package and wheels with carbon fiber.
The 2023 Dodge Challenger is available in various trims as well. In fact, Dodge has around ten trim levels for the Challenger. The entry-level SXT model costs $33,560. The most powerful is the top-of-the-line SRT Hellcat Redeye, costing a little over $80,000.
The Challenger is the more attractive option of the two as its base price is nearly half of that of the C8. The optional supercharged V8 engines on the Challenger come at a premium.
The C8 Is Way Faster But With A Catch
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 manages the 0-60 mph run in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 194 mph. Its pace was evident in the drag race against the Challenger as well.
The Challenger R/T Scat Pack achieves a 0-60 mph time in around 4.2 seconds. Unlike the base V6 option, producing 305 hp, the V8 from the Scat Pack produces 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque.
The Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye models feature supercharged engines which take them from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. With a top speed is around 203 mph. But with a quicker sprint, the C8 has a better chance against the Hellcat Redeye.
The light and agile C8 is faster than nearly all Challenger trims except the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. The Demon holds the edge over the C8, especially on a drag racing strip. With a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine, it produces a whopping 808 hp on standard pump gas. On high-octane fuel, this can go up to 840 hp.
It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.3 seconds. The Demon is one of the quickest production muscle cars. Moreover, its quarter-mile time of around 9.65 seconds at 140 mph shows its straight-line prowess.
The Challenger And The C8 Feature A Modern Interior
Inside the Chevrolet Corvette C8, you will find a cockpit inspired by fighter jets. With intuitive controls, the focus is on offering a phenomenal driving experience. However, while it has a pretty usable trunk, fitting larger bags or suitcases can be challenging. The C8 Corvette treasures one of the most advanced interiors among sports cars. Most interior surfaces use leatherette and metal accents to achieve that premium touch.
The Challenger's interior evokes nostalgia for the golden age of muscle cars. Its classic design combines modern tech with retro esthetics. The car also has the Uconnect infotainment system, which can be found in nearly every new car from a brand operating under the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) umbrella.
A 16.2 cubic feet of trunk space allows the Challenger to swallow two more bags of luggage than the Camaro. The interior build quality is pretty good, but the quality of the materials becomes less appealing the higher you go up the trim ladder. The leather and plastic often feel substandard. Its spacious cabin, however, offers comfortable seating for four. The Dodge Challenger is still a good fit for daily commuters, who prefer a bit of mean automotive power at their disposal.
If you're drawn to track-ready performance, and the thrill of an ultra-fast 0-60 sprint, the Chevrolet Corvette C8 might be your choice. However, if it is the menacing roar of a powerful V8 engine you fancy, with the nostalgia of classic muscle car design, the Challenger is the one to go for.
There may be a bit of bad news for Dodge fans, however. If you still wish to own a brand-new Challenger, the time is unfortunately up. Dodge and Stellantis recently announced that order books for the 2023 Challenger and Charger will close at the end of July 2023. The production of the coupe and sedan will stop at the end of the 2023 model year. While that isn't the end of the Challenger, with an electric version to debut soon, we will definitely miss this iconic beast.