Few cars deliver sensory thrills as well as the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang. These rear-wheel-drive (RWD) 2-door coupes go fast and, just as important, they feel fast. These muscle cars also make great sounds, so long as you have the courage (and budget) to equip one of their V8 engines.
Despite their similarities, the Challenger and Mustang appeal to slightly different consumers. The Dodge Challenger is a longer, heavier car. It’s a relaxed highway cruiser and offers a huge back seat if you take the trouble to get to it. The smaller, lighter Mustang trades away much of that cushiness and rear-seat room, but Ford’s pony car has crisper handling. Unlike the Challenger, the Mustang also comes in a convertible body style.
Eventually, you’ll pick your favorite, but until then, this 2022 Dodge Challenger vs. 2022 Ford Mustang comparison will help you sort out the differences between these traditional RWD coupes (and convertibles).
Price and Value
2022 Dodge Challenger GT RWD Hemi
Consumers will find that the 2022 Dodge Challenger ranges in price from $29,295 to $80,595, not including the $1,495 destination charge. Trim levels include SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, SRT Hellcat Redeye, and SRT Super Stock.
The Dodge Challenger comes in a single midsize coupe body style. It doesn’t really feel midsize, though. This is a big car. The payoff is that the Dodge has three seat belts in its back seat, so it’s a proper 5-passenger vehicle.
The Challenger SXT and GT use a V6 engine and are available with standard RWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). If you want a V8 engine, the R/T and above have one; the V8-equipped Challengers are RWD-only. The SRT models have a supercharged V8 that comes in varying strengths. In addition, Dodge offers a Widebody package on the R/T Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, and SRT Hellcat Redeye (it’s standard on the SRT Super Stock), and it features wider wheels and tires, very noticeable fender flares, and unique suspension tuning.
All 2022 Dodge Challengers come with a 1-year trial subscription to Sirius XM Guardian connected services. The package includes remote locking and engine starting, live emergency assistance, automatic collision notification, rapid access to roadside services, stolen-vehicle services, and a vehicle-finder feature for unfamiliar parking facilities. You’ll also get a Wi-Fi hotspot with a 3-month trial subscription.
Dodge does not offer complimentary scheduled maintenance on the 2022 Challenger.
The Dodge Challenger holds its value well. It ranks highest in the J.D. Power 2020 Resale Value Awards among Midsize Sporty Cars.
As of this writing, Ford hasn’t released pricing on the 2022 Ford Mustang, but consumers can expect slightly higher pricing than the 2021 model, which ranges from $27,205 to $72,900, not including the $1,195 destination charge. Trim levels are EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Mach 1, Mach 1 Premium, and Mustang Shelby GT500.
The Mustang comes in fastback coupe and convertible body styles. Both seat four only. The 2022 Ford Mustang Convertible has a power-operated soft top that comes in black cloth.
The Ford Mustang’s EcoBoost trim levels have a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes impressive power and torque, but its soundtrack might not meet your expectations for a muscle car. If you want a V8 engine, the base Ford Mustang GT is the most affordable entry point. Mustang coupes and convertibles come in all the EcoBoost and GT trims. If you want a Mustang Mach 1, Mach 1 Premium, or Shelby GT500, you’ll have to get a coupe.
Ford offers a short list of connected services on the 2022 Mustang. You can use the FordPass app to lock the doors and schedule remote engine starting, and there’s no subscription required. You can also use the app to summon roadside assistance if you’re within the warranty period. And every new Ford Mustang includes a Wi-Fi hotspot with a 3-month trial subscription.
Ford doesn’t offer free scheduled maintenance for the 2022 Mustang, though owners can earn points in the FordPass app and redeem them for service discounts.
In the 2020 Resale Value Awards, the Mustang ranks second among Midsize Sporty Cars.
Advantage: Ford Mustang
Reliability and Quality
2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The Dodge Challenger ranks second among Midsize Sporty Cars in the J.D. Power 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) but is not among the top three models in its segment in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2022 Dodge Challenger comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 5 years or 100,000 miles
The Ford Mustang does not rank among the top three models in its segment in either the 2021 VDS or the 2021 IQS. The 2022 Ford Mustang comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 5 years or 60,000 miles
Advantage: Dodge Challenger
Performance and Efficiency
2022 Dodge Challenger GT RWD Hemi
You’ll have fun choosing an engine for the 2022 Dodge Challenger. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that develops 303 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels, or all four if you get AWD. The V6 Challengers offer respectable acceleration and appeal to shoppers drawn mainly to the Challenger’s throwback styling or who need AWD for wintertime use.
But the Dodge Challenger is at its best with a V8 engine. The standard R/T gets you in the door with a 5.7-liter V8 good for 372 hp and 400 pound-feet of torque. J.D. Power’s independent vehicle testing experts feel the 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack offers a better performance bargain with its 6.4-liter V8 (known as the 392 V8 in reference to the engine’s cubic inches of displacement) rated at 485 hp and 475 pound-feet. You can have a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission on both R/T models.
If you’re seeking over-the-top performance and have money to burn on new tires, Dodge has a lineup of SRT Challengers for your perusal. The standard Challenger SRT Hellcat has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 717 hp and 656 pound-feet of torque. The SRT Hellcat Redeye gets a high-output version of this engine, making 797 hp and 707 pound-feet of torque. The Challenger SRT Super Stock squeezes 807 hp out of the supercharged V8 but, out of mercy for its rear tires, no additional torque.
A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the base SRT Hellcat. An 8-speed automatic is optional on this tri
m and standard on the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye and Super Stock.
Adaptive shock absorbers for the suspension are available starting on the R/T Scat Pack trim, while the standard R/T and all higher trims have available Brembo brakes. Anyone interested in taking the big coupe to a dragstrip will want to consider either the non-Widebody Challenger R/T Scat Pack or the SRT Super Stock, as both are available with street-legal drag radial tires, a transmission brake, and line-lock feature for warming up the tires (i.e., doing burnouts).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet rated the 2022 Dodge Challenger, but the coupe’s fuel-economy ratings are unlikely to change from the 2021 model year. The V6 Dodge Challengers rate 23 mpg in combined city and highway driving with RWD and 21 mpg with AWD. With the R/T models, you can expect 17-19 mpg combined, depending on equipment. Keep in mind the 5.7-liter V8 prefers mid-grade gasoline, while the 6.4-liter (392) V8 prefers premium. The SRT Challengers rate 15-16 mpg in combined driving.
EcoBoost versions of the 2022 Ford Mustang come with a turbocharged, 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 310 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque. An available High Performance Engine package bumps horsepower to 330.
Four-cylinder Mustangs come with either a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission. Mustang EcoBoost models with the high-performance engine require an additional option package with a more aggressive final drive ratio (which improves off-the-line acceleration), summer tires, larger brakes, and sport-tuned steering and suspension.
Like the Challenger, the Ford Mustang is more satisfying with a V8. The 2022 Mustang GT coupe and convertible use a 5.0-liter V8 engine rated at 460 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. The Mustang Mach 1 has a 480-hp version of the 5.0 V8.
You can have a 6-speed manual transmission or 10-speed automatic with the V8, and both offer automated rev matching on downshifts. Option packages on these models provide shorter final drive ratios and various chassis enhancements aimed at buyers wanting to have fun on back roads or take their Mustang to track days.
The king of all Mustangs is the Shelby GT500. The Shelby Mustang uses a supercharged, 5.2-liter V8 engine that pumps out 760 hp and 625 pound-feet of torque. A 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) is standard, as is launch control with a line-lock feature. An available track package provides ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 summer tires and manually adjustable suspension struts.
Fuel-economy ratings are not yet available for the 2022 Ford Mustang, but mpg won’t change from the 2021 model. Ford Mustang EcoBoost coupes rate 22-25 mpg in combined driving, depending on how they’re equipped. EcoBoost Mustang convertibles are heavier and rate 21-23 mpg combined.
The Ford Mustang GT rates 19 mpg with the 10-speed automatic transmission and 18 mpg with the 6-speed manual. The Mach 1 rates 18 mpg with the automatic transmission and 17 mpg with the manual. To no one’s surprise, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is quite thirsty and rates 14 mpg combined.
Advantage: Dodge Challenger
Safety and Driving Assistance
2022 Ford Mustang Coupe
Since the Dodge Challenger has been around in basically the same form since 2008, it’s low on advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). All 2022 Dodge Challengers can be equipped with an optional blind-spot warning (BSW) system with rear cross-traffic warning. Only Challengers with an automatic transmission are eligible for a forward-collision warning (FCW) system.
The 2022 Dodge Challenger earns a top overall 5-star rating in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety testing. It rates 4 stars for frontal-impact crash protection and 5 stars for side impacts. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the otherwise similar 2021 Challenger earned a Good rating in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests but rated Marginal (second-lowest rating) in the newer small-overlap frontal-offset crash test.
If safety ranks high for you, you’ll probably prefer the 2022 Ford Mustang, which comes standard with a Ford Co-Pilot 360 package that includes FCW, automatic emergency braking (AEB), a BSW system with rear cross-traffic warning, a lane-departure warning (LDW) system, and lane-keeping assistance (LKA).
The 2022 Ford Mustang has a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating with a full 5 stars awarded for both front-impact and side-impact crash protection. In IIHS testing, the 2021 Mustang fared well in most crash categories but earned a slightly lower Acceptable rating in the small-overlap front-offset crash test.
Advantage: Ford Mustang
Infotainment and Technology
2022 Dodge Challenger RT Scat Pack Widebody
The entry-level infotainment interface in the 2022 Dodge Challenger includes a 7-inch touchscreen display backed by the UConnect 4 platform. Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration are standard. Higher trims come with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display; it’s optional on lower trims. A factory navigation system is also optional.
Dodge’s infotainment interface usually gets high marks for user-friendliness. The 2020 Challenger ranked highest among midsize/large vehicles in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study, which surveyed verified buyers and lessees after 90 days of ownership.
Base EcoBoost and GT versions of the 2022 Ford Mustang have a basic 4.2-inch audio interface with Bluetooth. Optional on these trims and standard on all other Mustangs is an 8-inch touchscreen interface that uses Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment platform and includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A navigation system is optional.
Advantage: Dodge Challenger
Comfort and Utility
2022 Ford Mustang Coupe
If you’re looking for high levels of comfort in a performance coupe, the 2022 Dodge Challenger has you covered, at least when it comes to seating. Its front seats don’t offer much support for fast runs down a curvy road, but they’re great for highway travel. The Challenger sits higher off the ground than the Mustang, and it’s easier to get in and out of as a result. You will need to mind its long doors in tight parking lots, though.
The interior design in the Dodge Challenger is intentionally old-fashioned with its deep gauge binnacles. It might seem downright old compared to newer cars, but simple controls and attractive materials should pass muster with most Challenger buyers. Trunk capacity is above average for this class at 16.2 cubic feet.
The 2022 Ford Mustang also offers an attractive cockpit, though you’ll find more hard plastic than you might expect, especially on the higher trim levels. There’s a hefty d
ose of retro flair in the form of the round steering wheel hub and white cue-ball shifter in manual-transmission models.
The Mustang’s standard, non-performance seats are the way to go for most buyers. They accommodate a range of body types and can be equipped with heating and ventilation. The available Recaro seats are a fine choice if you’re planning to retrofit the driver seat with a 5-point racing harness but beware that these seats might feel too confining for relaxed driving.
Ford Mustang coupes have 13.5 cubic feet of trunk capacity, while the Mustang convertible maxes out at 11.4 cubic feet.
Advantage: Neither
The Challenger offers way more space, but buyers who want to drive fast on back roads will find the Mustang’s seats more supportive.
