Dodge Challenger vs Ford Mustang

The 2024 Ford Mustang underwent a comprehensive style refresh, with nearly every body panel reworked to give it a new flair. The front featured a larger grille and narrower headlights, crafting a more aggressive visage that seemed ready to take the wind head-on rather than glide through it. While retaining its classic long hood and shorter tail, the profile view was enhanced by a more angular and pronounced rear fender flare. At the back, a deep-cut bevel formed a sharply angled fascia and taillights, making for the Mustang’s most distinctive new trait. Subtle yet effective, these changes added a level of seriousness to the Mustang’s overall impression.

Shifting to the interior, the Mustang left behind its traditional dual-cowl dashboard in favor of a modern look emphasized by a striking glass panel enclosing both the digital instrument panel and the infotainment touchscreen. The middle of the dash was revamped to present a cleaner appearance, moving the previous physical climate controls to the infotainment screen. While the center console and door designs remained largely the same, the quality of materials saw a substantial upgrade. Gone were the hard plastic surfaces, replaced by lightly padded sections that gave an upmarket feel to the cabin.

In comparison, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was deeply inspired by a legendary 1970 Challenger RT SE. Its design embraced Pitch Black paint, white rear fender graphics, a distinctive "gator skin" roof graphic, and chrome accents that paid homage to its retro roots. Chrome Dodge lettering on the hood, script Challenger emblems, and a chrome fuel cap with Mopar-sourced hood pins highlighted its exterior. The 20-inch wheels featured a Satin Carbon finish.

Drawing from its longstanding 1970s styling, the Black Ghost appeared deliberately retro, standing out even in a market saturated with blacked-out vehicles. This unique, vintage appeal was rooted in the Challenger’s design lineage from 2008.

Inside, the Black Ghost offered luxury touches including premium Laguna semi-aniline leather upholstery, simulated suede on the steering wheel and headliner, and genuine carbon fiber trim, though it was laid over less expensive plastic. Despite this, the build quality was commendable. High-tech features were scarce, limited to a driver information display and an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, underscoring its vintage aesthetic while still providing a necessary nod to modernity.

The 2024 Ford Mustang’s performance started with the entry-level EcoBoost 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which generated 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque—a 5-hp increase over its predecessor. This powertrain was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels.

For those seeking a more traditional muscle car experience, the GT’s Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine was the choice, delivering 480 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, or 486 hp and 418 lb-ft with the optional Active Exhaust system. Standard on the GT was a six-speed manual transmission, with an optional 10-speed automatic, both in rear-wheel drive (RWD). The performance pinnacle was the Dark Horse, which churned out 500 hp and included several performance enhancements.

The EcoBoost engine provided adequate acceleration, reaching 60 mph in an expected 5.0 seconds, suitable for everyday driving. The GT’s V8 narrowed this time by half a second and offered a more thrilling ride. The manual transmission featured rev matching for ease of operation, and the clutch pedal was designed for smooth gear transitions, proving user-friendly even for beginners.

The EcoBoost model, especially with the High Performance package, demonstrated commendable handling capabilities, thanks to a lighter engine, stickier tires, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and upgraded Brembo brakes. Despite the performance-orientation, the Mustang maintained a balance in comfort, with the optional MagneRide adaptive suspension offering subtle shifts between ride settings.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was all about raw, staggering power. Accelerating with the supercharged 6.2-liter V8’s 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque was a stupefying experience, particularly when the traction and stability control systems were pushed to their limits. The eight-speed automatic transmission efficiently managed this immense power, though the Hellcat’s growling engine and supercharger whine were more fitting for isolated roadways.

The Challenger’s adaptive damping suspension, Brembo performance brakes, and Pirelli tires improved its ride and handling considerably. Despite its large size, the Challenger didn’t shy away from narrow, twisty roads, though it felt less nimble compared to its Mustang and Camaro rivals. With driving modes like Auto, Sport, and Track, the car could adjust its dynamics to the driver’s preference, albeit with a cautionary light indicating the limits of the safety systems.

Conclusively, fuel economy was a trade-off for performance in both models. The Hellcat averaged 15.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA’s 15 mpg estimate, but still a gas-guzzler with a range of just about 290 miles per tank.

The 2024 Ford Mustang offered reasonable accommodation with its front seats, which were particularly spacious for larger occupants. These seats provided ample cushioning for long drives and efficient cooling to handle hot days. However, the rear seats were severely cramped, better suited for extra cargo rather than passengers, making them useful only for short trips.

The convertible variant of the Mustang had a quick and simple operation for its top, though the sacrifice here was in cargo space. The convertible held 10.3 cubic feet of cargo, compared to the Fastback’s 13.3 cubic feet—sufficient for a weekend trip.

Storage for personal items within the Mustang was somewhat lacking, with average-sized cupholders, door pockets, and a small center armrest bin. Yet, it had a rubberized tray with an optional wireless charging pad to keep phones secure.

For the 2023 Dodge Challenger, the vehicle’s larger size paid off in terms of comfort and utility. The Black Ghost’s sport-bolstered, heated, and ventilated front seats were wide and comfortable, with the driver’s seat offering six-way power adjustments to find the best driving position. However, long doors made it tricky to enter and exit in tight spaces.

The driver’s view from the seat, paired with its auditory feedback, was a highlight. The design elements created a nostalgic driving experience, reminiscent of classic muscle cars. The interior’s driver-centric layout and center console reduced in-cabin storage but enhanced the driving experience. Despite this, the Challenger’s larger dimensions allowed it to comfortably carry backseat passengers—a noticeable advantage over the Mustang.

The Challenger also boasted a significant trunk space of 16.2 cubic feet, surpassing the Camaro and Mustang, although packing light was advisable due to the high loading lift-over height.

Every 2024 Mustang featured a large 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen alongside a digital instrument cluster. In base models, these were separate screens, but in Premium models, they were integrated into a single enclosure. The Sync 4 infotainment system stood out with its sharp graphics and user-friendly menu, though input responses could sometimes lag. The primary climate controls were touchscreen-embedded but well-organized at the screen’s bottom, facilitating easy manipulation.

A physical volume knob and a dedicated button for performance features were practical touches. The menu depth allowed extensive customization without overwhelming the user. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, with optional native navigation and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system.

On the tech front, the 2023 Dodge Challenger wasn’t as advanced. However, its Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system and driver information display offered necessary tech functionalities. The 8.4-inch Uconnect display managed the Performance Pages, allowing access to various data, driving modes, metrics, and more with dashboard buttons for quick adjustments.

Despite its smaller size compared to modern standards, the Uconnect system had an intuitive interface, supporting wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Black Ghost added navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. Although the sound quality leaned towards bass-heavy performance, the system provided typical modern features like Bluetooth streaming audio and SiriusXM satellite radio. The inclusion of knobs and buttons for essential controls minimized driver distractions and fitted the Challenger’s vintage aesthetic.

While crash test results for the 2024 Ford Mustang were pending, its predecessor achieved five stars across all NHTSA evaluations and “Good” ratings in most IIHS tests, except an “Acceptable” in the driver-side small overlap test. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. Optional adaptive cruise control and passenger exit warning were available. These systems worked smoothly without false alerts or malfunctions.

Safety features in the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost were limited to traction and stability control, a low-resolution reversing camera, rear parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It lacked advanced safety systems like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Ready Alert Braking activated only during panic braking. With minimal driver assistance, the Challenger required heightened driver vigilance. Despite high NHTSA ratings, IIHS gave the Challenger lower marks, with favorable ratings in only two outdated impact tests.