2018 Dodge Challenger vs 2018 Ford Mustang

An all-new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon meets a 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby gt350r on a drag racing strip. The owners agree to a quarter mile race. They both line up at the starting line. The light turns green. In less than 10 seconds the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon wins.

Although this race would be a good one, an even better race is happening at University Dodge. We’ve got an inventory of very few Dodge Challenger SRT Demons left in stock. The Demon is the fastest production vehicle ever assembled. It has a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engine that delivers 840 horsepower and wicked fast performance.

The entire 2018 Dodge Challenger lineup is impressive from start to finish, but how does the Challenger stack up against rival Mustang? Let’s compare these two impressive vehicles. We’ll go over all of the trims. Yes, all of them.

2018 Lineup Comparable Comparisons

There’s no doubt with nine trims, the 2018 Ford Mustang has a lot of pricing options ranging from base model Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback that starts at $25,585 all the way up to $64,645 for the highest trim, the 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R.

Comparatively the 2018 Dodge Challenger has even more trims with 16 trims in total. Yes, 16 trims. Starting off at $26,995 is the base model Challenger SXT and the lineup goes up on average a few thousand more per trim upgrade, until you get to the trailblazer that is the all-new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, starting at $84,995.

What Does Each Trim Provide?

Depending on your needs, the right choice is not the car as much as the trim of the car. Do you require the best engine or fastest version of the car? Do you want premium features? How important is it to you to have leather seating or a larger touchscreen on your infotainment system?

Base

2018 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback + Premium Fastback

The 2018 Ford Mustang lineup starts with the Mustang EcoBoost Fastback, The Mustang EcoBoost Fastback is equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that provides 320 horsepower with 350 ft-lb torque. It has an independent rear suspension helps isolate road imperfections for a responsive ride. The Mustang Premium Fastback starts at $30,600 and includes heated and cooled leather trimmed front bucket seats and SYNC 3, an easy-to-use, responsive voice-activated technology, which provides compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback starts at $25,585 (plus destination fee) and generates 20 city and 28 highway MPG.

2018 Dodge Challenger SXT + SXT Plus

Even the Dodge Challenger base trim (Challenger SXT) comes with a powerful engine. The Challenger SXT is equipped with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that produces 305 horsepower and a reasonable fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city to 30 mpg on the highway. Drivers can enjoy a 7-inch touchscreen, UConnect 4 with voice command, includes Android Auto and Apple Carplay support and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The Challenger SXT Plus has an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen and rear park assist system called ParkSense. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SXT starts at $26,995  (plus destination fee).

Mid-Tier

2018 Dodge Challenger R/T and GT AWD

The Challenger, which seats five people, goes from 305 horsepower to 375 horsepower when it is equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine, which is standard on the Challenger R/T.  The 5.7L engine is most affordable V8 engine in its class and averages 16 mpg in the city to 25 mpg on the highway. The Challenger GT AWD sticks with the base model engine V6, but receives an upgrade the with eight-speed automatic transmission with all wheel drive and complete confidence in driving no matter the terrain on the road ahead. The Dodge Challenger R/T and GT AWD get up to 18 city and 27 highway MPG. Both models start at $33,495 (plus destination fee).

2018 Ford Mustang GT Fastback + Premium Convertible

Offering lower MPG than the base models, but similar to the mid-tier models at 15 city and 25 highway MPG, the Mustang GT Fastback seats four people, starts at $35,095 (plus destination fee) and includes the 5.0-liter Mustang V8 which provides 460 horsepower and 18-inch high-gloss ebony black-painted wheels. The 2018 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible starts at $36,100 (plus destination fee) with 20 city and 28 highway MPG and provides a wonderful convertible and 10-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.

2018 Dodge Challenger R/T Plus + R/T Shaker

R/T Plus has 20-inch Granite Crystal Painted Aluminum wheels and costs $36,495. The Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker has a functional shaker induction hood, performance steering wheel, and a 375-HP 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine begins at $36,995 (plus destination fee).

2018 Dodge Challenger T/A

Complete with T/A Air-Grabber Hood with Mopar Cold Air Intake and illuminated air-catcher headlamps with satin black roof and deck lid wraps. The Challenger T/A is the fastest T/A in history and it averages 15 city and 25 highway MPG starting at $37,495 (plus destination fee).

Performance

Engines

Dodge Challenger

There are three performance engines available on the Challenger lineup, a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI SRT Hellcat V8 engine and the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Demon V8 engine. The 6.4L engine and SRT Hellcat engine are both available on multiple Challenger trims, and the Demon engine is only available on the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.

Ford Mustang

Four performance engines are available for the 2018 Ford Mustang. From the 2.3-liter EcoBoost Turbocharged I4 base engine to the 5.0-liter V8 and finally the engine placed into the Ford Mustang Shelby models, the 5.2-liter V8 with flat plane crank.

Trim Specs

2018 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack + R/T Plus Shaker

The R/T Scat Pack includes scat pack grille badging with 485 horsepower 6.4L 392 Hemi V8 engine with 14 city and 23 highway and gets 485 horsepower and the R/T Plus Shaker includes Nappa leather performance seats with suede inserts and Mopar Shaker hood. Both starting at $39,995.

2018 Dodge Challenger T/A Plus

Starting at $40,495 with a T/A Air-Grabber with Mopar Cold Air Intake, 276-watt amplifier performance leather-trimmed seats with T/A logo. 15 city and 23 highway MPG come with this Challenger.

2018 Dodge Challenger T/A 392

With a Trans Am (T/A) 392 Dodge Challenger, the features are really premium. Six-piston front with four-piston rear Brembo brakes, 485 horsepower 6.4-liter 392-HEMI V8 engine with TREMEC six-speed manual transmission. High-performance-tuned suspension and 20-inch Low-Glass black painted lightweight forged aluminum wheels are included with Houndstooth low-back bucket seats. Starting with $44,995 and 15 city and 23 highway MPG.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT 392

Configurable drive modes with SRT Flat-bottom steering wheel and 485 horsepower and $50,495 and provides high performance suspension with 15 city and 25 highway MPG. A fast, spacious and powerful SRT (Street and Racing technology) model.

2018 Dodge Challenger 392 HEMI Scat Pack Shaker

Complete with Mopar Shaker Hood and intake with a 180-MPH Speedometer and a 485 horsepower 6.4 liter 392-Hemi V8 engine starts at $42,795 and gets 15 city and 25 highway MPG.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat + Hellcat Widebody

It’s hard to find a vehicle that is superior to the two Challenger SRT Hellcat models made by Dodge.

Boasting a powerful supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI SRT Hellcat V8 engine, experience up to 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque with available Class-Exclusive TorqueFlite Eight-speed automatic transmission. The Dodge Challenger Hellcats come with 20×9.5-inch SRT Low-Gloss Black performance wheels. Both trims provide 12 city and 21 highway MPG as the Hellcat starts at $64,495. The Hellcat Widebody has added electric power steering with driver selectable steering yuning, widebody fender flares which add 3.5 inches to the overall width and heated and ventilated lahuana leather-trimmer performance seats comes in at $71,495.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

As for that amazing Dodge Challenger SRT Demon? It’s only the fastest production car ever assembled. We recommend you check out more about it here.

2018 Ford Mustang Premium Fastback

Beginning at $30,095 and offering 15 city and 25 highway MPG, Dual Exhaust with quad tips and a 5.0-liter Mustang V8 that provides 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque and optional adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system.

2018 GT Premium Convertible

With heated and cooled leather trimmed front bucket seats and a 12-inch LCD Digital Instrument Cluster with My Color is the first all-digital display ever offered on a Mustang. This is optional the EcoBoost Premium and GT Premium. Starting at $44,595 and offering 15 city and 25 highway MPG.

2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 / GT350R

Complete with an engine that produces 526 horsepower standard, the Shelby returned in 2017 after nearly a half century on the shelf. A rear spoiler, nine-speaker Sony stereo and provides 19-inch lightweight carbon-fiber wheels with brembo front-brake calipers standard. Though the power doesn’t match that of a Challenger SRT Hellcat, the fuel economy is similar at 14 city and 21 highway MPG beginning at $56,745.

What Do You Think?

The choice is yours, but with more options, better and faster performance, quicker response and handling, with competitive pricing and higher premium returns, there’s no doubting the 2018 Dodge Challenger lineup has outmuscled the 2018 Ford Mustang lineup in every major category.

To find yourself in a brand new 2018 Dodge Challenger, look no further than University Dodge to take home one of the hottest, fastest muscle vehicles ever produced.