We all tend to have our go-to brands, especially when it comes to cars. Some people are Ford for life, while others swear by Toyota manufacturing. Two brands that have a strong following for their sports cars are Dodge and Chevy, with the Charger and Camaro. Brand loyalists will swear by the offering from one brand or another, but what happens when the brand you prefer isn’t offering the best vehicle?
Sometimes, the newest vehicle from the brand you love just isn’t worth it, or it doesn’t fit into the life you’ve built for yourself. Maybe there’s a new technology attached, and it still has some evolving to do. Maybe the other brand has released a new generation, and your favorite is still stuck in its current one. What would it take for you to switch to another brand? Looking at the 2022 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Chevy Camaro, it’s easy to see that the Camaro looks like a lot of fun, but when compared to the Charger, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. If you’re currently a Chevy fan, we’ve got a few reasons that you might want to switch loyalties and choose a Dodge Charger as your next sports car.
#1: The Powerful Purr of a HEMI V8
The 2022 Camaro comes with a range of engine options, including a four-cylinder, a V6, and Chevy’s very own V8. While it feels good to have options, these are pretty mediocre for a pony car. Plus, if you like the idea of driving one but don’t know your way around a stick shift, you’ll have to shell out more of your hard-earned cash for an automatic transmission (either an eight-speed or ten-speed) since the Chevy comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The dual-mode exhaust is optional, and the brakes are built more for the track than regular driving conditions. If you’re going to be racing, then maybe this one’s for you, but for the rest of us, we need something more substantial and ready to hit the road on a daily basis.
The Dodge Charger comes with V6 and V8 engine options, several of which are versions of the widely celebrated HEMI V8. There are four HEMI V8 options available for the Charger: the 370-hp 5.7L, the 485-hp 6.4L, the 717-hp supercharged 6.2L, and the 797-807-hp high-output supercharged 6.2L. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, and the Charger is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The Charger has a big, beefy look, and the engine sounds to match. It’s hard to beat the appeal of a HEMI engine, and truthfully, the Camaro’s 650-hp 6.2L V8 simply can’t keep up. If you’re looking for a sedan that can double as a commuter and a sports car, you can’t go wrong with the Charger.
#2: Space…The Final Frontier
No, the Charger can’t launch into space, but it definitely has more space than the cramped Camaro. The Dodge Charger is a genuine sedan with four doors, while the Chevy Camaro is a stylish coupe. While coupes can be nice sometimes, if you plan to ever actually use the back seat, the Charger is the only way to go.
In the Chevy Camaro, the back seat is tight and uncomfortable, and there’s little space to be had in the trunk for all of your things. Even if you’re just going to dinner with some friends and offer to drive them, it won’t be long before they feel claustrophobic. Maybe just order in if you’re going to socialize. The Camaro might be similar in size to the Charger, but its space has been poorly utilized, and it can really only provide comfort and space to two people. Most people we know that have pony and sports cars need the backseat space for kids, pets, or friends and could use more trunk space for things like luggage or shopping bags. Do you really want to be so limited in space that you can’t pick up more than a few grocery items or a few small shopping bags?
The Dodge Charger, on the other hand, has a wide body capable of providing plenty of comfortable space for up to four passengers, with a healthy trunk space that can hold a multitude of items, including sports gear, car accessories, or equipment you might need. Measured against the Camaro, the trunk space is much larger (9.1 cu.ft. in the Camaro vs 16.5 cu.ft. in the Charger), allowing for even more items should you want them. The inside even has multiple storage spaces, including a very handy one located by the shifter where you can place your phone instead of scrabbling for it or losing it under the seats, as has been known to happen. With such a wealth of storage and passenger space, it’s easy to see why the Charger is preferred for those living life to the fullest.
#3: Safety First
Although most pony and muscle car drivers probably don’t look at the safety features as their first concern, it can’t be denied that if you are going to be driving your car anywhere that isn’t on the track, you are going to want some extra assurances in the form of safety and driver assist features. Unfortunately, the Chevy Camaro does not come with many safety features, and available offerings are also slim. You’ll have to pay extra for things that come standard in other vehicles, like forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Whether you’re on the racetrack during a weekend event or driving on the highway toward home or work, you won’t have additional help when navigating obstacles, parking spaces, or pedestrians. This not only puts you in harm’s way but individuals outside the vehicle as well. Do you want to be held liable for hitting someone or pay hefty fees for safety tech? Those are your choices with the Chevy Camaro.
Luckily, the Dodge Charger offers plenty of standard and available safety features, depending on which trim level you go with. The standard suite includes things like advanced brake assist, all-speed traction control, a solid safety frame, hill start assist, side-guard door beams, ready alert braking, electronic stability control, and more. If you want to upgrade a few trim levels, you can also get adaptive cruise control and automated braking. Not only does the Charger offer technological safety features, but it also has built-in protection for its frame, the first layer of protection for the driver and passengers.
Now, we will admit that neither of these vehicles holds a candle to more family-oriented options like SUVs when it comes to safety tech, but all-in-all, the Dodge Charger has a better showing, especially in base construction. While you are pushing your sports car to its limits or simply transporting the family where they need to go, you are going to want to feel safe, and the Dodge Charger offers that to you more than the Chevy Camaro.
Is It Time to Change Loyalties?
It cannot be denied that Chevy has a fierce and loyal following. The brand has produced many great vehicles over the years and has striven to provide its customers with quality, choice, and up-to-date technology. Plenty of people have driven Chevy vehicles and decided to purchase another Chevy after their first one bit the dust. However, when trying to find a pony or muscle car that doubles as a daily driver, it’s clear that between the Camaro and the Charger, the Charger definitely has more pros and the Camaro has more cons. The Dodge Charger is less expensive and comes with more power, more space, and more safety features than the Camaro. At this rate, it’s not even a competition. We’ve got a clear winner.
