2020 Ford Mustang vs 2020 Dodge Challenger

The 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt paid homage to its cinematic legacy, drawing inspiration from the iconic 1968 Mustang GT fastback driven by Steve McQueen in the film "Bullitt." This special edition model, painted in the classic Dark Highland Green, exuded a clean and classic aesthetic with subtle chrome accents and retro-style wheels. Inside, the Mustang Bullitt featured unique touches like green stitching on the leather upholstery and a white cue-ball shifter knob, creating a nostalgic yet modern driving experience. Despite its high price tag, the Mustang Bullitt was considered a bargain compared to the original movie car, which sold for millions at auction.

In contrast, the 2020 Dodge Challenger embraced its heritage with a design that paid tribute to the first-generation model from the 1970s. The Challenger's muscular silhouette, recessed headlights, and menacing grille hinted at its performance capabilities. Inside, the driver-focused cockpit combined modern technology with vintage styling, creating a unique blend of old and new. The Challenger offered a wide range of trims, each with its own set of features and performance enhancements, allowing buyers to tailor their driving experience. With its spacious interior and impressive cargo capacity, the Challenger stood out as a more practical option for those seeking a muscle car with everyday usability.

The 2020 Ford Mustang offered a diverse range of performance options, from the 310-horsepower EcoBoost Fastback to the 760-horsepower Shelby GT500. The Mustang Bullitt, based on the Mustang GT, delivered 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, thanks to enhancements like an intake manifold and throttle bodies from the Shelby GT350. The Bullitt's performance was further enhanced by a four-mode active exhaust system and a six-speed manual transmission, providing an engaging driving experience. Fuel economy varied across the lineup, with the Bullitt achieving 16.4 litres per 100 km in the city and 10.2 on the highway. The GT Performance Package added features like structural bracing, Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, ensuring the Mustang Bullitt delivered both power and precision on the road.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger offered a wide range of engine options, starting with a 305-horsepower V6 in the SXT and GT trims. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-litre Hemi V8, producing up to 475 horsepower with a manual transmission. The Scat Pack 392 upgraded to a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, delivering 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye took performance to the next level with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing 717 and 797 horsepower, respectively. The Challenger's performance was further enhanced by features like Brembo brakes, launch control, and adaptive suspension. The SRT Performance Pages allowed drivers to customize settings for power delivery, suspension stiffness, and more, making the Challenger a versatile performance machine.

The 2020 Ford Mustang prioritized style and performance over practicality, with a rear seat that was cramped for taller passengers and limited storage space. However, the Mustang Fastback provided comfortable seating for two adults and a trunk with 383 litres of cargo space, making it suitable for road trips. The Mustang Bullitt featured standard black leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, while optional Recaro performance seats offered better bolstering for spirited driving. Despite its focus on performance, the Mustang managed to balance form and function for those who valued style and driving dynamics.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger set itself apart with a spacious cabin, offering ample legroom and headroom for both front and rear passengers. The Challenger's 459 litres of cargo space surpassed its competitors, making it a practical choice for those who needed more room. The traditional rear-wheel-drive setup resulted in a large centre console, but the Challenger provided helpful storage cubbies in the doors. Despite some visibility limitations due to its retro styling, the Challenger offered a comfortable and spacious interior, making it a more practical option for everyday use.

The 2020 Ford Mustang excelled in performance technology, offering features like adjustable steering effort, active exhaust modes, and multiple driving modes. Track Apps allowed drivers to monitor performance metrics, while the 12-inch digital instrumentation cluster provided a sophisticated interface. The Sync 3 infotainment system, though aging, offered Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Despite some lag in response, the system remained user-friendly, with separate controls for stereo and climate functions.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the intuitive Uconnect interface. The system offered Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with easy switching between menus and mobile platforms. The available Uconnect 8.4 system provided a larger screen and Garmin-based navigation. Higher trims included an Alpine premium stereo system, with an optional Harman Kardon upgrade. The Challenger's digital display in the instrument panel offered logical menu layouts, ensuring drivers could access information without distraction.

The 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt lacked many semi-autonomous safety features, appealing to purists who preferred a more traditional driving experience. Standard safety features included a reversing camera and MyKey technology, while the optional Electronics Package added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The Mustang received good crash-test ratings from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, providing peace of mind for safety-conscious buyers.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger came equipped with standard safety features like airbags, traction control, and brake assist. Optional safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Challenger received four stars in front driver’s side crash testing and five stars for front passenger side testing from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Challenger a "Good" rating in many crash tests, though it received a "Marginal" overall score.