2022 Chevrolet Corvette vs 2023 Dodge Challenger

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette was a striking vehicle, drawing inspiration from Ferrari with its sleek design elements such as an engine under glass, side air intakes, and a pointed nose. Its body tapered elegantly, widening at the back, creating an exciting visual appeal. Despite its bold appearance, it lacked distinct features that identified it as a Corvette. The coupe version offered a targa-style removable roof panel, while the convertible boasted a retractable hardtop that could be lowered in 16 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h. The Corvette's interior was unique, featuring a square steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, and an infotainment touchscreen. The dashboard layout, reminiscent of classic Corvettes, included a spine-like structure separating the driver and passenger, housing various controls.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was based on the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody, with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 807 hp. Its design paid homage to a legendary 1970 Challenger, featuring Pitch Black paint, white rear fender graphics, and retro chrome accents. The Black Ghost stood out with its old-school detailing, contrasting sharply with the modern trend of blacked-out aesthetics. The interior offered luxury touches like premium Laguna leather upholstery and genuine carbon fibre trim, though it was overlaid on less expensive plastic. Despite its vintage design, the Challenger's build quality was commendable, and it included modern features like a driver information display and an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette marked a significant shift with its mid-engine layout, enhancing weight distribution and traction for its RWD drivetrain. The standard Stingray model featured a 6.2-litre V8 engine, delivering 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, or 495 hp and 470 lb-ft with the optional performance exhaust. This engine, part of Chevy's small block V8 family, was modified for the mid-engine setup. The Corvette's performance was impressive, with a 0-96 km/h time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 312 km/h. The Z51 performance package further enhanced its capabilities, making it competitive with more expensive sports cars. The Corvette's handling was precise and communicative, offering a playful yet approachable driving experience. Equipped with Magnetic Selective Ride Control, it provided a comfortable ride, even on rough roads, without compromising the thrilling engine sound.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost delivered a staggering performance with its supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine, producing 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. The acceleration was breathtaking, with the supercharger whine filling the cabin as the car surged forward. The Challenger's size made it feel less nimble on twisty roads, but its adaptive damping suspension and Brembo brakes improved handling. Dodge offered Auto, Sport, and Track driving modes, allowing drivers to tailor the car's behaviour. However, the lack of advanced safety features meant drivers had to rely on their skills to keep the car under control. Fuel economy was a challenge, with the Challenger consuming up to 15.4 litres per 100 km, making it an expensive car to run.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, as a two-seat sports car, wasn't designed for practicality, but it offered two trunks due to its mid-engine layout. The combined cargo space was 357 litres, slightly less than the previous generation. The rear trunk could hold a set of golf clubs, while the front trunk accommodated an airline carry-on bag. However, removing the roof reduced cargo space significantly. The Corvette's interior was driver-focused, with a square steering wheel providing an unobstructed view of the instrument cluster. The touchscreen was easily accessible, and the centre console housed controls within reach. Visibility was compromised by a narrow rear window, but large mirrors and optional camera systems helped. The optional GT2 bucket seats offered comfort and support, with power adjustments available.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost's size contributed to its comfort and practicality. The sport-bolstered front seats were wide and comfortable, with six-way power adjustment. The coupe's long doors could be challenging in tight spaces, but keyless entry was standard. The interior's design emphasized form over function, with driver-centric instrumentation and a centre console. Despite this, the Challenger offered practicality with its spacious rear seats and a 458-litre trunk, larger than some family sedans. However, the high loading lift-over height required careful packing.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette featured an 8-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM radio. Navigation was standard on all but the base trim, and a head-up display was available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with simple graphics and analog controls for climate and audio. The 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system provided good sound quality, though it competed with the engine noise. The Performance Data Recorder captured track sessions, and a front-end lift system helped avoid scraping on steep driveways.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost, while not high-tech, offered the Uconnect 4 infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Performance Pages provided access to driving modes and performance metrics. The system included wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM radio. The Harman Kardon sound system favoured bass over clarity, and the Uconnect voice recognition system showed its age. The Challenger's age meant it retained knobs and buttons for volume and climate control, minimizing driver distraction.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette was light on driver-assist tech, with only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available, except on the base trim. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable due to the Corvette's low sales volume.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost offered limited safety features, including a low-resolution reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. Advanced features like forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control were unavailable. The NHTSA gave the Challenger high marks, but the IIHS was less impressed, with favourable ratings only in outdated tests.