Toyota Supra vs Dodge Challenger

The 2023 Toyota Supra, known as the GR Supra, was unmistakably a sports car with its low-slung design, long hood, and rear-set cabin. It was a two-door coupe that didn't pretend to be anything other than a two-seater, unlike the Toyota GR 86. The Supra's design featured oversized fenders and a sloping roofline, giving it a fast appearance even when stationary. Despite sharing a platform with the BMW Z4, the Supra had a distinct look with a busy front fascia and numerous cut-outs and vents. Inside, the Supra offered a compact infotainment screen, a row of buttons below the air vents, and physical climate controls. The interior was predominantly black, but the A91 trim offered a hazelnut leather option. Both seats were heated, but a heated steering wheel was not available.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was based on the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody, boasting a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine with 807 horsepower. Its design paid homage to a legendary 1970 Challenger with Pitch Black paint, retro chrome touches, and a "gator skin" roof graphic. The Black Ghost stood out with its old-school detailing, contrasting sharply with the modern trend of blacked-out aesthetics. The Challenger's design, rooted in 1970s styling, had been on the road since 2008, and the Black Ghost took this retro look to the next level. Inside, the Challenger featured luxury touches like Laguna leather upholstery, simulated suede, and carbon fibre trim. Despite some inexpensive plastic materials, the build quality was commendable. The Challenger's interior was more about the driving experience than modern technology, with a focus on comfort and practicality.

The 2023 Toyota Supra offered a choice between two engines. The base 2.0 trim featured a four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine delivered 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. The Supra's six-cylinder engine provided an exhilarating driving experience, with peak horsepower between 5,800 and 6,500 rpm and maximum torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. The Supra accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 4.0 seconds with the automatic transmission and 4.3 seconds with the manual. Fuel economy for the automatic was estimated at 10.2 L/100 km in the city and 7.7 on the highway, while the manual consumed more fuel. The Supra's manual transmission added a layer of engagement, with short, precise throws and a well-placed shifter. The car's power band was wide, particularly in third gear, which reduced the need for frequent shifting.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. The car's acceleration was described as stupefying, with the supercharger whine filling the cabin. The Challenger featured an adaptive damping suspension, Brembo performance brakes, and sticky Pirelli tires, providing a surprisingly good ride and handling for its size. The car offered Auto, Sport, and Track driving modes, with Sport mode providing heavier steering and firmer suspension. However, the warning light indicating reduced safety features in Sport and Track modes dented confidence. Fuel economy was poor, with a combined rating of up to 15.4 L/100 km, and the car's large size made it less nimble on narrow roads.

The 2023 Toyota Supra, as a two-seater sports car, offered limited practicality. Its liftback-style trunk provided 288 litres of cargo space, more than the Nissan Z and Toyota GR 86. However, the Supra was not a daily driver, with a tight interior and limited outward visibility. The car had well-placed cupholders and some storage space, but the violent buffeting when driving with the windows down was a significant flaw.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost's size contributed to its comfort and practicality. The front seats were wide, heated, and ventilated, with six-way power adjustment for the driver. The Challenger's large size allowed for comfortable rear seating and a 458-litre trunk, larger than some family sedans. However, the high loading lift-over height made packing challenging. The interior's driver-centric design emphasized the driving experience over utility, with limited in-cabin storage.

The 2023 Toyota Supra offered a range of technological conveniences. The GR Supra 2.0 featured a four-speaker stereo with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, while the 3.0 trim added a 12-speaker JBL sound system, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, and voice recognition. The lack of CarPlay on lower trims was a disappointment, but the Supra's focus was on performance rather than technology.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost shared its Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with other Dodge models. The 8.4-inch display provided access to Performance Pages, driving modes, and performance metrics. The system included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, and a Harman Kardon sound system. The Challenger's age showed in its voice recognition system, but the presence of knobs and buttons minimized driver distraction.

The 2023 Toyota Supra included a range of advanced driver assistance safety features as standard equipment. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, stability control, traction control, and brake assist. Adaptive cruise control was standard with the automatic transmission, while manual cars received parking sensors. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were not available in Canada.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost offered limited safety features. It included traction and stability control, a low-resolution reversing camera, rear parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. Forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control were unavailable. The Challenger received high marks from the NHTSA but less favourable ratings from the IIHS.