The Dodge vs. Chevy rivalry is age-old and an integral part of the American auto industry that dates back to the founding days of industrial Detroit, over a century ago. So, here we will pit the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the most powerful and extravagant performance cars made by these iconic automakers against each other to answer the age-old question - which modern renditions of these icons sit at the top of the muscle car food chain!

Unsubtle Aesthetics

Looks are subjective they say, but most would agree that both the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and the Chevy Camaro ZL1 are as far from subtle as they get. Between the two then, it comes down to personal preference. While the Challenger is the older of the two, which is why it benefits from beefier looks, more in line with muscle cars from yesteryears but it gets modern touches like LED lights, massive hood scoops, and wide wheel arches.

The Camaro ZL1 on the other hand is even less subtle with its massive grill and aggressive aero bits. It might not be as long and wide as the Challenger but it benefits from more muscular lines and the optional black hood that adds a lot of character to the car.

Old School V-8s

We live in an age where engines are getting smaller and more efficient, all while making more horsepower than ever thanks to hybrid assistance and tricked-out turbochargers. But, the fact is, there's no replacement for displacement and these thorough-bred American Muscle cars prove exactly that with their old-school push-rod V-8 engines. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat uses a 6.2-liter Supercharged V-8 making 717 horsepower and 707-pound feet of torque, making it one of the biggest and most powerful production engines in business today. The Chevy Camaro LT1 follows closely with its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 which gets a smaller supercharger but still manages to make a very impressive 650-horsepower and 650-pound feet of torque. The bottom line is that these cars offer a better power-to-price ratio than most modern cars and they let you enjoy the symphony of an old-school V-8 in the process.

Supercharged Top Trumps

This is a clear win for the Challenger Hellcat which boasts of the largest production supercharger currently on sale but let's not discount the Camaro ZL1 just yet. Starting with Dodge's Hellcat motor that now powers a whole host of vehicles which include the Charger and Challenger Hellcat models along with Track Hawk versions of the Grand Cherokee and Durango.

All these vehicles are boosted by a 2.4-liter twin-screw Supercharger that produces 11.6 psi of boost but if you choose to step up to the Redeye version of the Challenger Hellcat, you get an even bigger Supercharger displacing 2.7-liters and generating 14.5 psi of boost in the process. The ZL1's supercharged V-8 is no joke though and though the single-scroll supercharger only displaces 1.76-liters and makes less boost than the Hellcat's unit, at least it lets you hear more of that sweet V-8 grumble and roar of the LT4 engine.

Ride and Handling

Now, this is where things get interesting, while both the Hellcat and 1LE get an improved suspension, it’s the wild-looking Camaro that's more buckled down than the Challenger. This should come as no surprise since the Camaro gets track-oriented suspension accompanied by tailored Magna ride dampers and to put that power down with the least possible drama, you get one of the fattest sets of track-ready Goodyear tires.

These changes add up to make a world of a difference and that's before the 1LE package that adds even more handling improvements. Even Dodge has taken measures to improve the Challenger's handling, especially with the Hellcat Redeye that gets even more power and upgraded suspension to help put all that power down, but it still likes to stick its tail out coming out of every corner.

No Frills Interior

Apart from their old-school muscle car roots, both the Challenger Hellcat and the Camaro ZL1 also share a similar philosophy when it comes to their interiors and that's to keep them as ordinary as possible. Simply put, both cars use interior bits from cheaper GM and Stellantis models which end up feeling less special compared to the rest of the car, but they are functional nonetheless. The Camaro ZL1 receives upgraded bucket seats, but the rest of the interior is fairly standard with just enough space to squeeze four occupants for short durations and plenty of equipment. The Challenger Hellcat tries to spruce things up with leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated seats, but the rest of the cabin feels pretty bland and basic though it offers a lot more cargo space than the Camaro. But, out of the two, we have to give it to the Camaro because it manages to feel more special than the Hellcat.

Evolving In-car Tech

In-car tech is a crucial part of a new car and both Dodge and Chevy have added plenty of equipment to keep their occupants happy. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat gets 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment that's based on the latest Uconnect system and is pretty slick to use. The Hellcat exclusive red analog flanking a central divers display adds to the Hellcat's unhinged personality and the infotainment gets dedicated telemetry like track timers, boost gauges, and more. The Camaro ZL1 also gets Chevy's latest infotainment system which comes with all the necessary kits such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a Bose sound system, and even Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. But out of the two, the Challenger Hellcat's in-car tech feels slicker and more informative than the Camaro ZL1's.

Optional Packs and Perks

As standard, both the Camaro ZL1 and the Challenger Hellcat offer more performance than most people will ever use but both Dodge and Chevy offer packages to kick things up a notch. GM offers a single $7,500 1LE pack, that adds a slew of aero upgrades like a massive wing and front dive planes to improve its handling. But, Dodge takes the cake here as they offer even more powerful versions of the Hellcat such as the 797-horsepower Redeye and even an 807-horsepower Superstock that comes with dedicated drag racing equipment from the factory and costs $87,025.

Aftermarket Support

Both Chevy and Dodge have a rich history of backing customers with great aftermarket support. Dodge offers plenty of upgrades to the Challenger Hellcat straight from the factory and the aftermarket is filled with Supercharger pulley upgrades, and kits available from dedicated tuners like Hennessey that take the total output to over 1,000 horsepower.

But the Camaro's LS engine is one of the most upgrade-friendly engines in history and as a result, you can find a seemingly endless list of upgrades in the aftermarket like the 2.9-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger that adds another 125 horsepower or a more comprehensive set of mods like Hennessey's Exorcist kit for the ZL1 that takes the output up to a 1000 horsepower.

Reliable Performance

Coming back to why there's "no replacement for displacement", using a bigger engine is always more reliable than using smaller turbocharged engines to deliver high outputs. Both the Camaro ZL1 and the Challenger Hellcat scored a 3.5 rating from RepairPal but the Dodge Challenger ranked higher in the list, giving it a slight edge over the Camaro. But either way, both engines have proven to be very reliable over the years and thanks to a flourishing aftermarket industry, upkeep, and replacement parts are relatively affordable for both these vehicles.

The Real Performance Bargain

Just like you, we'd like a straight winner, unfortunately, it's more complicated than that. With the Chevy Camaro ZL1's base price of $66,045, it’s the value champion, narrowly beating out the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat which starts at $68,125. But, there's more to these cars than just price tags, and whichever way you go, you are getting the most horsepower for your dollar with these cars but it’s the heritage and the celebration of old-school muscle that makes these special.

So, our simple advice is if you like straight line pulls and drag races, then get the Challenger, but if you like to take your big ol' muscle car to the track, then go with the superior handling Camaro ZL1.

2022 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Specifications:

Engine

6.2-liter supercharged V-8

Horsepower

717 horsepower

Torque

707 pound-feet

Drive

RWD

Transmission

8-speed auto

0-60 mph

3.7-seconds

Top Speed

203 mph

Base Price

$68,125


2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Specifications:

Engine

6.2-liter supercharged V-8

Horsepower

650 horsepower

Torque

650 pound-feet

Drive

RWD

Transmission

10-speed auto

0-60 mph

3.4-seconds

Top Speed

190 mph

Base Price

$66,045




FAQ

Q: Is a Challenger better than a Camaro?

It all depends on what you need. If it’s outright power and drama that you want from your muscle car, the Challenger Hellcat is the one to get but if you like to take your Muscle car to the track, then the Camaro ZL1 should be at the top of your list.

Q: Is a Camaro safer than a Challenger?

Both the Challenger and the Camaro perform equally well in the safety department and both cars have secured 5-star safety ratings from NHTSA.

Q: Which is better Camaro or Charger?

The challenger is bigger than the Camaro which translates to best-in-segment storage with 16.2 cubic feet on offer while the Camaro has to make do with 9.1 cubic feet.