2022 Chevrolet Corvette vs 2023 Dodge Challenger

Nearing its 70th anniversary, the Chevrolet Corvette is an automotive institution. While some past Corvette models rested on their laurels, the eighth-generation Corvette C8 is the real deal. The current Corvette Stingray is destined to be superseded by more extreme versions, but even it offers impressive performance and technology, and even manages to be a decent value.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray enters the new model year with only minor changes. Chevy launched an IMSA GTLM Championship Edition (limited to 1,000 units) commemorating the Corvette’s racing success, made some powertrain changes (which don’t affect output), and added three new exterior colours: Hypersonic Gray, Caffeine, and Amplify Orange Tintcoat.

The lineup remains unchanged from 2021, consisting of coupe and convertible body styles, 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trim levels. A Z51 performance package is available on any trim level, which upgrades the suspension and adds an electronic limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes. Our test car was a 2LT coupe without the Z51 package.

In celebration of their final year turning perfectly good 305/35ZR20 Pirelli P Zeros into black stripes and circles on pavement, the Hemi V8-powered 2023 Challengers come in several “Last Call” special-edition models. Based on the R/T Scat Pack, the Challenger Shakedown and Swinger versions are limited to 1,000 examples each. Dodge will build 3,000 SRT Demon 170 models for the North American market, each making 1,025 horsepower. The rarest “Last Call” 2023 Challenger is the Black Ghost, limited to 300 units.

Verdict: For better and for worse, the 2023 Dodge Challenger is a time capsule, sending drivers back to an era where horsepower was the ultimate goal and fuel economy was a merely trivial anecdote. As it enters its final year, the Challenger offers more power than ever before, giving a dose of muscle-car performance heavy enough to match its irresistibly cool looks.