2010 Mustang vs. Challenger vs. Camaro: Which is Rated the Best?
Not surprisingly, with The Big Three each having a retro classic muscle car for the first time in many a moon (four decades), the automotive reviewers are putting them to the test. Ford has its Mustang GT, Dodge has its Challenger SRT-8, and Chevrolet has brought back its much missed Camaro SS.
The question that consumers, enthusiasts, and journalists all want to know is, which one of these is going to be the ultimate buy. Let’s look at a few of the opinions of popular media sources to see exactly which one of the three is considered to be the top dog.
Popular Mechanics really liked the small changes made to the 2010 Ford Mustang. They thought that it was by far the most “organic” and lively, and could well have the best handling characteristics of the three despite its solid rear axle.
They thought that the Challenger SRT-8 by far had the best overall retro look of the three, but lacked real performance. This however made the Challenger the most most practical and smooth driving choice.
Popular Mechanics favorite of the three was… the Camaro. They liked its massive engine, stance, and overall refinement. While the Camaro was not necessarily the runaway winner in this competition, it clearly was received by Popular Mechanics as the most well rounded muscle car..
Edmunds.com has never been afraid to say it how it is, and they were not too impressed with the Challenger SRT besides its good looks and powerful V-8 sound. They felt that much of the car was built for lackadaisical cruising stating, “The Camaro and Mustang flat-out leave the Dodge for dead on roads with turns—the Challenger wins hearts, not races.”
Edmunds thought that the Mustang GT was a top performer on the road. The fact that it weighs a good 600 lbs less than the Dodge and 300 lbs from the Chevy, helps it immensely with its handling and road prowess. They however felt that the Mustangs styling was drab in comparison to the other two.
Edmunds overall favorite was… you guessed it, the Camaro. They loved the big 6.2 liter powerhouse and Brembo brakes combination. This gives the Camaro not only plenty of go, but plenty of stopping power! For the money, the Edmunds team agreed this was the best for the money.
The Car Gururs claimed the Dodge challenger was not as practical as it should be. The V-6 loses too much power for the sake of fuel efficiency, and the SRT-8 has too much power with not enough efficiency.
With the Chevy Camaro, they were impressed by the efficiency of both the 29 mpg V6 and the 26 mpg 6.2 liter V-8. They however feel that its 400/422 horsepower was not enough to out power either of its competitors.
The Mustang GT comes out on top this time around in view of all its improvements, such as more horsepower, better handling, improved sound dampening, sharper looking design, and a better overall build quality. The CarGurus even claim that the newest offering by Mustang is better than the infamous 1965 mustang, which is quite a complement for Ford.
They liked the Dodge Challenger, but did not think that it was as sharp handling as the Mustang or as powerful as the Camaro. It came in last for their tests on handling and braking, but they though its power and retro look was enough to give it two thumbs up anyway.
Motor Trend loved the light and lively feel of the Mustang. While its power output is less than the other two, they felt that the weight difference more than made up for the difference. The Mustang also featured some of the best front end grip they have ever experienced in any other Mustang. What they did not like was the final fit and finish, which unfortunately was less than either of its competition.
The Camaro edged out on top with its refinement, massive power, and handling. While not as good at handling as the Mustang, its independent rear suspension made it a bit more settled on the road. They preferred the interior layout to the Camaro and Challenger and thought it most exemplified what a 21st century muscle car should be!
So which one of these iconic vehicles in the unanimous winner? Obviously the 2010 Camaro with 4 out of 5 votes. The Mustang comes in second, with the Challenger at a distant third…
