Audi S5 vs Dodge Challenger: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Dodge Challenger burns about $2,650 of fuel annually against $3,150 for the Audi S5. That $500 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,500 over five years and $4,000 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Audi S5 is the stronger commuter at 21 mpg city, while the Dodge Challenger pulls ahead on the interstate at 30 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Audi S5 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Dodge Challenger with 4 (3.6, 5.7, 6.4). Across 33 recorded Audi S5 configurations and 95 for the Dodge Challenger, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi S5 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Dodge Challenger with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Audi S5 emits 363 g/mile of CO2 versus 389 g/mile for the Dodge Challenger. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.