Dodge Challenger vs Lexus IS: 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 $2,900 for the Lexus IS. That $250 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,250 over five years and $2,000 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 and highway economy: the Lexus IS leads in both cycles — 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway against 19 and 30 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Dodge Challenger is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (3.6, 5.7, 6.4), the Lexus IS with 2 (SIDI & PFI, SIDI). Across 95 recorded Dodge Challenger configurations and 52 for the Lexus IS, 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 Dodge Challenger is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Lexus IS with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-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 Midsize Cars and Compact 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 Lexus IS emits 345 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.