Dodge Challenger vs Subaru WRX: 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 Subaru WRX. 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 Subaru WRX 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 Dodge Challenger is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (3.6, 5.7, 6.4), the Subaru WRX with 2 (SIDI, 2.5). Across 95 recorded Dodge Challenger configurations and 32 for the Subaru WRX, 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 Subaru WRX with 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 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 Subaru WRX emits 374 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.