We’ve seen quite a few comparison tests between Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford performance products lately. Cars.com recently decided to join in on the fun, rounding up America’s three new muscle cars and pitting ’em against each other in order to find out which new pony car has the most pony car prowess – the 2016 Camaro 2SS, the 2016 Ford Mustang GT, or the 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack.
GM fans will be happy to know that the 2016 Camaro SS was voted first place, with the Challenger following in second, and the Mustang coming in last. While the Camaro continued to face criticism over its “cheap” interior, the Recaro seats of the Mustang seemed to be a bigger upset for the judges. But it was more than just a comparison of the interiors that led to the Camaro’s victory, it was a combination of performance, efficiency, and feel.
To get more acquainted with the cars, the judge panel took them for a spin at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park’s drag strip in Chandler, Arizona.
Not only was the 2016Â Camaro SS the quickest from zero to sixty as well as in the quarter mile, it achieved the best real-world gas mileage with 21.6 MPG. In regards to feel, well while all three cars had pros and cons, the Camaro’s active exhaust and auto rev-matching features made it more fun to drive. The judges also felt that the LT1 was the “sweet spot” between Ford’s 5.0 liter V8 and Dodge’s 6.4 liter V8.
We can’t say we disagree with the outcome of this comparison test, but we’d love to know if you agree or disagree. So please, tell us what you think by commenting below.
Comments
You’re asking GM Authority readers if they disagree with the notion that the Camaro is the best pony car?
Yes, because I don’t think being a reader of GM Authority implies that you’re only a fan of GM products, or think GM products are better than all others.
Bull. Say anything negative about GM, even if it is realistic, understandable, and more importantly fact, and you get more down votes than you thought GMA had readers.
It’s great to be a fan of a product, brand, team, etc, but at least be open minded enough to see that flaws in those things
Exactly, andrew and Francisco! I’m not a GM loyalist in any regard, but I do acknowledge and admire the massive changes this company has and is still making in regards to their approach to improving the quality of their vehicles! Never before has their been so many GM products that are legitimately coveted; their appeal value has increased dramatically!
With all that being said, it’s impressive to see the 6th gen Camaro’s awesome performance abilities garner it more praise and respect from auto journalists! However, I still prefer the practicality and livability of the Challenger! Until GM addresses the shortcomings of the Camaro, which is simply improving the visibility, the Camaro will remain 2nd rate to the Mustang and Challenger! To each their own……
This is one area where I do think Chevy wins… And its not just because I’m a “fan”. In fact the only Chevy I own right now is a Cadillac…
Compared to the Challenger, its a no brainer. The challenger is more expensive, with lower performance. Slower straight, and way slower in the curves, the camaro SS drives like a sports car and the challenger like a sedan.
Now thats different if you just want to modify a dragster, then go with what stirs the passion in you, The Challenger is more of a “classic muscle car” while the Camaro starts feeling too much like a sports car.
So if the goal is to get the best sports car for the money, no question its the camaro. If the goal is the nostalgic muscle car of your childhood dreams, then its a personal preference game, plain and simple.
The Mustang is a little trickier. even though the Mustang competes in performance Numbers, from my experience driving them both the Camaro gave me a lot more confidence and felt more natural. However, I think the mustang comes in at number 2, even though I think the challenger is good looking. The fuel efficiency and performance numbers tip it here though.
I do think “rating” a car based on:
1. looks
2. “materials” (not like the mechanical materials, but the look and feel materials)
is stupid. I mean isn’t that totally superficial fluff that anyone can evaluate on their own in seven seconds? Do I need a magazine, blog, or article to tell me that one has more upscale interior? I want a rating to cover what I can’t assess in 10 seconds or less…
I thought this same thing was a problem when the Jeep Patriot came out. For the price, it was a great car. Most magazines downvoted it for the “Cheap plastic interior”. I just don’t get how a “personal preference” item like looks has a place in professional evaluations.