Head-to-Head: Chevrolet SS vs. Dodge Charger SRT8

When you think of powerful, high-performance, rear-wheel-drive sedans – usually you think of expensive German vehicles like the BMW M5 or the Mercedes E63 AMG. However, if you look a little closer (especially now) you’ll notice that there are pretty strong offerings from our domestic automakers when it comes to high-performance RWD sedans. Of course the first one that comes to mind is the Dodge Charger SRT8. However, General Motors recently jumped in on the action with the debut of the 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan, which is essentially a replacement to the much-loved Pontiac G8 GXP.

The Dodge Charger SRT8 has really held it down for the domestic market when it comes to performance sedans. Ford recently tried coming up with the Ford Taurus SHO and failed and now it seems like Chevy wants to take a shot with the SS. Both cars have some very strong history and have a sort of a cult following behind them with each car’s camp cheering them on in head-to-head race.

In terms of design, we feel the Dodge Charger SRT8 is definitely a better and meaner looking machine then the Chevrolet SS. While the Charger SRT8 goes for a mean and aggressive look with the gigantic grill in the front, the Chevrolet SS seems to stay more subtle with nice design touches like the LED strip foglamps. Nonetheless, this segment is about having a lot of power and looking mean – which the Charger SRT8 pulls off quite well.

So, now that you’re aware of domestic offerings for the segment, you realize that you can probably save a lot of money instead of paying $80,000+ for a BMW M5 or a Mercedes E63 AMG – however you’re not sure which is the best. Is it the Chevrolet SS or the Dodge Charger SRT8. Which one offers the most bang for the buck? Well, we’re here to help you out and break it all down by each car.

2013 Dodge Charger SRT8:

• Power: 6.4 liter V8 HEMI making 470-hp at 6,000 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm.
• Transmission: 5-speed automatic.
• 0 to 60 mph: 4.5 seconds.
• Top Speed: 178 mph.
• Brakes: 4-piston Brembo calipers and vented/slotted rotors measuring 14.2 inches up front and 13.8 inches in the rear.
• Price: $43,250.

2014 Chevrolet SS:

• Power: 6.2 liter V8 LS3 making 415-hp at 5,900 rpm and 415 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm.
• Transmission: Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed automatic with TAPshift.
• 0 to 60 mph: 5 seconds flat.
• Top Speed: TBA.
• Brakes: 4-wheel disc with power assist, Brembo vented two-piece front rotors, solid rear rotors; standard ABS.
• Price: $44,470.

We guess it’s pretty obvious who the clear cut winner is here. Even though the Chevrolet SS is brand-new to the market, it fails to live up to the brute performance and power of the Dodge Charger SRT8. Not to mention the $44,470 Chevrolet SS costs a little more than the Dodge Charger SRT8 which starts at $43,250.

However, there’s one thing that both cars lack – a manual transmission! We’ll see if we can get these two to the track for a nice quarter mile race to settle the score. Stay tuned.