How the 2015 Dodge Models Stack Up Against Each Other
It’s almost 2016, so your window to purchase a “new” 2015 Dodge vehicle is quickly coming to a close. Considering the number of options, the search for a 2015 Dodge vehicle can be quite daunting and overwhelming. There are seven different 2015 Dodge models to choose from, so where does a potential buyer even start? They could go with the comfortable Dodge Durango, or perhaps they prefer the speedy Viper. Maybe they’d rather go with one of the other five options, including the Challenger, Charger, Dart, Journey or Grand Caravan.
These vehicles are all distinct and unique, and they certainly cater to their own specific type of driver and terrain. A person driving a Dodge in Boston may prioritize different features than a driver who owns a Dodge in the south.
_So how do these various cars stack up against each other in regards to their specs? Before you head out to a Miami Dodge dealer , take a look at our guide. It may make your decision significantly easier… _
Most Affordable: 2015 Dart, $16,495
The Dart doesn’t just top the list of Dodge vehicles when it comes to the most affordable cars… it’s actually one of the cheapest 2015 models on the market, regardless of the brand. Among sedans, the Dodge Dart trails only the Kia Forte ($15,890), Volkswagen Jetta ($16,215) and Nissan Sentra ($16,480) in price.
The Dart offers drivers everything they could possibly hope for in such a reasonably-priced car. The vehicle has a roomy and modern cabin, a 2.4-liter engine that delivers a nice boost while accelerating, and it has received top safety scores across the board.
Of course, there are a few reasons why the price tag is so low. The base engine doesn’t provide a whole lot of acceleration, the automated transmission is boorish, and the seats are a bit too high for everyone’s liking. There’s no need to fret, however. The car makes up for its lack of power with an awesome handling and suspension system, and at less than $250/month, you can easily tolerate the “negatives.”
The Grand Caravan, meanwhile, still comes in as one of the most reasonable purchases among minivans. When compared to other 2015 vans, the Grand Caravan trails only the Nissan NV200 and Mazda Mazda5, which have price tags of $20,720 and $21,240, respectively. Even the Charger’s value ranks among the top-10 in least-expensive SUVs for 2015.
On the opposite side of the list is the 2015 Viper, which is more than five-times the value of the Dart. Still, even at this price, the $87 thousand car is still significantly less money than last year’s model (which came in at more than $100 thousand) and the most expensive 2015 sedans (led by the $335 thousand Bentley Mulsanne).
Other Dodge Vehicles:
2015 Journey: starts at $20,695
2015 Grand Caravan: starts at $21,795
2015 Challenger: starts at $26,995
2015 Charger: starts at $27,995
2015 Durango: starts at $30,495
2015 Viper: starts at $87,095
Best MPG: 2015 Dart, 28/41 MPG (city/hwy)
This is a bit of irony, isn’t it? You wouldn’t necessarily expect the brand’s least-expensive vehicle to also have the best fuel economy. However, when you think about the Dart’s average 3,148-pound curb weight, it makes considerably more sense (the second-most fuel efficient Dodge car, the Charger, has an average curb weight of 4,205 lbs…more than 1,000 lbs more!).
The car’s efficiency does slightly compromise the speed, as the transmissions are set to keep the engines lower than 2,000 rpm. This doesn’t mean the Dart can’t top that total… it just means that a pair of downshifts are required. This typically wouldn’t be a problem, unless you’re planning on consistently driving your Dart through the mountains (in which case, you should probably be opting for a bulkier, more durable ride).
Meanwhile, the Grand Caravan delivers some excellent fuel economy specs, earning it a spot in the top-10 of best gas-mileage minivans.
While the Charger, Challenger, Journey and Durango won’t break any records regarding their fuel economy, you can expect solid specs for each of the vehicles (at least when considering their accompanying price tags).
Other Dodge Vehicles:
2015 Charger: 19/31 MPG
2015 Challenger: 19/30 MPG
2015 Journey: 19/26 MPG
2015 Durango: 18/25 MPG
2015 Grand Caravan: 17/25 MPG
2015 Viper: 12/21 MPG
Highest horsepower/torque: 2015 Challenger, 707 hp/650 lb-ft
Surprisingly, it’s not the pricey and powerful Viper that tops the list in horsepower, instead it’s the iconic Challenger. The company offers either the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission or the TREMEC six-speed manual transmission. Both of these systems allow the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 in the “mid threes,” according to Dodge President and CEO Tim Kiniskis. The Challenger can also reportedly hit a max speed of 199 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest 2015 sedans.
Despite the lower horsepower, the Viper may actually be the fastest car among Dodge’s 2015 models. The estimated top speed for the Viper is 206 MPH, which is a slight bump over the previous year’s model. Not to be outdone, the Charger’s 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 engine transforms the vehicles into one of the most powerful sedans in the world.
The Durango cranks out an impressive 360 hp and 390 torque, making it one of the most powerful Dodge SUVs available. Even the Grand Caravan and it’s 3.6-liter V-6 engine rank in the top-10 among the highest-horsepower minivans.
Other Dodge Vehicles:
2015 Viper: 645 hp/600 lb-ft
2015 Charger: 370 hp/395 lb-ft
2015 Durango: 360 hp/390 lb-ft
2015 Journey: 283 hp/260 lb-ft
2015 Grand Caravan: 283 hp/260 lb-ft
2015 Dart: 184 hp/174 lb-ft
Number of Seats: 2015 Durango/2015 Grand Caravan, 7
Considering the size of these two vehicles, it’s no surprise that the Durango and Grand Caravan top the list for passenger room. The Durango can be configured into 50 different seating combinations, and the Grand Caravan provides more than 143 cubic feet of cargo space.
While the Challenger, Charger and Dart don’t have the same number of seats, the Journey goes a step further, allowing potential buyers to choose between a five-passenger or seven-passenger seating style.
The Viper, meanwhile, doesn’t offer much versatility when it comes to passenger room. Of course, when you’re speeding on the highway in a Viper, you’re likely not concerned with bussing people around.
Other Dodge Vehicles:
2015 Challenger: 5
2015 Charger: 5
2015 Dart: 5
2015 Viper: 2
Towing: 2015 Durango, 7,400 lbs
It’s the big Dodge vehicles topping the list here, with the Durango offering elite towing capacity (it could realistically haul a pair of Dodge Darts). The Grand Caravan continues to top the list among towing minivans, and for a second-straight year, the Journey flexes serious towing capabilities.
Impressively, the Charger offers a suitable towing capacity in each of it’s six options (although the total weight never tops 1,000 lbs). The Challenger and Dart provide similar towing capabilities, also peaking at 1,000 pounds.
The Viper, meanwhile, does not have a listed towing capacity. Of course, you may want to rethink your car-buying strategy if you were planning on hooking up a trailer to your $80K sports car…unless you’re like a gentleman in England who used his Viper to tow Rubens Barrichello’s 2007 Honda Fi RA107 race car. In that case, maybe you’ll want to be familiar with the specs.
Other Dodge Vehicles:
2015 Durango: 7,400 lbs
2015 Grand Caravan: 3,600 lbs
2015 Journey: 2,500 lbs
2015 Challenger: 1,000 lbs
2015 Charger: 1,000 lbs
2015 Dart: 1,000 lbs
2015 Viper: n/a
Made your decision? If you’re ready to make a purchase, head over to Miami Lakes Dodge. The helpful staff will get you hooked up with the Chevy of your choice, and you could be driving off the lot in no time.
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