The Dodge Charger is the type of car that transcends the muscle culture: while car persons know the coupe history, everybody’s aware of the modern sedan. The Lexus IS500? Well, there are probably a few gear heads out there who might not remember its naturally aspirated V8 despite its relatively recent arrival. But YouTube never forgets and we’re now here to see the two going head to head in a drag race and more.
The sport sedan niche is getting more rarefied by the season, mainly because these days the market is in love with SUVs. And, before anybody points out that YouTuber Sam CarLegion is wrong when stating these are the only N/A V8-powered sedans you can buy new in 2022, we need to say he’s sort of right.
Sure, the American market also offers the Chrysler 300S V8 sibling of the Charger, but that comes with the 5.7L Eagle, not the Dodge’s 6.4L HEMI. As for the Genesis G90, that’s a full-size luxury four-door, so it’s from a different world.
By the numbers
The figures might make it look simple: The 5.0L displacement of the Lex V8 naturally means it has less torque than the 6.4L heart of the Mopar: that’s 395 vs 475 lb-ft. So it’s minus one for team Lex.
However, while the two are evenly matched in the horsepower race (472 hp for the IS500 and 475 hp for the Charger 392), the Lexus takes its point back in terms of weight. Put these things on a scale and you’ll find that the Dodge, which weighs in at around 4,400 lbs, is some 430 lbs chunkier than its opponent. That’s like having two passengers in the back seat, plus a bit of luggage in the trunk, all the time.
Then again, if we zoom in on the details, things get more complicated. Sure, both vehicles pack eight-speed automatics. But while the Dodge’s ZF 8HP is probably the best in its class, the Aisin AA80E finds itself at the other end of the scale. And while IS500 owners, Sam included, also seem to complain about the dry tarmac grip of the Bridgestone Potenza all-season tires, the limited-slip diff of the vehicle appears to be doing a great job. Then again, the Charger has an LSD too.
Digs and rolls to sort it all out
As per the usual procedure, Sam held a pair of standing start races, followed by just as many rolling start adventures.
By the way, if you like to get technical the Lexus’ full name is 2022 IS500 F Sport Performance, while this Dodge is a 392 Daytona edition. So, while the muscle car reminds the world about the aero racer that set a 200 MPH NASCAR record back in 1969, the US market-only Lexus features an engine that actually predates the 2011-introduced 6.4 of its enemy. Lexus first offered the 5.0L monster on the IS F top dog of the ex-gen model.
Nevertheless, while the motor has made a comeback, the all-out F treatment hasn’t. This means that the F Sport is a halfway model, aiming to balance performance with the trademark Lexus serenity. For the record, that’s not the case with the Dodge (while this is no Hellcat, or even a Widebody 6.4, it still features the full-fat SRT treatment). And you can easily notice this difference between the two four-doors in the aural department.
And you’ll find this F Sport tune of the car making its way into the comments section of the racing video. That’s where people ask Sam why he didn’t use the manual mode of the gearbox, especially given the said shortcomings of the Aisin unit.
His reply mentions that it was an even race, since both torque converter units were in the auto mode. And this is where opinions are split: some say the Charger’s ZF would’ve knocked out the Aisin anyway if put into Track mode, while others simply want to see things going that way before reaching a conclusion.
And, to add another layer to the debate, I’d mention that, at least on the first of the two dig runs, the Lexus seems to take off before the Dodge, even if only be a heartbeat. Nevertheless, this isn’t a drag strip, with a prepped surface and precise timing equipment. We’re here mostly for the show. And these two sports sedans—may their makers be praised—fully deliver.
