My understanding is that the Charger is a heavier car. Could that be part of the reason? I think I read somewhere that the Challenger had a different tune as well, so there's that too.

To paraphrase CSN&Y, If you can't be with the car you love, love the one you're with.

 

Yeah but a couple hundred pounds ain't gonna lay the car that far haha.
I do know the challenger has sport mode, which enabled the throttle pedal a faster reaction time with almost no lag whereas the charger doesn't have the option on ours.. so of course when the pedal is smashed it takes a few seconds and then takes off.
It's just weird tho..

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LA platform vs LD. The Challenger is about 150 lbs lighter, has a shorter wheelbase, different suspension and better aerodynamics.

You could install a freer-flowing exhaust on the Charger, that might get you 5 or 10 HP. But to catch the Challenger, you'd probably need exhaust, headers, and a tune, and even then, you might not get there.

 

Challengers engine has a different air box and a true dual exhaust and usually 3.07 gears vs the Chargers 2.65 gears. The airbox the Challenger uses is just the same bottom half as the one used on the RT (the one on the Charger is designed to quiet the sound of the intake and it flows less air). You can get the same 305 or a few more horsepower by adding a good closed box CAI and dual exhaust.

 

If you put the years of each vehicle, these questions would be much easier to answer.

 

All the same from 2011 and onward...

 

My guess would be that the answer lies in the extra weight, and the taller gearset in the Charger. Doing some looking online, I was surprised to see that the Challenger did not get the 8 speed until '15, and that the 6 speed manual cars got a 3.73 or 3.92 ratio.
Clearly, Dodge had performance in mind with such ratios.

Don