2021 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2021 Dodge Charger, in its seventh generation, continued to captivate buyers with its array of variants, including the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite the subtle differences between models, the Charger maintained a consistent design, appealing to the "brotherhood of muscle" with its widebody options and distinctive Hellcat badging. The car's exterior featured a variety of tire, wheel, brake, and color options, with halogen projector headlights and optional HID projector lights. However, the design had remained largely unchanged for a decade, making it difficult for casual observers to determine the model's age.

Inside, the Charger had seen updates over the years, but it still lacked in comfort and convenience features. The fit and finish had improved, yet the gauge cluster and climate controls revealed the car's age. The interior was characterized by hard plastic and rubberized surfaces, with cloth seats standard on most trims and Nappa leather available on higher trims. While the Charger offered power-adjustable seats and optional heated and ventilated seats, the higher-priced models left buyers expecting more premium accommodations and technology.

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $21,700 to $28,300, excluding destination charges. The Civic Touring, tested in Morning Mist Blue, flirted with a $30,000 sticker price, while a Civic Sport with the HPD appearance package was estimated at just under $25,880. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan and adopted a more conservative appearance compared to its predecessor, appealing to those who found the previous model's styling too bold.

Inside, Honda aimed for simplicity, resulting in a minimalistic layout with a metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard to hide the air vents. The interior materials were improved, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a maturity absent in the previous Civic. The redesigned front seats offered better support, and the power driver's seat in the Touring trim allowed for a perfect driving position. However, the Civic sat low to the ground, making entry and exit challenging for some, and the back seat, while offering excellent thigh support, had a reclined backrest angle that might not suit everyone.

The 2021 Dodge Charger excelled in performance, offering a range of engines to suit different preferences. The SXT, SXT AWD, GT, and GT AWD models were powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, providing a 1,000-pound towing capacity. The Charger Scat Pack models boasted a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque.

The Charger SRT Hellcat was equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engine, producing 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The top-of-the-line SRT Hellcat Redeye had a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI high-output V8 engine, delivering an impressive 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. Despite its power, the SRT Hellcat Redeye managed to be both manageable and available when needed, though it was the least fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated 12 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines, both improved versions from the previous generation. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The EX and Touring trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), with different CVTs for each engine. The Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing the car's responsiveness.

The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improvements in structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel. The capable handling did not compromise ride quality, and the Civic was quieter on the road than its predecessor. However, the Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile driving loop, falling short of the EPA's estimate of 34 mpg. The Civic's predictable and trustworthy demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced speed and power with family-friendly accommodations. The interior featured dated technology, but the instrument cluster varied by model, with speedometers ranging from 140 mph to 220 mph. The steering wheel was functional, with easy-to-reach buttons and paddle shifters on all but the base model. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat expanded the trunk space, which was average compared to other large cars.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim's power driver's seat allowed for a perfect driving position, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The Civic sat low to the ground, making entry and exit challenging, but the back seat offered more legroom than most in the segment. The Civic's new center console had less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, and a split-folding backseat added utility.

The 2021 Dodge Charger came with standard features like push-button start, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a six-speaker audio system, four USB ports, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, keyless entry, and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. Available features included a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, upgraded audio systems, HD Radio, navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The Uconnect infotainment system was user-friendly but had some functions buried in menus.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim's display panel growing to ten inches. The Vehicle Activity display showed when the headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The standard infotainment setup included a 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim offered a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The Touring trim also had a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, providing a richer audio experience.

The 2021 Dodge Charger had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received mostly "Good" ratings and "Poor" marks for headlights. The NHTSA gave the 2021 Charger a four-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, rear park assist, rain brake support, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlights were available on some models.

The 2022 Honda Civic's upgraded Honda Sensing collection included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic EX and Touring trims featured a proper blind-spot warning system, with the Touring trim adding rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's new vehicle architecture provided better protection in collisions, and new front airbag designs offered improved head protection. The Civic also had rear side-impact airbags and a standard rear-seat reminder system.