2022 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite its long-standing platform dating back to 2005, managed to maintain a modern and menacing exterior design, especially after its significant facelift in 2015. While its exterior was updated, the interior lagged behind, appearing dated compared to contemporary automotive cabins. The Charger’s interior featured thick bezels and chunky controls, reminiscent of a small-truck feel, yet it offered ease of use. The various trims, from the SXT to the Jailbreak, provided a range of features and performance options, with the Hellcat Widebody standing out as a well-rounded performance machine.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class presented a cohesive and stylish exterior, borrowing elements from other Mercedes models. Its cab-rearward proportions emphasized its rear-wheel-drive platform, distinguishing it from the front-wheel-drive CLA-Class and A-Class. The C-Class featured standard LED headlights and taillights, with an optional Digital Light system for enhanced visibility. Inside, the C-Class aimed to emulate the luxury of the S-Class, with a freestanding touchscreen, ambient lighting, and intricate speaker grilles. Despite its luxury appeal, the standard MBTex synthetic leather upholstery was a reminder of its price range, with Nappa leather available on higher trims.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 engine in the SXT and GT models, producing 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The V6 output increased to 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in the SXT AWD and GT trims. The R/T trim introduced a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Charger SRT Hellcat featured a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, delivering 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, with the Redeye and Jailbreak variants pushing power to 797 hp and 807 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive available on V6 models. The Hellcat variants offered incredible acceleration, with the Hellcat and Redeye reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 utilized a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This setup allowed the C300 to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph. The sportier AMG C43 version offered a more powerful 2.0-liter engine with 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, reducing the zero to 60 mph time to 4.6 seconds and increasing the top speed to 155 mph. The C300 4Matic provided sufficient power, though it experienced some turbo lag and rough shifts. Despite these issues, the C-Class delivered a comfortable ride and decent handling on twisty roads, though it required a more deliberate driving approach.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, a large sedan, offered ample legroom in both rows, though headroom was limited, particularly in the rear seats. The high center console and performance bucket seats created an intimate front-seat experience. Storage space was less accommodating, with a smaller center console bin and trays. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, though the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. Despite these limitations, the Charger offered sports-car performance with four doors and a usable trunk, enhancing its versatility.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, longer and wider than its predecessor, offered increased interior space. Front headroom increased by 0.1 inch, and rear headroom by 0.4 inch, with rear-seat legroom gaining 0.8 inch. The C-Class led its segment in front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom, though front legroom was less competitive. The seats were comfortable and supportive, with excellent forward visibility but thick rear pillars creating blind spots. The trunk offered 17.9 cubic feet of space, with a wide opening for easy loading and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench for longer items.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. The system included a dock area with large icons for major functions, such as stereo and navigation. An 8.4-inch version was optional on the base SXT and standard on other trims, offering larger icons for easier use. Both screens supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger’s technology blended well with conventional controls, providing a straightforward user experience.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class boasted an infotainment setup inspired by the S-Class, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the mid-tier C300 Premium adding a Burmester 3D surround-sound system. The top C300 Pinnacle included a head-up display and augmented-reality navigation. The MBUX system featured a “Zero Layer” setup, displaying multiple items on the screen simultaneously. The voice recognition system was highly effective, and the optional augmented-reality navigation provided clear turn-by-turn guidance.

The 2022 Dodge Charger showed its age in terms of safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard. The backup camera displayed a grainy image on the Uconnect screen. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, many as standard. These included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, a driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe, and Pre-Safe Sound. Optional features included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, park assist, and two levels of Distronic adaptive cruise control. The C-Class also offered Car-to-X communication, providing real-time information sharing between vehicles.