2022 Subaru WRX vs 2023 Dodge Charger

The 2022 Subaru WRX didn't stir much excitement in terms of styling drama. While the new WRX was two inches wider than its predecessor, its front end remained subtle, featuring a characteristic hood scoop. The front fascia showcased a relatively small hexagonal grille bisected by a decorative bar, flanked by sharp-looking LED headlights. Moving to its side profile, the 2022 WRX displayed significant changes. It adopted a cleaner, less busy look, albeit with some polarizing black plastic cladding. This cladding wasn't merely aesthetic; it had a hexagonal pattern designed to reduce turbulence akin to golf ball dimples, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and paying homage to the car's rally heritage.

The rear of the WRX was more dramatic, with flared fenders and a substantial plastic bumper extending halfway up the car's backside. The taillights had a multifaceted design meant to resemble illuminated magma. Quad tailpipes continued to grace the rear. Overall, the WRX's redesign aimed for a smoother, more streamlined appearance, although the body cladding could be distracting, especially on brightly colored models like the Solar Orange. Premium-trim models featured additional details like LED fog lights, 18-inch dark gray alloy wheels, and a subtle trunk-mounted lip spoiler.

Internally, the WRX saw significant improvement. While it borrowed several parts from other Subaru models, the fit and finish were notably better. It featured a D-shaped, flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum-alloy pedal covers, carbon-fiber-pattern trim accents, and black cloth seats with red contrast stitching, distinctly differentiating it from its more mundane Subaru counterparts. Despite this, the WRX finally resembled its modern stablemates.

Conversely, the 2023 Dodge Charger largely retained its 2015 design, although its sharp LED taillights and sleeker nose gave it a distinct and modern look compared to its competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry, which had undergone multiple redesigns. The base Charger could appear dull on small tires, but models with V8 engines, particularly the Swinger R/T Scatpack with the widebody kit, looked visually striking. This model featured flared fenders accommodating 305-mm-wide tires on 20-inch wheels and a large hood scoop complementing four air intakes and brake cooling ducts in a black honeycomb pattern. The car’s aggressive stance was further emphasized by deep-dish bronze wheels, boxed by oversized front doors and smaller rear doors, and a rear sporting enormous exhaust pipes and a matte black decklid spoiler. The widebody kit added other dramatic touches such as black brake calipers and retro-styled "Swinger" decals in a bold ‘70s typeface.

Inside, the Charger's design showed its age, hailing from 2011. The small touchscreen, plasticky knobs, and old-school switches felt dated. However, the car’s chunky seats and analog gauges looked good, and features like green stitching on the seats and dash, along with green Dodge stripes on the seat inserts in the Swinger variant, provided unique aesthetic touches. But overall, its interior seemed basic and adequate rather than upscale.

Performance-wise, the WRX distanced itself from the standard Impreza and even the previous-generation WRX with its new 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine, making 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. While this represented a slight improvement over the previous 2.0-liter turbo engine, the boost in power was marginal, leading to some disappointment. During test drives along the winding roads of northern California, the car sometimes felt underpowered, especially compared to more torque-rich FWD competitors like the Volkswagen GTI. Nevertheless, the WRX’s standard AWD system offered solid performance advantages, and buyers could choose between a six-speed manual transmission and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The manual transmission was particularly delightful, with its notchy and precise feel, adequate throw length, and easily manageable clutch pedal. Subaru also boasted that the CVT, equipped with paddle shifters, provided quicker shift responses and an external transmission-fluid cooler on higher trims. Additionally, a new GT trim introduced electronically controlled dampers and Recaro seats, though it was only available with the CVT. The new WRX offered a notably enhanced suspension system thanks to the Subaru Global Platform, delivering a more forgiving ride quality and reduced body roll during spirited drives.

The Dodge Charger, known more for raw power and muscle, offered various engine choices, starting with the unremarkable 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing 292 to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. While the Charger came in a base V6 variant, most enthusiasts preferred the V8 models. The 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T trim delivered 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, with fuel-saving cylinder deactivation for better highway efficiency. The Scatpack model, like the Swinger we tested, equipped with a 6.4-liter V8, churned out an impressive 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, offering thrilling acceleration and a satiating muscle car roar.

The Hellcat variants, equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, were exceptional performers, with 717 horsepower and 650 pound-feet in the standard version, and 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet in the Redeye Jailbreak. Capable of hitting 200 mph, these models exhibited extraordinary acceleration, though handling their power could be challenging. Despite their impressive power output, these models struggled with traction, making them volatile and exhilarating to handle.

In terms of handling, the Charger defied expectations for a big, heavy car. It exhibited good front-end grip, minimal body roll, and decent steering precision. While it didn’t respond well to mid-corner corrections, its overall ride quality was agreeable, and braking was top-notch, particularly on higher trims equipped with advanced Brembo brake systems.

When it came to practicality, the 2022 Subaru WRX excelled for its price point. The 2022 model provided a slight bump in cargo capacity to 12.5 cubic feet, which could be further expanded via the 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The sport seats were both supportive and comfortable, upholstered in premium cloth or Ultrasuede on higher trims. Despite their ample bolstering, the seats didn’t feel restrictive, making the WRX a viable option as a commuter vehicle. The standard AWD system added a significant advantage, especially for those seeking a performance-oriented, AWD sedan in the $30,000 range.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, while larger externally, was somewhat cramped inside. Headroom was adequate for individuals up to 5-foot-11, but the footwells were tight, and the rear seats suffered from limited legroom and headroom. The narrow transmission tunnel further compromised space for rear passengers. However, the trunk boasted a generous 16.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity, surpassing the WRX's storage abilities.

In terms of controls, the Charger's array was a welcome sight in a world where touchscreens were taking over. Its large, easy-to-find buttons and switches for climate control, lighting, and audio stood out, making it user-friendly and less distracting. The practical layout ensured familiarity and convenience for the driver.

The tech side of the 2022 Subaru WRX saw a significant upgrade. Premium trims and higher featured an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen display, borrowed from newer Subarus like the Outback and Legacy. The system, though not revolutionary, was intuitive and visually impressive, with physical controls for essential functions like climate and audio volume, and tuning. Curiously, while Apple CarPlay utilized nearly the entire screen, Android Auto displayed only on the top half. High-end trims could also be equipped with an 11-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo system. However, the base WRX offered a less conventional setup with dual 7-inch displays stacked vertically, which was functional but less elegant.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest Uconnect system and advanced driver-assistance features. The 8.4-inch touchscreen, although relatively small, provided fast, intuitive menu navigation. The system included wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, voice recognition, and SiriusXM, with the unique SRT Dashboard app allowing comprehensive customization of performance features. This app enabled adjustments to throttle, steering, dampers, transmission, and more, with specialized features like launch control and line lock for drag racing. Hellcat models offered additional cooling functions for the supercharger, accessible through the touchscreen, emphasizing the Charger's high-performance tech orientation.

Safety equipment in the WRX was varied based on transmission choice. Models with the CVT transmission came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight suite, which included features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-tracing assist. EyeSight also added an electronic brake booster and automatic steering assist for enhanced safety. However, these features were unavailable on the six-speed manual models due to the inability to prevent stalling during panic stops. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, while the Subaru Global Platform promised better energy absorption in crashes, complemented by seven airbags.

The Dodge Charger, despite its age, performed well in crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall from NHTSA. However, it was outdated compared to five-star ratings common among newer cars. Essential safety assists like forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control were optional, and unavailable on Hellcat models. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was only optional on mid-range trims. Consequently, the Charger's safety offerings lagged behind those of modern competitors.