2021 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2021 Dodge Charger, in its seventh generation since 2011, continued to captivate buyers with its diverse range of variants, including the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite the subtle differences among the models, Dodge's "brotherhood of muscle" ethos was evident, with options like widebody styling and distinctive Hellcat badging. The Charger maintained a consistent design over the years, which could be seen as both a strength and a drawback. The interior, while updated, still lacked some modern comfort and convenience features, with a fair amount of hard plastic and rubberized surfaces. Cloth seats were standard, with Nappa leather available on higher trims, and the fit and finish had improved over time.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture the remaining market share for hatchbacks, with a redesigned model produced in Indiana. The new Civic hatchback shared its front design with the sedan but had a distinct rear. The Sport Touring trim added sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, enhancing its modern appeal. The interior featured comfortable seating with some minor complaints, such as the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger and no rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and the car offered a mix of fabric and leather upholstery depending on the trim level.

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, delivering up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Charger Scat Pack models had a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 producing 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, and the SRT Hellcat Redeye topped the lineup with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI high-output V8, generating 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. The Charger offered a connected driving experience with configurable drive modes and Performance Pages for SRT models, though it lacked a manual transmission option.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine choices. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission for the Sport trim. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims had a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, and the Sport Touring trim offered a six-speed manual transmission for driving enthusiasts. The Civic hatchback provided a balanced driving experience with firm suspension tuning, responsive steering, and adequate braking performance, though it was not designed for aggressive driving on winding roads.

The 2021 Dodge Charger was a four-door, five-passenger sedan that balanced performance with practicality. It featured a spacious back seat and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat to expand the trunk space. The instrument cluster varied by model, with different speedometer options based on the car's top speed. The steering wheel had easy-to-reach buttons, and paddle shifters were available on all but the base model. The Charger offered average cargo space compared to other large cars.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emphasized functionality with a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and a two-piece cargo shade. The back seat had a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, with sufficient legroom, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and the car featured black fabric or leather upholstery depending on the trim level. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in higher trims.

The 2021 Dodge Charger came with basic standard features, including 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, and the latest version was not yet available on the Charger.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, physical knobs, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for LX, Sport, and EX-L trims. The Sport Touring trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs addressed previous criticisms, and the voice recognition system worked well. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 7-inch screen and analog speedometer for lower trims and a 10.2-inch display for the Sport Touring.

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 Hatchback came with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available on higher trims. All Civics had a rear-seat reminder system, rear seatbelt reminder, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.