2021 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2021 Dodge Charger, in its seventh generation since 2011, remained a popular choice due to its variety of models, including the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite minimal surface differentiation between models, Dodge's "brotherhood of muscle" ethos and options like widebody styling and functional performance hoods gave the Charger a distinctive, athletic look. The car offered numerous tire, wheel, brake, and exterior color options, with standard halogen projector headlights and optional HID projector lights. However, the design had remained largely unchanged for a decade, making it hard to determine the model's age.

Inside, the Charger had seen updates but still lacked in comfort and convenience features. The fit and finish improved over time, but the gauge cluster and climate controls revealed the car's age. The interior featured a fair amount of hard plastic and rubberized surfaces, with cloth seats standard on most trims and Nappa leather on higher trims. While the Charger offered heated and ventilated seats in higher trims, the overall interior quality felt lacking, especially in models priced over $70,000.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued in both sedan and hatchback styles, with the most variety found in the 2.5 S lineup, offering five trim levels and a choice between FWD and AWD. The top-of-the-line 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback, priced at $35,810, featured a stealthy, mature design without flashy spoilers or body kits. The interior boasted refined materials, sophisticated design, and polished metallic finishes, creating an upscale, elegant environment. The Mazda3 appealed to those seeking value over perceived luxury, offering more for less.

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

The SRT Hellcat models featured a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engine, with the standard Hellcat producing 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, and the Hellcat Redeye delivering 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. The Redeye's powertrain, though the least fuel-efficient, offered impressive engineering, making it manageable in various driving conditions. The Charger had no manual transmission options, but its automatic transmission provided smooth upshifts and a connected driving experience. AWD was available in specific models, with configurable drive modes and Performance Pages for SRT models.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered three engine options. The base 2.0 sedan had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, focusing on fuel economy with 31 mpg combined. The 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, with FWD or AWD options and a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5 S Premium hatchback offered a six-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy for the 2.5 S ranged from 27 to 30 mpg combined.

The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with power output depending on fuel type: 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with 87-octane gas, and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with 93-octane fuel. The Turbo models had standard AWD and fuel economy of 26-27 mpg combined. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo provided a smooth, gradual power build, excellent handling, and a fun driving experience. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during intense driving, and the fuel tank's small size required frequent refueling.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced speed and power with family-friendly features. The interior, though dated, was functional, with a variety of instrument cluster designs based on the car's top speed. The steering wheel offered easy-to-reach controls, and paddle shifters were available on all but the base model. The Charger had a spacious trunk, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for additional storage, offering average cargo space compared to other large cars.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3, sitting low to the ground, was challenging to enter and exit, with small door openings. However, once inside, the front seats provided a snug, comfortable fit, with excellent thigh and side bolster support. The driver-focused interior featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and leather upholstery in higher trims. The back seat offered decent comfort and legroom for shorter passengers but was cramped for taller individuals, with no rear air conditioning vents or USB ports.

Storage space in the Mazda3 was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

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 upgrades included a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, premium 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 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, controlled via the center console, steering wheel, or voice recognition. Mazda's approach aimed to reduce driver distraction, but the lack of a physical tuning function and a cumbersome voice recognition system were drawbacks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration helped mitigate these issues. Mazda Connected Services, complimentary for three years, offered remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app, including remote engine starting and a car finder function. The Mazda3 also had an eight-speaker audio system, with a 12-speaker Bose system available in higher trims, and an optional head-up display.

The 2021 Dodge Charger had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received mostly "Good" ratings, with "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 in some models.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 excelled in safety, with standard features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.