2021 Lexus ES vs 2022 Dodge Charger

The 2021 Lexus ES lineup had a sleek, refined look that catered to various tastes, expanding to include the new ES 250 series which boasted a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Despite sharing the same price point as the ES 350, which came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 and front-wheel drive (FWD), the additional trim levels—Standard, F Sport, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury—enhanced its appeal.

Lexus also offered the ES 300h, a gas-electric hybrid variant that demanded a premium of $1,910. While more expensive, the 300h provided a substantial boost in terms of fuel efficiency and was available in Standard, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury trims.

Interestingly, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert became standard features, except for the standard trim. Introduced this year was the Black Line Special Edition of the ES 350, a limited-production variant, adding nuances like black wheels, black side mirrors, and a distinct black and white interior. This edition came in black, white, or the Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 paint. Pricing ranged from $40,000 to $50,910, with an additional $1,025 destination charge.

A detailed look at an ES 350 F Sport Black Line Special Edition revealed enhancements like adaptive variable suspension, triple-beam LED headlights, wireless smartphone charging, and a head-up display, among other features. This particular model, fully loaded, had an MSRP of $54,070, destination charge included.

F Sport trim added 19-inch wheels with a gray finish, unique front and rear styling details, a rear spoiler, and aluminum interior trim, creating an appealing overall aesthetic. The Black Line Special Edition had distinctive black elements like wheels, mirrors, and spoilers, and contained a black and white interior, plus a matching Zero Halliburton luggage set.

The ES's dramatic grille, long and lean silhouette, and artful detailing stood out, with the F Sport trim adding a sportier touch. The cabin mirrored the exterior’s striking nature with a black and white interior that offered a sophisticated look, making it distinctly Lexus despite sharing a platform with the Toyota Avalon.

Historically, the Dodge Charger maintained its roots on a platform dating back to 2005, shared with the Dodge Challenger coupe and Chrysler 300 sedan, originally derived from an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Although it kept much of the older design, substantial updates in 2011 and 2015 gave the Charger a more modern and menacing presence compared to its muscle-car counterpart, the Challenger.

However, the modernized exterior didn’t significantly influence the cabin design, which began to look dated compared to newer models with thin-screen bezels and minimalist styles. The thick bezels, chunky buttons, and dials imparted a robust, almost small-truck feel, yet proved to be user-friendly.

The Charger in 2022 offered varied trims: SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and Jailbreak. The base SXT had a V6 engine, power-adjustable front seats, rear parking sensors, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker stereo, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The GT trim retained the V6 but with improved output, adding a rear spoiler, sport-tuned suspension, performance tires, and an upgraded Alpine stereo system along with an 8.4-inch touchscreen.

The R/T trim introduced the more powerful V8 engine, while the R/T Scat Pack enhanced performance with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, high-performance suspension, and Brembo brakes, not to mention heated steering and driver’s seat memory.

The Hellcat variants elevated performance further with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, Bilstein suspension, upgraded Brembo brakes, and premium interior features like Laguna leather upholstery. The Widebody setup for the Hellcat was standard from 2020, offering better handling alongside aggressive performance metrics.

Each trim allowed customization with performance and appearance packages, ensuring the Charger catered to a broad audience looking for performance with a hint of practicality.

The 2021 Lexus ES 350 relied on a 3.5-liter V6 engine putting out 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and driving the front wheels. It offered Normal, Eco, and Sport driving modes, with Sport+ and Custom modes available when upgrading to the adaptive damping suspension, as our F Sport test vehicle did.

Acceleration to 60 mph was listed at 6.6 seconds, though the feeling behind the wheel suggested a quicker response. Fuel economy stood at 25 mpg combined per EPA estimates, although our testing showed a slightly lower 22.9 mpg.

The F Sport trim, with its Sport+ mode, provided a dynamic driving experience. The car felt more competent and engaging than expected, leaning towards being a sporty rather than outright sports sedan. Despite being louder than anticipated, its firm ride, precise cornering, and overall athleticism were commendable for a vehicle typically associated with comfort over sportiness.

The base Dodge Charger SXT and GT models featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in standard guise, with a slight increase in AWD models to 300 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque.

The R/T trim upped the ante with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 producing 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, offering significant value for performance enthusiasts.

These engines, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD), provided thrilling acceleration, especially in the Hellcat, which boasted a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph.

The Hellcat Widebody, with 11-inch Pirelli P-Zero tires, improved traction and handling, making the Charger more than just a straight-line performer. The different driving modes, accessible via the SRT Performance Pages menu, allowed for customization, ensuring an exciting yet composed driving experience, especially in Track mode.

Inside, the Lexus ES 350 F Sport had a daring yet functional layout. The front seats, covered in NuLuxe synthetic leather with 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, offered excellent comfort and support. Rear passengers enjoyed equally comfortable seating with ample foot and legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and an available power rear window sunshade.

Visibility was excellent, thanks to the thin A-pillars and large side mirrors. Storage, while plentiful, was somewhat oddly configured with numerous small nooks and crannies rather than spacious trays or bins. The wireless smartphone charger was tucked under the center armrest, which some might find inconvenient.

The trunk offered 13.9 cubic feet of space, slightly more than a compact sedan like the Toyota Corolla. The test model featured a hands-free power trunk, adding convenience in loading and unloading cargo.

The Charger, despite its large size, felt cozy from the driver’s seat due to the tall transmission tunnel and snug performance bucket seats. Front and rear legroom were plentiful, but headroom could be an issue for taller occupants, particularly in the rear.

Storage space within the cabin was less impressive compared to newer models, with smaller center console bins and limited space around the shifter. However, the Charger redeemed itself with its practical 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, which, despite a small lid and high bumper, proved versatile for a performance sedan, combining sports car thrills with sedan practicality.

The tech setup in the Lexus ES was a double-edged sword. The touchpad interface required eyes-on operation to navigate the screen accurately, often leading to overshooting the desired function. However, the separate physical controls for climate and stereo functions were intuitive and user-friendly.

A standout feature was the dynamic voice command technology, which allowed drivers to bypass the touchpad. The optional 12.3-inch widescreen display, while visually appealing, would have benefited from touchscreen capability.

All trim levels included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and connected services. Free trial periods varied, with Wi-Fi Connect offering three months and other connected services extending up to ten years. The inclusion of a CD player was a nostalgic touch.

The ES also offered an upgrade to a 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson sound system, promising an impressive auditory experience.

The Dodge Charger featured a 7-inch touchscreen running Uconnect, known for its ease of use. The system included a bottom dock area with large icons for essential functions, making it the benchmark for infotainment interfaces. Higher trims enjoyed an 8.4-inch screen, enhancing usability with larger icons.

While not the most high-tech vehicle, the Charger balanced conventional controls and modern tech, setting an example for user-friendly design.

The 2021 Lexus ES came with Lexus Safety System 2.0 (LSS 2.0), including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all but the base trim.

The system, while generally effective, occasionally had issues with lane-centering and recognizing vehicles cutting in abruptly. Despite these minor hiccups, the car provided a safe driving experience. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick+, and it received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In contrast, the Charger’s standard safety features were sparse, limited to a backup camera and rear parking sensors. The backup camera image was notably grainy.

Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, these were not standard, highlighting the vehicle's age in terms of safety technology.