2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was a midsize sedan that often flew under the radar, competing with popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It was available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The Legacy shared much of its design and mechanics with the Subaru Outback, featuring a similar fascia, headlight design, and dashboard setup. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. While its looks were not particularly stylish, they adhered to Subaru's branding, offering a safe and reassuring appearance. The Legacy featured 17-inch steel wheels as standard, with options to upgrade to 17-inch alloy or 18-inch wheels. The interior was subdued, with a mix of high-quality materials and piano black plastic, and offered options like leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, running on a platform dating back to 2005, had undergone significant updates over the years. The 2015 facelift gave it a modern and menacing look, while the interior, though dated, was user-friendly with thick bezels and chunky buttons. The Charger was available in several trims: SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and Jailbreak. The SXT trim came with a V6 engine, power-adjustable front seats, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims offered more powerful V8 engines, performance suspensions, and premium audio systems. The Hellcat Widebody variant, introduced in 2020, featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, SRT-tuned Bilstein suspension, and upgraded Brembo brakes, making it a well-rounded performance machine.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options. The Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims were powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Legacy's standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system provided excellent traction and stability, making it unique among midsize sedans. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines. The SXT and GT models used a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in base form, and 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque in AWD and GT trims. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. The R/T Scat Pack came with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, delivering 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The Hellcat variants boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, with the Hellcat producing 717 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, the Redeye 797 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque, and the Jailbreak 807 horsepower. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available on V6 models. The Hellcat variants offered incredible acceleration, with the Hellcat and Redeye reaching 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy focused on comfort and spaciousness. It featured a sound-insulation windshield to reduce wind and engine noise, and improved seat positioning for a more natural sitting posture. The Base model had manually adjustable front seats, while higher trims offered power-adjustable seats. The Legacy provided ample rear seat legroom, making it comfortable for adults on long trips. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. However, the Legacy's 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space was limited due to the extra legroom in the second row.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite being a large sedan, had a high center console and performance bucket seats that created an intimate front-seat experience. Both rows offered plenty of legroom, but headroom was limited, especially in the rear seats. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, but 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, making it versatile.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy came with dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays in the base model, while higher trims featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, and a 4.2-inch meter display. Higher trims added more USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 11.6-inch touchscreen had an unsophisticated appearance, but menus were easy to navigate.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a 7-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system as standard, with an 8.4-inch version available on higher trims. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Uconnect system was user-friendly, with large icons for major functions. While not the most advanced, the Charger's technology was well-integrated with conventional controls, providing a good user experience.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy excelled in safety, earning top scores from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a head-up display. Additional safety features like reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were available. The Legacy also had a sensitive seat-belt monitoring system and a three-year/36,000-mile new car limited warranty, along with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The backup camera displayed a grainy image, highlighting the Charger's age in terms of safety technology.