2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Toyota Camry

The 2021 Toyota Camry made a strong effort to break away from its past image of being a mundane and generic vehicle. Toyota's designers infused the Camry with exciting styling details that gave it a fresh appeal. The car sported flared wheel arches and thin headlights and taillights which visually broadened the appearance. However, the SE, XSE, and TRD trims were adorned with fake vents, adding unnecessary visual clutter. Conversely, the LE and XLE trims featured a more subdued grille, yet it still remained quite large. Toyota's ubiquitous TNGA-K platform underpinned the Camry, the same platform used in other models like the Avalon sedan and RAV4 SUV. Updates to the front-fascia styling were made for 2021, yet remained conservative. The TRD performance model boasted unique styling elements such as a larger rear spoiler, while the Nightshade Edition carried blacked-out exterior trim and wheels. The base LE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-inch and 19-inch options available on higher trims.

Inside, the Camry's interior design mirrored the exterior's chaotic styling. The dashboard, especially in the SE Nightshade Edition, seemed to be made from disparate parts with various trim elements like contrast stitching, piano black plastic, and faux carbon fiber. This resulted in a lack of cohesive design and somewhat low-quality materials.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, meanwhile, carried a more historic lineage, running on a platform that originated from an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Charger had significant updates in 2011 and again in 2015, bringing it closer to modern standards while maintaining a menacing and more aggressive look. Unlike the Challenger, which emphasized a retro muscle-car design, the Charger's design was more contemporary.

The interior of the 2022 Charger retained a dated feel, with thick bezels and substantial buttons and dials reminiscent of a small-truck cabin. Despite this, the overall layout was user-friendly. The cabin wasn't the most advanced, but it focused on practicality and ease of use.

The 2021 Toyota Camry offered a range of powertrain options. The base model featured a Dynamic Force 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque in its FWD configuration, and slightly less in AWD. The XSE trim bumped the output to 206 hp and 186 lb-ft with FWD. Additionally, a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 was available, delivering 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric assist to offer 208 hp. The eight-speed automatic transmission was consistent across all variants. Our SE Nightshade Edition test car, equipped with the base four-cylinder and AWD, provided a surprising amount of pep. The engine's bubbly, eager-to-rev nature made it fun to drive, while chassis tuning balanced handling and ride quality well.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, contrastingly, offered a powerful range of engines, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Starting with the 3.6-liter V6 that delivered 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque (300 hp and 264 lb-ft in some trims), the Charger quickly ramped up the performance. The R/T trim packed a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. The R/T Scat Pack took it further with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat variant came with a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 pushing 717 hp and 650 lb-ft, while the Redeye and Jailbreak variants further boosted power to 797 hp and a jaw-dropping 807 hp respectively.

The Hellcat's capabilities were particularly notable. Able to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 196 mph, it demonstrated incredible performance. The Hellcat Widebody variant enhanced this experience with wider tires and an improved suspension, making it an exceptionally well-rounded performance car.

The 2021 Toyota Camry provided ample rear headroom and legroom, though this seemed to compromise the front row space. However, the front seats offered sufficient adjustability and were generally comfortable and supportive. Outward visibility was excellent. At 15.1 cubic feet, the cargo space was average for its class but trailed behind the Honda Accord's more generous 16.7 cubic feet. The in-cabin storage was limited, with small cupholders and less convenient door storage bins.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, as a large sedan, didn't always feel spacious due to its high center console and performance-focused front seats. Both rows offered considerable legroom, but headroom was limited depending on the seating position. The rear seats were particularly tight on headroom, creating challenges when getting in and out. In terms of cargo, the Charger's trunk provided 16.5 cubic feet of space. However, the design of the trunk lid and rear bumper made it tricky to load larger items. Despite these inconveniences, the Charger's combination of performance and practicality made it a versatile choice.

The 2021 Toyota Camry came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free voice control. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, WiFi capability, navigation, and a nine-speaker JBL audio system. A 10-inch head-up display was also available on select trims. However, the system’s graphics were simple, making the infotainment functional but not particularly standout.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect system, renowned for its ease of use and straightforward layout. The option to upgrade to an 8.4-inch screen made navigating through functions even simpler. Both screens came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Charger wasn’t the most technologically advanced, its user-friendly interface served as a model for intuitive controls, avoiding the pitfalls of over-reliance on large, cumbersome touchscreens.

The 2021 Toyota Camry excelled in safety ratings, earning a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The TSS 2.5+ package provided a comprehensive suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional features like the rear seat reminder and enhanced forward-collision warning added extra layers of safety.

In contrast, the 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control, among others. Given the advancing safety standards in modern vehicles, the Charger's safety offering was noticeably dated.