2023 Dodge Charger vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Dodge Charger retained much of its design from 2015, with a sleek nose and sharp LED taillights, giving it a modern look despite its older underpinnings dating back to 2006. The Charger stood out with its vibrant color options, such as Plum Crazy, and its distinct appearance compared to competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. The R/T Scatpack Swinger model featured a widebody kit with flared fenders, 20-inch wheels, and a large hood scoop, creating a bold and aggressive stance. The interior, however, felt dated with its small touchscreen and plasticky controls, though it offered unique touches like green stitching and Swinger badges.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Si maintained a stealthy yet sporty design, reminiscent of early pocket rockets. It featured LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, and discreet "Si" badges, with a mix of vivid and subtle paint colors. Inside, the Civic Si was more expressive, with red seat and door panel inserts, a metal mesh dashboard trim, and a simple yet effective digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system. The cabin's design was complemented by metal pedal covers and an aluminum shift knob, adding to its sporty appeal.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 292 to 300 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 was considered lackluster, the Charger truly shined with its Hemi V8 options. The R/T model boasted a 5.7-liter V8 with 370 hp, while the Scatpack Swinger featured a 6.4-liter V8 delivering 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, providing a thrilling driving experience. The Hellcat models pushed the limits with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, offering up to 807 hp in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. Despite its size, the Charger handled well, with good grip and steering precision, though it required careful handling in corners.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It came with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission and a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing its sporty driving dynamics. The Civic Si featured larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and a dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system, providing a responsive and engaging driving experience. While the Civic Si excelled in urban and suburban settings, it truly came alive on twisty roads, offering smooth engine performance and precise handling. However, the braking system showed signs of overheating during intense testing, which was a concern.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its large size, felt cramped inside. Headroom was adequate, but the footwells were tight, and rear legroom was compromised by the transmission tunnel. The trunk, however, was spacious at 16.5 cubic feet. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large buttons and switches for climate and audio systems, making it user-friendly.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced performance with practicality. It featured sport-bolstered front seats and a manual transmission, while still offering a roomy back seat with generous legroom. The Civic Si included single-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, and a commendable 14.4 cubic feet of cargo space. However, it lacked some conveniences like heated seats and rear USB ports, which were notable omissions for a youth-oriented car.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest infotainment and driver-assistance features found in newer vehicles. It had an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of various performance settings, including launch control and line lock for drag racing enthusiasts.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and HD Radio. It included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, providing impressive sound quality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical controls for volume and tuning, and easy integration with smartphones.

The 2023 Dodge Charger performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall. It offered optional safety features like forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control on certain models, but lacked standard advanced safety assists.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, some features were found to be intrusive during testing. The Civic Si earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.