2023 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2023 Dodge Charger

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 featured rakish headlights framing a large, menacing grille and was available in both sedan and hatchback body styles. While the sedan had conventional proportions, the hatchback boasted a daring and futuristic design. The clean, forward-thinking aesthetics extended into the cabin, where simplicity and organic design elements, such as the infotainment system rising out of the dash, created a stylish and functional interior. The conventional shifter design and easy-to-use climate controls added to the user-friendly experience. Trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Charger retained much of its design from its 2015 update, featuring a sleeker nose and sharper LED taillights. The Charger stood out with its vibrant exterior colors and distinct, modern look. The R/T Scatpack Swinger model, with its widebody kit, flared fenders, and 20-inch wheels, exuded a muscular and aggressive stance. The interior, however, felt dated with its small touchscreen and plasticky knobs, despite the inclusion of Nappa leather and Alcantara seats. The Swinger model added unique green stitching and badges, but overall, the interior lacked the upscale feel of more modern competitors.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was also available. The optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. The turbo engine provided a fantastic sound and engaging driving experience, with well-weighted steering and impressive handling. The Mazda3 excelled in cornering, balance, and agility, making it a joy to drive.

The 2023 Dodge Charger came standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, offering 292 or 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, paired with an exceptional ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. However, the real excitement lay in the Hemi V8 engines. The R/T model featured a 5.7-liter V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Scatpack model boasted a 6.4-liter V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Hellcat models, with their supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engines, delivered up to 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. The Charger offered impressive handling for its size, with good front-end grip and precise steering, but its large size made mid-corner corrections challenging.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet. However, the rear seating area was cramped, with limited legroom and headroom, making it suitable primarily for front-seat use. The front seating area featured a decently sized center console compartment and helpful ergonomics, though the lid design was frustrating.

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

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with an 8.8-inch infotainment display operated via a dial in the center console, which proved to be a weak point. The menu navigation was clumsy, and the lack of touchscreen functionality made it confusing to use. Standard features included two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control, with available upgrades like navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo system.

The 2023 Dodge Charger featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with fast, logical menu structures and clear legibility. It included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, voice recognition, and SiriusXM. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed full customization of various performance settings, including throttle, steering, dampers, and transmission. Performance Pages provided real-time data on power, torque, and other sensor measurements, making it a tech-savvy choice for performance enthusiasts.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, automatic cruise control, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive headlights, lane-departure warning, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the massive C-pillar created a significant blind spot, posing a safety concern.

The 2023 Dodge Charger performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall. However, it lacked many standard safety assists, with features like forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control being optional on lower trims and unavailable on Hellcat models. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was also optional on select trims.