2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Dodge Charger

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as luxurious as some of its competitors, still offered a distinct and upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and optional 18-inch alloy wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, with a long hood that balanced the cabin and short tail, highlighted by unique wraparound LED lights. The Touring model came with chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals. The Civic Sport trim added a centre-mounted exhaust and exterior elements reminiscent of the Si trim, providing a sporty look at a lower cost. The Civic Hatchback, with its tall and aggressive rear end, and the Coupe model, offered unique paint options that stood out in traffic. Inside, the Civic maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme, with a central LCD screen and minimalistic design, ensuring a high-quality feel despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its modern muscle car silhouette, retained the menacing headlights and gaping grille that defined its identity. The 2015 facelift introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights, enhancing its bold appearance. The Charger's cabin blended retro and modern elements, with large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays. The RWD platform required a raised transmission tunnel, creating a cockpit-like feel. The Charger offered various trims, each with unique visual and performance features, from the SXT with 17-inch alloy wheels to the SRT Hellcat with a widebody kit and leather upholstery. The Charger was a testament to Dodge's commitment to modern American performance, offering a spacious and stylish interior that catered to both performance enthusiasts and those seeking comfort.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque in the DX, LX, EX, and Sport sedans, as well as the LX and Sport coupes. In Canada, these models came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The Touring models featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre inline-four engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a CVT. The hatchback models exclusively used the turbocharged engine, producing 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport. The Si and Type R variants offered more power, with the Si's 1.5-litre engine delivering 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R's 2.0-litre engine producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The manual transmissions were noted for their excellent clutch and shifter engagement, while the CVT impressed with its simulated gear ratios. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension setup provided a sporty yet comfortable driving experience.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a variety of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine in the SXT and GT trims, producing 292 horsepower in the SXT RWD and 300 horsepower in the SXT AWD and GT. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, along with an upgraded performance suspension and active exhaust. The Scat Pack variant came with a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, delivering 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, and included Brembo brakes and launch assist. The SRT Hellcat Widebody boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Charger offered impressive acceleration and handling, with the widebody models featuring Bilstein adaptive suspension for precise cornering. The Performance Pages system provided detailed performance data and customizable drive modes, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability compared to previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered ample space, with optional heated seats and passable head- and legroom for long trips. The sedan's trunk provided 428 litres of cargo space, while the coupe offered 343 litres. The hatchback had the most cargo capacity, with up to 727 litres and 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. The centre console offered storage trays and a deep storage bin, while visibility was good in all directions. The best LED headlights were reserved for the Touring trims.

The 2020 Dodge Charger provided ample interior space, with well-bolstered front bucket seats and generous head- and legroom. The rear seats offered plenty of legroom, even with the seats slid back. The Charger featured helpful storage solutions, including door trays and cup holders, and a large trunk with 467 litres of space. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench allowed for additional storage capacity, making the Charger a practical choice for families and performance enthusiasts alike.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while once competitive, had become dated compared to newer Honda models. The system featured standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity. The Garmin-based navigation system stood out for its graphics and voice-based input. The Touring model's 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo provided improved sound quality. Honda's LaneWatch system offered a live feed of the blind spot, enhancing safety.

The 2020 Dodge Charger featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system, offering Bluetooth and USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's simplicity and logical menu layout made it easy to use, with docked icons for quick access to functions. The digital display screen in the instrument panel provided easy access to various functions, including navigation directions.

The 2019 Honda Civic came with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, except for the Si and Type R trims. The IIHS rated the Civic with its top Good rating in crash tests, and the NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories. The Civic's crash-prevention features received a Superior rating.

The 2020 Dodge Charger included standard safety features such as airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included lane-departure warning and rain-sensing wipers. The Charger's crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS.