2022 Dodge Charger vs 2023 Cadillac CT5

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite its roots tracing back to a platform from 2005, managed to maintain a modern and menacing exterior design, especially after its significant facelift in 2015. While the exterior updates kept it relevant, the interior lagged behind contemporary standards, with its thick bezels and chunky controls giving it a somewhat dated feel. However, this design choice also made the Charger’s cabin user-friendly, prioritizing ease of use over cutting-edge aesthetics. The Charger offered a range of trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat and Jailbreak variants, each adding unique features and performance upgrades.

In contrast, the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V stood out with its unique styling, particularly in the Rift light grey metallic colour, which drew attention on the road. The CT5-V, positioned between the standard CT5 and the high-performance Blackwing, offered a sporty yet luxurious experience. Its interior, while featuring high-quality materials like leather and stainless steel speaker grilles, also included some less impressive elements such as hard plastic panels. Despite these inconsistencies, the CT5-V provided a comfortable and supportive driving experience, with features like ambient lighting and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system enhancing its appeal.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of engine options, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 engine in the SXT and GT models, producing up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim introduced a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack 392 boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 delivering 485 horsepower. The pinnacle of performance came with the Hellcat variants, featuring a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 producing 717 horsepower, with the Redeye and Jailbreak models pushing this further to 797 and 807 horsepower, respectively. The Charger’s performance was complemented by an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on V6 models. The Hellcat’s Widebody setup, with its 11-inch-wide Pirelli P-Zero tires, enhanced its handling and acceleration, making it a formidable performance machine.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V, powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine, produced 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, allowed the CT5-V to accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately five seconds. The CT5-V featured a performance-tuned Magnetic Ride Control suspension and Brembo front brakes, enhancing its driving dynamics. Various driving modes, including Tour, Sport, and Track, allowed drivers to tailor the car’s performance to their preferences. However, the CT5-V’s steering lacked the feel and feedback expected in a performance sedan, and its exhaust note, while resonant, contributed to a louder-than-expected cabin experience.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite its large sedan classification, offered an intimate driving experience due to its high centre console and performance bucket seats. Both rows provided ample legroom, but headroom was limited, particularly in the rear seats. The Charger’s trunk offered 467 litres of space, though its design made loading large items challenging. Despite these limitations, the Charger’s combination of sports-car performance and practicality made it a versatile choice.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V, built on the same platform as the smaller CT4 and Chevrolet Camaro, offered a roomier and more comfortable interior. The front seats, adjustable in 18 ways, provided good comfort and support, while the rear seats, though trickier to access, offered a BMW 3 Series-like experience with decent knee clearance and foot room. The CT5-V’s trunk, however, was limited to 337 litres, making it less practical for larger cargo. Despite this, the CT5-V offered functional storage areas and thoughtful design elements, such as a wireless smartphone charging pad and a hands-free power trunk lid.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a user-friendly Uconnect infotainment system, available with either a 7-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a simple layout that prioritized ease of use. While not the most advanced in terms of technology, the Charger’s blend of conventional controls and infotainment features provided a straightforward user experience.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V excelled in technology, with its Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system offering features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Bose 15-speaker audio system, and wireless smartphone charging. The system’s simplicity and logical layout made it easy to use, with stereo volume and radio tuning controls conveniently placed on the centre console. While the CT5-V lacked an embedded navigation system in the test car, its voice recognition and connectivity features were generally effective, though future models may move away from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in favour of subscription-based services.

The 2022 Dodge Charger showed its age in terms of safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Optional features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Charger received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but scored a Marginal rating in the IIHS driver’s side overlap test.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5 came equipped with the Cadillac Smart System, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The CT5-V added features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Super Cruise 1 Package offered hands-free driving assistance on approved highways, though drivers needed to remain attentive. Despite some issues during testing, Super Cruise demonstrated impressive capabilities, particularly in maintaining speed and lane position.