2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 Dodge Charger

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a beacon of opportunity amidst the declining popularity of hatchbacks, as many automakers shifted focus to small crossover SUVs. Honda capitalized on this trend by introducing a redesigned Civic hatchback, aiming to capture a significant portion of the remaining market share. Manufactured in Indiana, it was one of the few compact cars still produced in North America, alongside the Civic sedan built in Canada. The new Civic hatchback shared its front design with the sedan but featured unique elements from the front doors to the rear, attempting to balance visual weight distribution. Inside, the Civic hatchback mirrored the sedan's interior, with Sport Touring trim offering advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment displays. However, the CVT shifter operation slightly detracted from the overall sophistication.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Charger retained much of its design from its 2015 update, maintaining a distinct and modern appearance compared to competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. The Charger, especially in its Scat Pack Swinger variant, boasted a widebody kit with flared fenders, large hood scoop, and deep-dish bronze wheels, exuding a muscular and aggressive stance. The interior, however, remained largely unchanged since 2011, with dated elements like a small touchscreen and plasticky knobs. Despite this, the Charger offered a familiar and straightforward control layout, with green stitching and unique badges adding some flair to the Swinger model. The overall space was somewhat cramped, especially in the rear, but the trunk provided ample storage capacity.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower. The latter, available in Sport and Sport Touring trims, delivered peak torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, ensuring accessible power. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The CVT paired well with the turbo engine, providing a smooth driving experience, while the six-speed manual transmission offered a more engaging drive. The Civic's suspension and steering provided a balanced ride, though it was not designed for aggressive driving. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with real-world testing closely matching official estimates.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, on the other hand, offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 producing up to 300 horsepower. However, the real excitement lay in the V8 options. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-litre V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-litre V8 with 485 horsepower. The Hellcat models took performance to another level, with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 producing up to 807 horsepower in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. The Charger excelled in handling, with precise steering and exceptional braking, especially in the Scat Pack Widebody trims. Despite its size, the Charger offered a surprisingly agile driving experience, though it was best suited for straight-line speed rather than tight corners.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback prioritized functionality, offering a spacious trunk with 693 litres of cargo capacity and a two-piece cargo shade. The rear seats featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. Seating comfort was generally good, with some minor complaints about the front passenger seat's lack of height adjustment and the absence of rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, with heated front seats standard in Canada. The interior featured a mix of fabric and leather upholstery, with automatic climate control and a dual-zone system in higher trims.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its size, felt somewhat cramped inside. The footwells were tight, and rear legroom was limited due to the transmission tunnel. Headroom was adequate for the author's 5-foot-11 frame, but rear headroom was less generous. The trunk, however, offered a substantial 470 litres of space. The Charger's controls were straightforward and easy to use, with large buttons and switches for essential functions. The interior design was familiar and not overly reliant on touchscreen controls, providing a user-friendly experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch display in the Sport Touring. The latter included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Physical knobs for sound controls addressed previous criticisms, and the voice recognition system performed well. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a more comprehensive display in the Sport Touring.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, however, did not feature the latest Uconnect system or advanced driver-assistance technologies. The 8.4-inch touchscreen offered wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and voice recognition. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of various performance settings, including throttle, steering, and transmission. Performance Pages provided real-time data, and Hellcat models featured additional cooling functions accessible via the touchscreen.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, though these were only available with the CVT. The Civic earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety engineering and new frontal-impact airbags.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its age, performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall. However, it lacked standard advanced safety features, with options like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control available only on higher trims. The backup camera was standard but offered poor visibility.