2023 Dodge Charger vs 2023 Cadillac CT5

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V, with its unique light grey metallic Rift colour, stood out on Canadian roads dominated by Asian and German luxury cars. Its 19-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish added a touch of elegance, contrasting the modern trend of black wheels. The CT5-V, positioned between the standard CT5 and the high-performance CT5-V Blackwing, offered a sporty yet luxurious appearance. Despite its competitive pricing, the interior quality revealed a mix of high-end materials and less impressive details, such as hard plastic panels and unlined storage areas. However, the CT5-V's technology was approachable, with logically laid-out controls and simple display graphics.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Charger retained its distinct and modern look, despite its design dating back to 2011. The Charger Scat Pack Swinger, with its widebody kit, flared fenders, and 20-inch wheels, exuded a bold presence. The F8 Green paint and bronze wheels added a touch of tastefulness, though the 70s-style "Swinger" decals and cartoony badges were less subtle. Inside, the Charger's interior felt dated, with a small touchscreen and plasticky knobs. However, the Nappa leather and Alcantara seats, along with green stitching and Dodge stripes, added some flair. The Charger's controls were straightforward and familiar, making it easy to use.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V was powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. It could accelerate to 100 km/h in about five seconds, though it sounded faster than it felt. The CT5-V featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, with several driving modes, including Tour, Sport, Track, My Mode, and V-Mode. The Magnetic Ride Control adaptive damping suspension and Brembo front brakes enhanced its performance. However, the CT5-V was not a quiet car, with noticeable road noise and suspension racket. Despite its lack of refinement, the CT5-V offered enjoyable driving dynamics, though the steering lacked feel and feedback.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 producing up to 300 horsepower. However, the real excitement came from the Hemi V8 engines. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-litre V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack models boasted a 6.4-litre V8 with 485 horsepower. The Charger SRT Hellcats took performance to another level, with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 producing up to 807 horsepower in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. The Charger's handling was impressive, with good front-end grip and steering precision. The ride quality was agreeable, and the braking was exceptional, especially on Scat Pack Widebody trims and above.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V offered a roomy and comfortable interior, with standard artificial leather on the 18-way power-adjustable front seats. Genuine leather and ventilated front seats were optional. The rear seats provided good thigh support and knee clearance, though the door frame design made entry and exit less graceful. The CT5-V's trunk was small, with just 337 litres of cargo space, but it included hidden storage under the trunk floor and a deep well for additional items.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its size, felt tight inside. Headroom was adequate, but the footwells were cramped, and the transmission tunnel limited rear legroom. The trunk, however, was spacious, offering 470 litres of cargo space. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large, easy-to-find buttons and switches for climate control, lighting, and audio systems. The touchscreen integrated additional features without requiring deep menu navigation, making the Charger familiar and user-friendly.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V excelled in technology, with a Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system that was easy to use. It featured a 10-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a Bose 15-speaker audio system. The CT5-V also offered wireless smartphone charging and natural voice recognition. Optional upgrades included a head-up display, surround-view camera, and Performance Data Recorder. However, the lack of an embedded navigation system in the test car limited the voice recognition capabilities.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest Uconnect infotainment system and advanced driver-assistance features. Its 8.4-inch touchscreen was small but offered fast, logical menu structures and clear legibility. The Charger included 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. The Performance Pages feature provided real-time data on power, torque, and sensor measurements, while the Hellcat models included additional cooling functions for the supercharger.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5 came with a standard Cadillac Smart System, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and a vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The CT5-V added features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance. Super Cruise impressed with its automated lane-change function, though it required driver attention and had occasional issues.

The 2023 Dodge Charger performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall. However, it lacked standard safety features, offering only rear parking sensors and a backup camera. Optional features included forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring was available on Hellcat models and some lower trims via the Daytona Edition package.