2023 Dodge Charger vs 2024 Cadillac CT5

The 2023 Dodge Charger retained much of its design from 2015, with a sleek nose and sharp LED taillights. Despite its age, the Charger stood out with its vibrant exterior colours, such as the Plum Crazy, and its distinct, modern look compared to competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. The base model was considered drab, but the V8 versions, especially the Scat Pack with the widebody kit, were visually striking. The Swinger variant featured flared fenders, large hood scoop, and deep-dish bronze wheels, giving it a bold stance. The interior, however, felt dated with its small touchscreen and plasticky knobs, though it offered a basic and adequate space for driving excitement.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5, introduced as a successor to the CTS, dialed back the bold styling of its predecessor but maintained a distinctive front fascia. Its stretched wheelbase and fastback silhouette gave it a stately appearance. While older than some competitors, the CT5's design remained contemporary and clean. Cadillac offered various trim levels, with the Sport model featuring boy-racer styling elements. The interior, though not luxurious in appearance, provided features like massaging front seats. Despite optional high-end materials, the cabin still appeared somewhat cheap, but the CT5's overall design and features aimed to balance luxury and sportiness.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 producing 292 to 300 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 was considered lacklustre, the V8 options, including the 5.7-litre Hemi with 370 hp and the 6.4-litre V8 with 485 hp, delivered thrilling performance. The Charger SRT Hellcat models, with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, boasted up to 807 hp, offering exhilarating speed but challenging traction. The Charger excelled in handling, with good grip and braking, making it a formidable performer on the road.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 offered a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 237 hp and a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with 335 hp. The CT5-V variant featured a tuned V6 with 360 hp, while the CT5-V Blackwing boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 668 hp. The CT5's handling was impressive, with neutral dynamics and a hint of rear-end rotation. The twin-turbo V6 provided decent acceleration, with a 0-96 km/h time of 5.1 seconds for AWD models. The CT5 balanced sportiness and comfort, offering a satisfying driving experience.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its size, felt cramped inside. Headroom was adequate, but the footwells were tight, and rear legroom was compromised by the transmission tunnel. The trunk offered 470 litres of space. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large buttons and switches for climate and audio systems, providing a familiar and user-friendly experience.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 offered competitive passenger space, with more front headroom than some rivals. It provided ample legroom in both rows, though rear headroom was limited. The trunk space was 337 litres, the smallest among its competitors. The CT5's driving position was well-designed, with adjustable seats and steering column. The centre console was efficiently organized, offering storage and a wireless phone charger.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest infotainment features, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of performance settings. The technology focused on performance enhancements, such as launch control and real-time power and torque curves, rather than advanced infotainment.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 featured a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Technology Package added a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and a smartphone-like interface. However, it lacked the flashy tech of some competitors, focusing on usability instead.

The 2023 Dodge Charger received four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with good ratings in many categories. However, it lacked standard advanced safety features, with options like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control available on higher trims.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 earned five stars from the NHTSA in all categories. It offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driver-assist system, providing a high level of safety and convenience.