2023 Dodge Charger vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Dodge Charger retained much of its design from 2015, with a sleek nose and sharp LED taillights, giving it a distinct and modern appearance compared to its competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. Despite its age, the Charger stood out with vibrant exterior colours, such as the Plum Crazy, and a widebody kit on the Scat Pack model, which included flared fenders and 20-inch wheels. The interior, however, felt dated with its small touchscreen and plasticky knobs, though it offered a basic yet adequate space with some unique touches like green stitching and Swinger badges.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Si maintained a stealthy yet sporty design, featuring LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The interior was more expressive, with red seat and door panel inserts, a metal mesh strip hiding the dashboard air vents, and a high-quality finish with gloss black surfaces and polished metal detailing. The Civic Si offered a more modern and engaging cabin experience, with a focus on driving enjoyment and practicality.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engine options, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing up to 300 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque. While the V6 was considered underwhelming, the Charger truly shone with its Hemi V8 engines. The R/T model featured a 5.7-litre V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-litre V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, delivering a thrilling driving experience. The Charger SRT Hellcat models pushed the limits with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing up to 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. Despite its size, the Charger handled well, with good front-end grip and exceptional braking, especially in the Scat Pack Widebody trims.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, the Civic Si offered a more engaging driving experience with features like a helical limited-slip differential and larger brakes. The Civic Si's suspension provided a firm yet comfortable ride, and its handling was precise, making it a joy to drive on twisty roads. Despite some issues with the braking system during hot testing conditions, the Civic Si remained a fun and efficient option, with a fuel economy rating of 8.0 L/100 km during testing.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its large size, felt cramped inside, with limited rear legroom and headroom. The trunk, however, was spacious at 470 litres. The Charger's controls were straightforward and easy to use, with large buttons and switches for climate control, lighting, and audio systems, providing a familiar and distraction-free experience.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced performance with practicality, offering sport-bolstered front seats and a roomy back seat with generous legroom. The Civic Si's interior featured dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, and a power sunroof, though it lacked rear air conditioning vents. The trunk offered 408 litres of cargo space, with a 60/40-split folding back seat for added versatility. The Civic Si's interior was well-designed, with thoughtful storage solutions and a focus on driver comfort.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest infotainment and driver-assistance features found in other Stellantis vehicles. Its 8.4-inch touchscreen offered wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed for extensive customization of performance settings, making it a unique offering in its class.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came equipped with a 9-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical controls for volume and tuning, and the Bose audio system provided impressive sound quality. The Civic Si's technology was simple yet satisfying, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2023 Dodge Charger 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 on higher trims. The IIHS ratings were based on the 2015 Chrysler 300, raising questions about their relevance to the Charger.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, some features proved irksome during testing, detracting from the driving experience. The Civic Si earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, making it a safer choice.