2023 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, having been around since its 2019 hatchback debut and 2020 sedan follow-up, aimed to shed Toyota's "boring" image with bold exterior styling. It featured scowling LED headlights and a wide grille, though it couldn't quite match the eccentricity of the Hyundai Elantra or the cohesiveness of the Honda Civic. The Corolla offered varied styling elements across its trims, with the SE and XSE models sporting an aggressive front fascia, while the Nightshade Editions added blacked-out trim. The Apex Editions boasted a subtle body kit with bronze accents and model-specific 18-inch wheels, which reduced weight and came with all-season or optional summer tires. The SE Apex Edition, in particular, stood out with its "Fast and Furious" vibe, showcasing Toyota's effort to make the Corolla more than just basic transportation.

The Corolla's interior, while less imaginative than its exterior, maintained a simple and appealing look. The fit and finish met Toyota's usual standards, though the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges. The SE Apex Edition's interior mirrored that of the standard SE, with no changes to match its sportier exterior. The light gray upholstery seemed susceptible to stains, and while cloth upholstery was standard, SofTex leatherette was available on some trims. The Corolla utilized the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, sharing structural elements with the Camry and RAV4, among others.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, largely unchanged since its 2015 update, retained its distinct and modern look, standing out among competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. The base model appeared somewhat drab, but the V8 versions, especially the R/T Scatpack with the widebody kit, exuded a commanding presence. The Swinger variant featured flared fenders, 305-mm-wide tires on 20-inch wheels, and a large hood scoop, complemented by deep-dish bronze wheels and a matte black decklid spoiler. The Swinger added unique touches like black brake calipers and F8 Green paint, though it also included retro decals and badges that some might find hokey.

Inside, the Charger's interior felt dated, with chunky seats and analog gauges that still looked good, but a small touchscreen and plasticky knobs that seemed from another era. Despite the Nappa leather and Alcantara seats, the interior didn't feel upscale. The Swinger added green stitching and Dodge stripes, but overall, it was a basic space. The Charger's controls were straightforward and familiar, with large, easy-to-find buttons and switches, making it user-friendly despite its age.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla offered two engine options, with the L, LE, and XLE models featuring a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models, including the Apex Edition, were equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The Apex Edition also featured a sport exhaust system. A CVT was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine could be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox on the SE and SE Apex Edition models. All Corollas were front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive expected in the 2023 model year.

The SE Apex Edition's manual transmission complemented its sportier aspirations, with a model-specific suspension that included unique coil springs, solid stabilizer bars, and an increased spring rate. These changes improved handling, making the Apex Edition more nimble, though at the cost of ride quality. The Apex Edition wasn't a full performance model, lacking tire, brake, or engine upgrades, but it was fun in corners, unlike the standard Corolla, which prioritized comfort over excitement.

The 2023 Dodge Charger came standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, producing 292 or 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, depending on the trim. The V6 was the only engine available with all-wheel drive, though its performance was lackluster. The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, however, was smooth and efficient, delivering up to 30 mpg on the highway. The Charger also offered Hemi V8 engines, with the R/T models featuring a 5.7-liter powertrain with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. The Scatpack models, like the Swinger, boasted a 6.4-liter V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, providing satisfying acceleration and a thrilling soundtrack.

The Hellcat models were the pinnacle of performance, with a supercharged 6.2-liter engine producing 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, or 807 hp and 707 lb-ft in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. Despite their immense power, the Hellcats struggled with traction, especially in drag races, but once hooked up, they were nearly unbeatable. The Charger's handling was impressive for its size, with good front-end grip and minimal body roll, though it required careful driving in corners. The ride quality was agreeable, and the braking system, with Brembo brakes on Scat Pack Widebody trims and above, was exceptional.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's interior felt decently roomy, though Toyota didn't release specific headroom and legroom measurements. The low beltline improved outward visibility, but the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard hindered forward visibility. The driver's seat was positioned for optimal comfort, but long-legged drivers might find knee space lacking. The front and rear seat cushions were soft but not supportive. The Corolla sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than competitors like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat was standard, and a power trunk release was available on certain trims. The sleek interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its size, felt cramped inside. Headroom was adequate for a 5-foot-11 frame without a sunroof, but the footwells were tight, and the transmission tunnel reduced rear legroom. Rear headroom was also limited. The trunk, however, was spacious at 16.5 cubic feet. The Charger's controls were straightforward and user-friendly, with large buttons and switches for the dual-zone climate control, lighting, and audio system. The touchscreen and central screen on the instrument panel integrated additional features without requiring deep menu navigation, making the Charger familiar and not distracting.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system lagged behind more recently redesigned compact cars. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base model, while other trims received an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio, along with a six-speaker audio system. A nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system was available on the XSE and XLE trims, as well as CVT-equipped SE models. The interface was user-friendly, but some tasks were more cumbersome compared to other automakers' systems. The graphics appeared dated, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not offered. The Corolla lacked novel features like the Hyundai Elantra's Digital Key.

The 2023 Dodge Charger didn't feature the latest Uconnect infotainment system or advanced driver-assistance features. The 8.4-inch touchscreen was small but redeemed itself with fast, logical menu structures and clear legibility. It included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, voice recognition, and SiriusXM. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed full customization of various performance settings, including throttle, steering, dampers, transmission, and stability control. The Performance Pages displayed real-time power and torque curves, and Hellcat models featured additional cooling functions for the supercharger. This technology was accessible through the touchscreen, offering a unique experience not found in many luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award, the highest safety accolade, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, its headlights received "Acceptable" or "Marginal" ratings, depending on the trim. The NHTSA awarded the Corolla a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Corolla came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, Lane Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available but not standard on all trims.

The 2023 Dodge Charger performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars for driver and passenger in frontal crashes, four stars for the driver in side barrier and pole intrusion tests, and five stars for rear passengers in side tests. Overall, it earned four out of five stars. The IIHS based its ratings on the 2015 Chrysler 300, which shared the same chassis, but the relevance of these scores to the Charger was questionable. The Charger lacked standard safety assists, offering only rear parking sensors and a backup camera. Optional features included forward collision warning with emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control on select models, while blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on certain trims.