Compare the2022 Dodge ChargerVS 2021 Honda Accord

The Charger has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Accord doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Charger GT/SXT AWD offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Accord doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Charger and the Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Dodge Charger weighs 510 to 1211 pounds more than the Honda Accord. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Dodge Charger is safer than the Honda Accord:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

The battery on the Charger is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Charger’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Accord’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Charger’s reliability 13 points higher than the Accord.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Charger third among large cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Accord isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge 17th in reliability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The Charger has more powerful engines than the Accord:

As tested in Car and Driver the Charger Scat Pack 6.4 V8 is faster than the Honda Accord 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Charger Scat Pack 6.4 V8 is faster than the Honda Accord 1.5:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Charger R/T’s fuel efficiency. The Accord doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Charger has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord (18.5 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Charger Scat Pack’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Accord doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Charger’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

The Charger GT/R/T/SXT AWD’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Accord are solid, not vented.

The Charger stops much shorter than the Accord:

For better traction, the Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Accord (305/35R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord Sport/Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger R/T has standard 20-inch wheels. The Accord’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the Accord (120.2 inches vs. 111.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Accord.

The Charger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Accord’s (59.8% to 40.2%). This gives the Charger more stable handling and braking.

The Charger Scat Pack handles at .92 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Charger Scat Pack executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Accord (25.3 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Charger Scat Pack’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Accord LX/EX-L’s (37.5 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Accord 2.0T’s (39 feet vs. 39.6 feet).

The Charger has .9 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Accord.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Charger’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Charger’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord LX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Charger’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Accord’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Damping on the Charger uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Accord doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Charger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Charger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Accord. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Charger’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Accord does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Charger and the Accord have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Charger is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Accord prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Charger’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Accord’s power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Charger to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Accord doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Charger’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Accord offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Charger’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Accord doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Charger and the Accord offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Charger has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Accord doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Insurance will cost less for the Charger owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Charger with a number “1” insurance rate while the Accord is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Charger will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Charger will retain 44.89% to 48.58% of its original price after five years, while the Accord only retains -377.8% to 54%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Charger is less expensive to operate than the Accord because typical repairs cost much less on the Charger than the Accord, including $25 less for a water pump, $303 less for a starter, $283 less for fuel injection, $108 less for front struts and $437 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Dodge Charger and the Honda Accord, based on reliability, safety and performance.