DODGE CHARGER | STARTING PRICE: $28,000

The ancestry of the Dodge Charger goes way back to 1966. Of all the Chargers however, the best by far is the current 2015 model which contains the vehicle’s most recent refinements.

The current Charger was developed concurrently with the Chrysler 300 and with respect to vehicle refinement and technology, both benefited from Chrysler’s then- joint association with Mercedes.

The Charger is still positioned as a full-size, Hemi-powered performance sedan but it has much more to offer than just that. The Charger is a rear wheel drive sedan with four wheel independent suspension and an all-wheel drive option. The road manners and refinement of the car are surprisingly good and it manages to deliver both excellent handling and a comfortable ride.

Dodge has made its new 8 speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission standard equipment in all Charger models. That many gears bring out the best in any engine so their smallest one, the 3.6 liter V6, is now the best seller by far. There are also three larger Hemi V8 engines available: the base 5.7 liter version has “only” 370 horsepower; the 6.4 Hemi in the SRT delivers 485 horsepower; and the new Hellcat supercharged 6.2 serves up 707 (not a typo) horsepower!

The best fuel economy comes from the 3.6 V6 which has a 31 mpg highway fuel economy rating. That’s pretty amazing considering the cars heft and girth. The best performance comes from the 700+ horsepower Hellcat which can sprint to 60 miles an hour in just 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 204 miles per hour!

But the Charger isn’t only about performance. Once you get past its high-powered persona, you’ll find a very nice, roomy, large sedan well suited for even the most routine tasks of life. You’ll notice a comfortable driver seat which can be both heated and cooled. The steering wheel fits your hand like a glove and contains convenient
controls. In fact, the Charger allows you to select the amount of steering effort that you prefer, ranging from comfort to sport.

There are two displays: a programmable one in front of the driver. and a larger 8.4 inch unit for navigation, audio etc. in the middle. Uconnect makes the vehicle a traveling hotspot so you can use your wi-fi devices on the go. It also allows voice command, Bluetooth connections, streaming audio, hands-free calling and voice texting. Further, the Media Hub takes media inputs from USB, aux-in plugs and SD cards and syncs them all with the Touchscreen as part of Uconnect. There are also dual charging USB ports plus dual 12 volt power plugs. And the BeatsAudio 12 speaker system will fill the cabin with sound.

A full suite of safety systems is also onboard, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert plus collision warning and braking.

The Charger is endowed with a plethora of features which enhance the likeability of this well-executed large sedan.

HONDA CIVIC | STARTING PRICE: $18,500

The wildly popular Honda Civic is in its 9th generation. It debuted in 1972 perfectly timed right before the legendary oil embargo as a very small yet highly fuel efficient vehicle… that was 42 years ago! The current model is a wonder of refinement, efficiency and reliability.

To keep up with the incessant competitive demands in the compact sedan marketplace, Honda has updated the Civic in 2012, 2013 and again significantly in 2014! Honda’s diligence continues to pay off as the Civic and its archrival, the Corolla, are the perennial sales kings in the compact segments.

The newest Civic now presents itself as a more mature and refined vehicle compared with some of the others in its class. Honda has the confidence to offer more equipment on the base model, which can costs several thousand more than some competitors, and cede the bottom end of the space to the upstarts. Their calculus tells them that the refinement and reliability of the Civic is so strong that people will pay more on the front end because the vehicle will last a very long time, be very reliable and be worth significantly more at trade-in time… and they’re right!

The Civic is offered in several trim levels: LX, SE, EX, and the EX-L. There is also the sporty Si, the special high fuel economy HF, the Hybrid, and even a CNG natural gas version offered in certain areas. Though most Civics are 4 door sedans, a coupe is also available. All models come with USB/mp3 capability, air conditioning, Bluetooth, speed sensitive audio control, steering wheel mounted audio and cruise control buttons, 7-inch display screen, text message function, power window and locks, cruise control, tilt-telescope steering wheel, fuel economy calculator and a backup camera system with guidelines.

On the standard models there is only one engine offered — the 1.8 liter 4 cylinder unit with 143 horsepower. Most are equipped with the new CVT continuously variable transmission which replaces the venerable 5 speed automatic. The CVT has made big change to the drivability of the Civic. It significantly increases fuel economy as well as vehicle responsiveness. Because of the CVT the engine now operates at lower rpm’s, thus delivering a much more relaxed and responsive driving experience. The Civic can zip to 60 miles per in just over 7.5 seconds and still post a 30 city 39 highway miles per gallon fuel economy number. The HF model gets a 31/41 rating and the Hybrid delivers a 44/47 rating!

If you pony up for the EX-L model you’ll find larger aluminum wheels, leather seating with the driver seat powered, a sun roof, keyless entry, a push-to-start ignition button, a navigation system, and Honda’s clever right side LaneWatch camera.

The Civic is thoroughly refined and now drives more like a slightly smaller Accord than a traditional compact car. It’s spirited and sporty yet is safe and reliable.

For more information on these models, visit MyCarData.com.