2024 Kia K5 vs 2023 Dodge Charger

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 colour options, such as Plum Crazy, and its distinct, modern look compared to competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Camry. The Swinger variant, a Dodge Charger Scat Pack with a widebody kit, featured a flat-bottomed steering wheel, flared fenders, and 305-mm-wide tires on 20-inch wheels. Its design elements, including a large hood scoop, deep-dish bronze wheels, and a matte black decklid spoiler, gave it a racetrack-inspired appearance. The interior, however, felt dated with its small touchscreen and plasticky knobs, though it included unique touches like green stitching and a Swinger badge.

The 2024 Kia K5, particularly in the GT-Line trim, impressed with its stylish design and vibrant Passion Red Tint Coat. Despite being around since 2021, the K5 often drew attention from passers-by who were unfamiliar with the model. The GT-Line trim in Canada offered more equipment than its U.S. counterpart, and the K5's pricing was competitive, though the interior featured some inexpensive-looking plastics. The design and detailing were commendable, with textured metallic trim and a refined transmission shifter. The K5's interior was comfortable, with features like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control, though the SynTex artificial leather could be sticky.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 producing 292 to 300 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque. This engine was the only one available with all-wheel drive, though its performance in adverse conditions was lacking. The Charger excelled with its V8 options, including the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, and the 6.4-litre V8 in the Scat Pack models, delivering 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Charger SRT Hellcats, with their supercharged 6.2-litre engines, offered up to 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, though their fuel economy was poor. The Charger's handling was a highlight, with good grip and steering precision, though it was best to avoid mid-corner corrections.

The 2024 Kia K5 featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5 GT model offered a more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, along with a sport-tuned suspension and larger brakes. The K5 GT-Line, while sporty in appearance, was more fuel-efficient, though our test car's fuel economy fell short of estimates. The K5 GT-Line's suspension provided a comfortable ride with impressive control, though the electric steering was mid-tier. The brakes on the GT-Line were adequate for daily driving but faded during spirited driving.

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 rear seats lacked legroom and headroom. The trunk was spacious at 470 litres. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large, easy-to-find buttons and switches for climate control, lighting, and audio systems, making it user-friendly.

The 2024 Kia K5 offered comfort and utility, with legible analog gauges and SynTex artificial leather in the GT-Line trim. The 10-way power driver's seat and manual front passenger seat height adjuster were notable features. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control were standard in Canada. The panoramic sunroof added a touch of luxury, though it reduced headroom for taller passengers. The K5 provided generous storage areas, though some had plastic linings that could cause noise. The cargo space measured 453 litres, with a Smart Trunk function for easy access.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest Uconnect infotainment system and advanced driver-assistance features. It featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of various performance settings, including launch control and line lock for drag racing. Performance Pages provided real-time data on power and torque, with additional cooling functions for the supercharger on Hellcat models.

The 2024 Kia K5 offered an 8-inch touchscreen on LX and EX trims, with a 10.25-inch screen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity on lower trims. The larger display included navigation, SiriusXM, and Kia Connect services, offering features like remote start and vehicle recovery. Voice recognition was hit or miss, so using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended. A wireless phone charging pad was available on all but the base trim, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system was exclusive to the GT trim.

The 2023 Dodge Charger performed well in NHTSA crash tests, receiving four out of five stars overall. It lacked standard advanced safety features, with options like forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control available. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on Hellcat models and some lower trims.

The 2024 Kia K5 came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist, which provided semi-autonomous highway driving. The K5 received high marks from NHTSA but scored poorly in updated IIHS tests for moderate overlap frontal-impact and side-impact protection.