2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2020 Dodge Charger

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence with its slightly longer and wider dimensions compared to its predecessor. The new design featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, giving it a more dramatic look than the previous generation's staid appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional, with a premium feel thanks to soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seating. The Jetta offered a range of trims, from the well-equipped base S trim to the luxurious SEL Premium, each adding various features like leatherette seating, panoramic moonroof, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

In contrast, the 2020 Dodge Charger maintained its muscle car silhouette with a modern twist, featuring menacing headlights and a gaping grille. The 2015 facelift introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights, aligning with Dodge's performance identity. The Charger's cabin blended retro themes with modern digital displays, creating a cockpit-like feel. Trim levels ranged from the SXT with standard features like a 7-inch touchscreen and remote start, to the high-performance Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and widebody kit. The Charger offered a spacious interior with ample legroom and a large trunk, making it a practical choice for a performance sedan.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than the previous model, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta excelled in both city and highway driving, offering smooth acceleration and precise steering. It delivered a comfortable ride with minimal body roll, and both manual and automatic transmissions achieved impressive fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 engine in the SXT and GT trims, producing 292 and 300 horsepower, respectively. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower. The range-topping Hellcat came with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering a staggering 707 horsepower. The Charger provided a thrilling driving experience, with options for rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The widebody models featured adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes, enhancing cornering precision and braking performance.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats suitable for long trips, with adequate rear-seat space despite a slight reduction in legroom. The trunk space decreased to 14.1 cubic feet, but remained average for the class. The cabin layout was practical, with a repositioned touchscreen and shifter for improved usability. The Jetta combined touchscreen functions with physical buttons and dials, prioritizing functionality and ease of use.

The 2020 Dodge Charger provided ample interior space, with well-bolstered front bucket seats and generous head- and legroom. The rear seats offered plenty of legroom, making it a practical choice for passengers. The Charger featured a large trunk with 16.5 cubic feet of space, surpassing many performance sedans and large family sedans. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench allowed for additional storage flexibility.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SEL and SEL Premium included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display that replaced the conventional instrument panel. This feature allowed drivers to personalize the information displayed, including navigation.

The 2020 Dodge Charger featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims offering an 8.4-inch screen. Both sizes ran the Uconnect system, known for its simplicity and ease of use. The system included Bluetooth, USB connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Uconnect interface allowed seamless switching between native functions and mobile device systems, with a logical menu layout and a digital display screen in the instrument panel for additional information.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta included front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. An automatic post-collision braking system was also standard. Driver-assist features like blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision avoidance were standard on higher trims and optional on the base S. The SEL and SEL Premium added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. The Charger’s crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS, although many features were optional rather than standard.