2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2020 Dodge Charger

Dodge brought back the Charger name in 2006 with a modern muscle car design. The 2011 model retained the menacing headlights and gaping grille, but a significant facelift in 2015 introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights. The interior combined retro elements with modern technology, featuring large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays. The RWD platform required a raised transmission tunnel, creating a cockpit-like feel. Trim levels included SXT, GT, R/T, and Hellcat, each offering unique features and performance upgrades.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza adopted a more conservative design compared to its predecessors. Both the sedan and hatchback featured sleek headlights and taillights, a tapered front end, and toned-down wheel arch sheetmetal. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches like 18-inch alloy wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Impreza shared its underpinnings with other Subaru models, enhancing overall refinement. The interior, though not exciting, was functional, with the Sport trim adding contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals. The Limited trim offered leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered various powertrains. The SXT and GT trims came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 hp in the SXT and 300 hp in the GT. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with AWD available as an option. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, delivering 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, along with an upgraded performance suspension and active exhaust. The R/T Scat Pack had a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, generating 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, and included Brembo brakes and launch assist. The top-tier Hellcat Widebody boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, producing 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Charger’s Performance Pages allowed drivers to record lap times, monitor engine performance, and customize drive modes.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Most models came with a CVT, while a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also had model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the AWD system. The Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport trim offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the engine’s lack of power and noncommunicative steering limited its appeal as a driver’s car.

The 2020 Dodge Charger stood out among high-horsepower sedans for its spacious interior. The rear seats offered ample legroom, and the front bucket seats were well-bolstered with plenty of head- and legroom. The Charger featured practical storage solutions, including door trays, cup holders, and a large center console. The trunk provided 16.5 cubic feet of space, which was above average for both performance and family sedans. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench added versatility for additional storage.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan’s trunk had 12.3 cubic feet of space, the smallest among compact sedans, but the 60/40 split-folding rear seat helped accommodate longer items. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of space. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package, keyless entry, power driver’s seat, and optional power moonroof.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims featured an 8.4-inch screen. Both sizes used the Uconnect system, known for its simplicity and ease of use. The system included Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The logical menu layout and persistent dock icons made navigation straightforward, even when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The digital display in the instrument panel provided easy access to trip information, vehicle settings, and navigation.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza’s base and Premium trims had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with an optional package for the Limited trim adding TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD in the gauge cluster. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and minimal menu digging required for important functions.

The 2020 Dodge Charger included standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing windshield wipers were also available. The Charger’s crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS, though many features were optional rather than standard.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, with the highest “Good” score in all crash tests. The standard headlights received a “Marginal” rating, while the Limited trim’s headlights earned a “Good” score. The NHTSA gave the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite was standard on CVT-equipped models, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Additional options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights.