2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Dodge Charger

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its roots tracing back to 2006, showcased a modern muscle car silhouette. Its menacing headlights and gaping grille were key design elements that carried over to the current generation, which debuted in 2011. A significant facelift in 2015 introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights, aligning perfectly with Dodge's identity as a modern American performance brand. The interior of the Charger blended retro themes with modern touches, featuring large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays and a raised transmission tunnel that created a cockpit-like feel.

Trim levels for the 2020 Charger included SXT, GT, R/T, and Hellcat, each offering unique features. The SXT came with 17-inch alloy wheels, remote start, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The GT added 20-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen. The R/T and GT shared many visual cues, but the GT boasted a V8 engine. The Hellcat featured the largest engine, leather upholstery, and advanced safety features, along with a widebody kit for enhanced performance and aesthetics.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a descendant of the original 1983 Rabbit GTI, continued to define the hot hatch genre. The GTI shared its basics with the regular Golf but included subtle enhancements like red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and painted brake calipers. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lamps, and gloss black side mirrors added to its sporty appearance. The GTI's lowered stance and stainless-steel exhaust tips further emphasized its performance credentials.

Inside, the GTI featured red ambient lighting, a black headliner, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching. The instrument cluster was unique to the GTI, and the foot pedals had an aluminum-look surface. Heated front sport seats were standard, with Clark plaid cloth in the S trim and leather in the SE and Autobahn trims. The GTI's interior quality was top-notch, with high-quality materials and well-installed surfaces.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains to suit different driving preferences. The SXT and GT trims came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 horsepower in the SXT and 300 horsepower 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 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, along with an upgraded performance suspension and active exhaust.

The R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, generating 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, and included Brembo high-performance brakes and launch assist. The range-topping Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, producing a staggering 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The widebody models had Bilstein adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes, enhancing their cornering capabilities and overall performance. The Performance Pages feature allowed drivers to monitor and customize various performance aspects, making the Charger a versatile and powerful sedan.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The GTI's handling was a standout feature, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension, variable-ratio steering, and Golf R front brakes. The Autobahn model came with DCC adaptive damping, further enhancing its handling capabilities. The GTI's ride could be rough on ordinary roads, but its performance-oriented setup made it a joy to drive on the right road or track.

The GTI's engine was paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the latter offering paddle shifters for manual control. The GTI's fuel economy was impressive, with the manual transmission achieving 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, and the dual-clutch transmission achieving 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined. The GTI's performance and handling made it a favorite among driving enthusiasts.

The 2020 Dodge Charger stood out among high-horsepower sedans for its spacious interior. The rear seats offered ample legroom, even with the front seats slid back, making it a practical choice for families. The front bucket seats were well-bolstered, providing plenty of head- and legroom for the driver and front passenger. The Charger also featured helpful storage solutions, including door trays, cup holders, and a large center console. The trunk offered 16.5 cubic feet of space, which was above average for both performance sedans and large family sedans, and the 60/40 split-fold rear bench allowed for even more storage space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in form and function, thanks to its hatchback design. With a 103.6-inch wheelbase and compact dimensions, the GTI was incredibly useful for carrying passengers and cargo while maintaining a small footprint. The GTI offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, which expanded to 24.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The front row provided ample space for taller drivers, while the second row was adequate for two average-sized adults or three juveniles.

The GTI's compact dimensions made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, with a tight turning circle of 35.8 feet and sharp steering with electric power assist. The hatchback's great outward visibility and standard rearview camera further aided in parking and tight maneuvers. Inside, the GTI featured clever storage options, including large front door pockets, grippy center console cupholders, and a mechanical handbrake that added a touch of nostalgia.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Both screen sizes ran FCA's Uconnect infotainment system, known for its simplicity and user-friendly interface. The system included Bluetooth and USB connectivity, available satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The logical menu layout ensured quick access to various functions, and the digital display screen in the instrument panel provided easy access to trip information, vehicle settings, and navigation.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system, with the S trim using the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch screen, and the SE and Autobahn trims using the MIB3 system with an 8-inch screen and navigation. The MIB touchscreens offered tablet-like gesture controls and capacitive-touch sensors, making inputs easy and intuitive. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. The SE trim included a three-month trial to SiriusXM with 360L, and Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional connectivity features, including Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals.

The GTI also came with standard LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with LED headlights and adaptive front lighting available on higher trims. Keyless access with pushbutton start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front washer nozzles, and heated exterior mirrors were also standard, adding to the GTI's tech-savvy appeal.

The 2020 Dodge Charger included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Available safety features included forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, 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 the highest score of Superior from the IIHS, although many of these features were optional rather than standard.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS in most crash-test categories. The GTI came with a comprehensive array of standard safety systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dual front and side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, and a rearview camera. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control. The GTI's sharp handling also contributed to its safety, potentially helping drivers avoid collisions.