2021 Dodge Charger vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic jellybean-like shape, a design optimized for aerodynamics. Over the years, Toyota made subtle changes to the styling cues within this shape, aiming to give it a more sedan-like appearance while maintaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius's futuristic style remained contemporary, with a cabin defined by its central instrumentation and gauges, a design choice that has been a hallmark since its inception. The Prius was available in four trim levels: L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited, each offering a range of features from basic amenities to advanced technology and unique styling elements.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Charger continued to appeal to buyers with its muscular design and numerous variants, including the high-performance SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite its decade-old design, the Charger maintained a distinctive look with options for widebody styling and various wheel, brake, and color choices. The interior, though updated over the years, still showed signs of its age with a mix of hard plastics and rubberized surfaces. The Charger offered a range of trim levels, each with specific performance and comfort features, making it a versatile choice for those seeking both power and practicality.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It offered both front-wheel drive and an all-wheel-drive variant, the latter using a second electric motor for the rear wheels. The Prius provided smooth acceleration and seamless transitions between electric and conventional power. It had three drive modes—EV, Eco, and Power—each catering to different driving needs. The unique shifter design and Engine Braking mode added to its distinctive driving experience, making it an engaging yet efficient commuter car.

The 2021 Dodge Charger excelled in performance with a range of powerful engines. The base models, SXT and GT, featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with up to 300 horsepower. The R/T trim boasted a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack models had a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 producing 485 horsepower. The SRT Hellcat came with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 delivering 717 horsepower, and the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye pushed the limits with 797 horsepower. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a connected and thrilling driving experience. The Charger offered both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive options, with configurable drive modes and Performance Pages for in-depth vehicle settings.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its compact platform, offering spacious and comfortable front seats with good visibility. The rear seats also provided ample space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering and exiting. The Prius had 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and up to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, making it one of the most versatile hybrids. The hatchback design facilitated easy loading of large items, enhancing its practicality.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced performance with practicality. It featured a spacious back seat and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat to expand the trunk space. The interior, though dated, was functional with a variety of instrument cluster designs based on the model's top speed. The steering wheel had easy-to-reach buttons, and paddle shifters were available on most trims. The Charger offered average cargo space compared to other large cars, making it a viable option for families needing both speed and space.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout, though it lacked Android Auto. Additional features included satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display, and a 10-speaker JBL audio system. The top-center instrument panel provided critical readouts and hybrid drivetrain status, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Dodge Charger offered basic standard features such as a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and four USB ports. Higher trims added a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, premium audio systems, HD Radio, navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. However, it lacked a head-up display, and some functions were buried in the Uconnect infotainment system's menus. The latest Uconnect version, available in other Dodge models, addressed many of these issues but was not yet available for the Charger.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and lane-tracing assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to average scores in certain tests.

The 2021 Dodge Charger received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, rear park assist, rain brake support, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlights. The 2020 model, structurally similar to the 2021 version, received mostly "Good" ratings from the IIHS but "Poor" marks for headlights.