2020 Dodge Charger vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat resembled its predecessors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the recently redesigned VW Jetta. It borrowed styling cues from the Jetta and applied them to the older Passat design. Inside, the Passat's dashboard adhered to the previous car's architecture, featuring a small 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, but it was easy to clean. The Passat was designed to be user-friendly, with easy access, simple controls, and a comfortable driving experience. It was available in four trims: S, SE, R-Line, and SEL, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $31,095.

In contrast, the 2020 Dodge Charger maintained its muscle car silhouette, with menacing headlights and a gaping grille. The 2015 facelift introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights. The Charger's cabin blended retro and modern elements, with large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays. The rear-wheel-drive platform required a raised transmission tunnel, creating a cockpit-like feel. The Charger was available in multiple trims: SXT, GT, R/T, and Hellcat, each offering different features and performance levels. The SXT and GT had a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured an 8.4-inch screen.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It used a 6-speed automatic transmission to drive the front wheels. The Passat's powertrain was simple, with a Sport transmission setting and paddle shifters. The car's torque allowed it to accelerate smoothly, though the transmission occasionally upshifted too eagerly. The Passat averaged 26 mpg in combined driving. Its steering was light and precise, and the brakes were effective but could be grabby. The suspension tuning was a mixed bag, with a stiff ride over sharp bumps and a floaty feel over undulations.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains. The SXT and GT trims featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 horsepower in the SXT and 300 horsepower in the GT. The R/T trim had a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. The R/T Scat Pack came with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, delivering 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The top-of-the-line Hellcat had a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, producing 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The Charger had an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on the SXT and GT. The Charger offered impressive acceleration and handling, with adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes on higher trims.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats and ample room for five passengers. The car had large door openings, plenty of storage bins, and excellent outward visibility. Cloth upholstery was standard on the Passat S, while the SE and R-Line trims featured V-Tex leatherette seats. The SEL trim came with genuine leather sport seats. The Passat's trunk had a capacity of 15.9 cubic feet, with a flat load floor for easy storage of large items.

The 2020 Dodge Charger provided ample space for passengers and cargo. The rear seats offered plenty of legroom, even with the front seats slid back. The front bucket seats were well-bolstered, and the car had numerous storage solutions, including door trays and a large center console. The Charger's trunk had a capacity of 16.5 cubic feet, with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench for additional storage space.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat lacked Volkswagen's latest infotainment and Digital Cockpit technologies, but it still offered essential features. The car had a 6.3-inch touchscreen display with App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. The SEL trim included navigation and a Fender premium sound system. The Passat's infotainment system was simple and user-friendly, with physical buttons and knobs for easy control. The car also had an optional remote engine start system and a parking steering-assist system on the SEL trim.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims featured an 8.4-inch screen. Both screen sizes used FCA's Uconnect system, which included Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Uconnect system was praised for its simplicity and logical menu layout, with docked icons for easy navigation. The Charger also had a digital display screen in the instrument panel, operated via a directional pad on the steering wheel. This screen provided information on trip data, vehicle settings, radio stations, and phone calls, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat came standard with several safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. The car also had an automatic post-collision braking system. The Passat SE trim added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, while the SEL trim included parking assist sensors and adaptive headlights. The Passat received a top rating of Good in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2020 Dodge Charger had standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. The Charger also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Charger's crash prevention technology earned the highest score of Superior in IIHS tests, though these features were optional.