2021 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Dodge Charger, in its seventh generation, continued to captivate buyers with its array of variants, from the base SXT to the high-performance SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite the subtle differences between models, the Charger maintained a consistent design, appealing to the "brotherhood of muscle" with its widebody options and distinctive Hellcat badging. The car's exterior featured a range of tire, wheel, brake, and color options, including 17-inch wheels on the base model and up to 20-inch wheels on the R/T. The interior, though updated over the years, still lacked some comfort and convenience features, with hard plastic and rubberized surfaces reminiscent of the utilitarian Jeep Wrangler.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive look. The N Line variant enhanced the Sonata's appeal with larger air intakes, gloss black accents, and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The interior featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, and aluminum pedal covers. A panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, while the materials used were a step above those in the Elantra N Line. However, the rear seat space was not significantly more accommodating than the Elantra, with hard plastic front seatback panels potentially uncomfortable for taller passengers.

The 2021 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains to suit different driving preferences. The SXT, SXT AWD, GT, and GT AWD models were powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The R/T model featured a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Scat Pack models boasted a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye models took performance to the next level with supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engines, producing 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, and 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, respectively. The Charger offered a connected driving experience with configurable drive modes and Performance Pages for SRT models, though the transmission could be clunky during aggressive downshifts.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line, equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 rpm to 4,000 rpm. The new eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and launch control system provided a responsive and engaging driving experience. The Sonata N Line featured Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system. The car's sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and 19-inch wheels with performance tires contributed to its impressive handling and ride quality. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, the Sonata N Line minimized understeer and provided a confident driving experience on winding roads.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced performance with practicality. The spacious back seat and comfortable accommodations made it a viable family car. The instrument cluster varied by model, with speedometers ranging from 140 mph to 220 mph. The steering wheel featured easy-to-reach buttons, and paddle shifters were available on all but the base model. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat expanded the trunk space, which was about average for its class.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line offered heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts for comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, and rear-seat passengers benefited from air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata's interior storage was generous, though the center console design was somewhat inelegant. The trunk provided 16 cubic feet of space, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat added versatility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was a convenient addition, though the lack of an interior handle for closing the trunk was a minor inconvenience.

The 2021 Dodge Charger came with basic standard features, including push-button start, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a six-speaker audio system, four USB ports, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, keyless entry, and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. Available upgrades included a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, premium audio systems, HD Radio, navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The Uconnect infotainment system was user-friendly but had some buried functions and lacked the latest version available in other Dodge models.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel paired with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard technology included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. The Sonata N Line lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for some users. The infotainment system offered ambient noise tracks through the Sounds of Nature feature and included Hyundai Digital Key for Android devices.

The 2021 Dodge Charger had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received mostly "Good" ratings with "Poor" marks for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Charger a four-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, rear park assist, rain brake support, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlights were available on some models.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata received high safety ratings, though the N Line had not been specifically rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.