2021 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Dodge Charger, in its seventh generation, continued to captivate buyers with its array of variants, including the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite the subtle differences among the 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, with halogen projector headlights and optional HID projector lights. However, the design had remained largely unchanged for a decade, making it difficult for casual observers to determine the model's age.

Inside, the Charger had seen updates over the years, but it still lacked in comfort and convenience features. The fit and finish had improved, yet the gauge cluster and climate controls revealed the car's age. The interior was characterized by hard plastic and rubberized surfaces, with cloth seats standard on most trims and Nappa leather on higher trims. While the Charger offered power-adjustable seats and optional heated and ventilated seats, the higher-priced models left buyers expecting more premium accommodations and technology.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, showcased a distinctive look with a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and sloped rear roofline. The design was subjective, with some finding it attractive and others not. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five. The gauges and dials were clearly marked, and material quality was average for the segment. The Limited trim featured comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not to everyone's taste. The Sonata N Line added sporty touches, including a body kit, gloss black accents, and N badging, transforming the car's look from mild to wild.

The N Line's interior featured dark chrome trim and red stitching, with unique N-brand sport seats and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel. The Sonata's cabin was spacious, with front-seat headroom and legroom at the top of the class, though rear-seat space was adequate but not particularly commodious. The 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, holding a complete three-piece set of rolling luggage with room to spare. The Remote Smart Parking Assist, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making tight parking spots more manageable.

The 2021 Dodge Charger excelled in performance, offering a range of models with different powertrains. The SXT, SXT AWD, GT, and GT AWD were powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, producing 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, with a 1,000-pound towing capacity. The Charger Scat Pack models had a 6.4-liter HEMI V8, yielding 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, making 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The top-of-the-line SRT Hellcat Redeye had a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI high-output V8, producing 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque.

The Charger offered a connected driving experience, with rear-wheel drive standard on most models and all-wheel drive available on some. Configurable drive modes and the Performance Pages function allowed for in-depth adjustment of vehicle settings. The SRT Hellcat Redeye's powertrain was the least fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated 12 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined. The automatic transmission delivered smooth upshifts, though downshifts could be clunky. The Charger handled well at speed, with Brembo brakes providing adequate stopping power.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had a split personality in terms of performance. The base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder made 180 hp and 195 lb-ft. Both engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters standard on the 1.6-liter turbo. The Sonata N Line featured a 290-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, sport suspension, and tuned exhaust.

All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option available. The Sonata offered a smooth ride in town and on the highway, handling competently if not pushed too hard. The cabin was quiet, providing near Genesis-like levels of serenity. The N Line's sport suspension and wet DCT added a more aggressive driving experience, appealing to those seeking a sportier ride.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced speed and power with family-friendly features. The interior technology was dated but functional, with the instrument cluster varying by model. The steering wheel provided easy access to in-car functions, 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 large cars.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were top-notch, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, contributing to the Sonata's EPA size rating. The Remote Smart Parking Assist, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making tight parking spots more manageable.

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 features included a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, premium audio systems, HD Radio, navigation, and a WiFi hot spot. The Uconnect infotainment system was easy to navigate but had some buried functions.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim. The base SE had an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and a rearview camera. The SEL added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim now included last year's Tech package features, such as Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Dodge Charger had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received mostly "Good" ratings and "Poor" marks for headlights. The NHTSA gave 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 2022 Hyundai Sonata came with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview monitor, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering assistance, and Safe Exit Assist. The Limited trim included a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA gave the 2022 Sonata a five-star overall crash protection rating, while the IIHS gave the 2021 Sonata top "Good" ratings in all crash tests.