2021 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out among compact sedans with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing, featuring sharp creases and dramatic angles. This distinctive styling was further accentuated by a Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, a controversial design cue intended to break conventional automotive design rules and give the Elantra a unique character. The Elantra's appearance improved with higher trim levels, ranging from SE to Limited, with a hybrid powertrain option available for the SEL and Limited trims. Inside, the Elantra boasted a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a more upscale look and feel, particularly the Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray, which featured light gray seats and Scandinavian-inspired design elements.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Charger, a decade into its seventh generation, maintained its popularity due to the variety of models available, from the base SXT to the top-tier SRT Hellcat Redeye. The Charger’s design remained largely unchanged over the years, giving it a timeless yet familiar look. The widebody format, available on some models, added an athletically suave stance, especially on the new-for-2021 SRT Hellcat Redeye. The Charger offered a plethora of tire, wheel, brake, and exterior color options, with standard halogen projector headlights and optional high-intensity discharge (HID) projector lights. Despite its dated interior technology, the Charger’s fit and finish improved over time, though it still featured a fair amount of hard plastic and rubberized surfaces, with cloth seats standard on most trims and Nappa leather on higher trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, from the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), to the high-performance Elantra N with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. The Elantra SEL, priced at $25,015, provided a fine balance of power and fuel efficiency, achieving 31.4 mpg in combined driving. The Elantra Limited Hybrid, priced at $29,095, featured a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a six-speed dry dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering 139 horsepower and 42.2 mpg in combined driving. The sporty Elantra N Line, priced at $26,245, offered a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing a fun driving experience with its slick-shifting manual transmission and sport-tuned suspension. The high-performance Elantra N, estimated to cost around $34,000, delivered an exhilarating driving experience with its powerful engine, electronically controlled suspension, and advanced performance features.

The 2021 Dodge Charger excelled in performance, offering a range of powerful engines across its various models. The base SXT and GT models featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Charger R/T, with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine, delivered 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Charger Scat Pack, with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, produced 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Charger SRT Hellcat, with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engine, generated 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and the top-of-the-line SRT Hellcat Redeye, with a high-output version of the same engine, delivered an impressive 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. Despite its powerful engines, the Charger’s automatic transmission provided smooth upshifts and manageable power delivery, making it suitable for both track and everyday driving.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious and comfortable interior. The driver’s seat was height-adjustable, and the tilt/telescopic steering wheel made it easy to find a comfortable driving position. Heated front seats were standard, with the Limited Hybrid also offering ventilated front cushions. The rear seat provided ample legroom and foot space, though the backrest shape and angle could be improved for better upper back support. The Elantra’s trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the lack of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and hard plastic upper door panels were notable drawbacks.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced performance with practicality, making it a suitable family car. The interior featured a dated but functional instrument cluster, with different speedometer versions depending on the car’s top speed. The steering wheel provided easy access to in-car functions, though the paddle shifters could be accidentally engaged during spirited driving. The Charger’s 60/40 split-folding rear seat expanded the already spacious trunk, offering average cargo space compared to other large cars.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in SE, SEL, and N Line trims, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, offering a significant wow factor. This system included dynamic natural voice recognition, a Sounds of Nature function, and a 64-color ambient cabin lighting system. A new Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key were also available, enhancing the Elantra’s technology offerings.

The 2021 Dodge Charger offered a basic set of 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 infotainment touchscreen, premium audio systems, HD Radio, navigation, and a WiFi hot spot. However, the lack of a head-up display and the dated Uconnect infotainment system detracted from the Charger’s overall technology experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Optional upgrades included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist, providing a comprehensive safety package.

The 2021 Dodge Charger received a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but had not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 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 safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlights.