2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to sport this look, which was no longer necessary for efficiency but had become synonymous with the model. The interior was equally unconventional, featuring a strip of displays in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. The Prius was available in several trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with an optional AWD system for the LE and XLE trims. Prices ranged from $24,525 to $32,650, with the 2020 Edition test vehicle costing $31,295.

In contrast, the 2022 Dodge Charger had been built on the same platform since 2005, with significant updates in 2011 and 2015. The exterior design was modern and menacing, while the interior, though dated, was user-friendly with thick bezels and chunky buttons. The Charger was available in multiple trims, including SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and Jailbreak. The SXT trim featured a V6 engine and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims offered more powerful V8 engines and additional features like a performance suspension and premium stereo systems. The Hellcat Widebody variant, with its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, was particularly notable for its performance capabilities.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving according to the EPA. Other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, while AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg during testing. The car's powertrain included a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. The Prius offered various driving modes, including EV Mode for electric-only driving at low speeds, and Eco, Normal, and Power modes to balance efficiency and responsiveness. The TNGA platform provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing the car's handling on curvy roads, though hard acceleration resulted in powertrain noise.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines. The SXT and GT models featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in base form, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in AWD trims. The R/T trim came with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, delivering 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. The R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Hellcat variants, including the Redeye and Jailbreak, featured a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, with outputs ranging from 717 hp to 807 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available for V6 models. The Hellcat variants offered incredible acceleration, with the Hellcat and Redeye reaching 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph. The Widebody setup improved handling and traction, making the Charger a well-rounded performance machine.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery could trap sweat. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, with 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, a large sedan, felt more intimate due to its high center console and performance bucket seats. Both rows offered ample legroom, but headroom was limited, especially in the rear seats. The car's storage options were less accommodating compared to modern sedans, with smaller center console bins and trays. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, though the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. Despite these limitations, the Charger offered sports-car performance with four doors and a usable trunk, making it versatile.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. The sound quality of the standard stereo was poor, and road noise often overwhelmed it. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, though it lacked Android Auto.

The 2022 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. The system included a dock area with large icons for major functions. An 8.4-inch version was optional on the base SXT and standard on higher trims, offering larger icons and easier use. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger's technology blended well with conventional controls, providing a balanced user experience.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The IIHS gave the Prius favorable marks, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick rating.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.