2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Dodge Charger

A living fossil is an animal that exists today that resembles a long-extinct species. There are a number of sharks and mollusks that fit this description. And the same could be said for the 2022 Dodge Charger. It has muscular proportions, a similar layout, and an identical name to long-dead forebears, but it carries on in its own way—despite the veracity of any shared DNA.

Given how much the auto industry is changing, the Charger is an unlikely car for this decade—or even this century. But perhaps not. As much as the industry is rapidly evolving, buyer behavior might not be so quick to change. For every electric vehicle enthusiast, there are those who truly wish to stick to their guns when it comes to traditional gas vehicles. And certainly many lament the dwindling light of the big, thirsty muscle car.

Whether it be nostalgia or a more timeless form of automotive enthusiasm, the Dodge Charger clearly hit a nerve with many over the past two decades. Whether you prefer electric cars, hybrids, 4x4s, or even mass transit, it’s hard to argue the fact that the automotive world is just a better place with cars like the Dodge Charger in it.