2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Dodge Charger

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a continuation of the iconic hot hatch lineage that began with the 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, was a testament to subtle yet effective performance enhancements. The GTI shared its basic structure with the regular Golf but featured distinct red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and red-painted brake calipers visible through 18-inch alloy wheels. The exterior was further distinguished by LED fog lamps, gloss black side mirrors, and a small rear lip spoiler. The GTI's lowered stance and stainless-steel exhaust tips added to its sporty appeal. Inside, the GTI built on the Golf's solid foundation with red ambient lighting, a black headliner, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching. The instrument cluster was unique to the GTI, and the interior featured high-quality materials and surfaces, including heated front sport seats available in Clark plaid cloth or leather, depending on the trim level.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, built on a platform dating back to 2005, had undergone significant updates over the years, with major facelifts in 2011 and 2015. The 2015 redesign, which carried over to the 2022 model, gave the Charger a modern and menacing look. However, the interior, which had not seen as many updates, felt dated with thick bezels and chunky buttons. Despite this, the Charger offered ease of use with its straightforward layout. The 2022 Charger came in various trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat and Jailbreak models with supercharged V8 engines. The Hellcat Widebody variant, introduced in 2020, added wider tires and a more aggressive stance, enhancing the Charger's performance capabilities.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance, featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GTI's handling was a standout feature, with four-wheel independent suspension and variable-ratio steering providing crisp turn-in and great feel. The top-of-the-line Autobahn model came with DCC adaptive damping, enhancing its handling capabilities. The GTI's performance-oriented setup, however, resulted in a rough ride on ordinary roads. The GTI offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, with the latter being an $800 option. Fuel economy was respectable, with the manual transmission achieving 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, and the dual-clutch automatic slightly better at 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the base SXT trim. The GT trim's V6 was slightly more powerful, with 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim introduced a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. The R/T Scat Pack featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The Hellcat variants, including the Redeye and Jailbreak, boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, with the Hellcat producing 717 horsepower, the Redeye 797 horsepower, and the Jailbreak an astonishing 807 horsepower. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on V6 models. The Hellcat variants delivered incredible acceleration, with the Hellcat and Redeye sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in form and function, with its compact hatchback design offering practicality and versatility. With a wheelbase of 103.6 inches and overall dimensions of 168.0 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 57.8 inches tall, the GTI was easy to maneuver in tight spaces. The GTI provided 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The front seats offered ample space for taller drivers, while the rear seats were adequate for two average-sized adults or three children. The GTI's tight turning circle of 35.8 feet and sharp steering made parking and navigating congested areas a breeze. Inside, the GTI featured clever storage solutions, including large front door pockets and well-sized cupholders, though the mechanical handbrake slightly interfered with access to the cupholders.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, a large sedan, offered plenty of legroom in both rows, though headroom was limited, especially in the rear seats. The high center console and performance bucket seats created an intimate experience for front-seat occupants. The Charger's trunk provided 16.5 cubic feet of space, but the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. Despite these limitations, the Charger offered sports-car performance with the practicality of four doors and a usable trunk, making it more versatile than many high-performance cars.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a mix of modern and traditional technology. It retained an analog gauge cluster with a configurable driver information screen, despite having access to VW's fully-electronic Digital Cockpit. The GTI also used a mechanical handbrake instead of an electric one. The VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system was standard across all trims, with the S model featuring a 6.5-inch screen and the SE and Autobahn models getting an 8-inch screen with navigation. The infotainment system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink, with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio standard. SE models included a three-month trial of SiriusXM with 360L. Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional connectivity features, including Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals, with integration for Amazon Alexa. Standard smart technology included LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with adaptive front lighting and dynamic cornering lights on higher trims.

The 2022 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its ease of use and intuitive layout. Higher trims featured an 8.4-inch version of the Uconnect screen, which was easier to use due to larger icons. Both screens supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Charger was not the most advanced car on the market, its blend of conventional controls and modern technology provided a user-friendly experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS in most crash-test categories, with "Acceptable" ratings for small overlap front passenger-side and LED headlights. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dual front and side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust, tire-pressure monitoring system, rearview camera, automatic post-collision braking system, and intelligent crash-response system. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard. 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.