2021 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Dodge Charger

Despite its German branding, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat is an All-American midsize sedan. It was developed specifically for the United States market, and it’s built in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In 2011, when the Americanized Passat was launched, VW thought the sedan was the key to dominating the U.S. market. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default choice for most buyers at that time, after all. A lot has changed since then—SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars—but the Passat rolls on. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan.

The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously-available Passat SEL trim level is gone, leaving just the base S, SE, and R-Line models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard across the board, and some trim levels get more standard equipment as well. Our test car was a mid-level SE model.

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.