2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Dodge Charger

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Initially criticized for its lack of originality and quality, Hyundai gradually improved the Sonata by learning from its competitors. By the seventh generation, redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Sonata boasted a distinctive wide grille, rounded front fascia, and sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five, clear gauges, and average material quality. The Limited trim featured comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. For those seeking a sportier look, the Sonata N Line added aggressive styling elements and unique interior touches, transforming the car's appearance from mild to wild.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, built on a platform dating back to 2005, had undergone significant updates over the years. The 2015 redesign gave the Charger a modern and menacing look, while the interior, though dated, remained user-friendly with thick bezels and chunky buttons. The Charger offered a range of trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat variants with supercharged V8 engines. The Hellcat Widebody, introduced in 2020, enhanced the Charger's performance with wider tires and a more aggressive stance. Despite its age, the Charger continued to impress with its blend of muscle-car performance and practicality.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, standard on the SE and SEL trims. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata N Line, with its 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension, provided a thrilling driving experience. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the car offered a smooth ride, competent handling, and a quiet cabin.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a wide range of engine options, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the base SXT trim. The SXT AWD and GT trims had a slightly more powerful version of the V6, making 300 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, while the R/T Scat Pack had 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, and rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on V6 models. The Hellcat variants offered incredible acceleration, with the Hellcat and Redeye reaching 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Limited trim featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing the car to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite being a large sedan, had a high center console and performance bucket seats that created an intimate front-seat experience. Both rows offered plenty of legroom, but headroom was limited, especially in the rear seats. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, but the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. However, the Charger offered sports-car performance with four doors and a usable trunk, making it versatile.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. The base SE trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and a rearview camera. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim also included the Tech package as standard, with features like Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. The base SXT trim had the option to upgrade to an 8.4-inch touchscreen, which was standard on higher trims. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Charger was not the most advanced car in terms of technology, its blend of conventional controls and infotainment features provided a straightforward and effective user experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview monitor, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. Higher trims added features like blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering assistance, and a surround-view monitor. The Sonata received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests from the IIHS for the 2021 model.

The 2022 Dodge Charger showed its age in terms of safety features. Standard equipment included 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.