2023 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, despite its new eighth-generation design, retained a familiar look that might have been hard to distinguish from its predecessor for those not deeply familiar with the brand. It was longer and lower, maintaining the same wheelbase, which contributed to a stable silhouette while promising the nimbleness of earlier models. The styling adhered to the classic GTI form, featuring a smooth hood, a subtle honeycomb-patterned air intake, and a signature red accent line across the front. The car also boasted aerodynamic enhancements, such as redesigned side-view mirrors and underbody paneling, and came with red brake calipers and varying wheel sizes depending on the trim. The GTI offered a range of colors, including some vibrant options like Kings Red Metallic and Pomelo Yellow Metallic for the Autobahn trim.

Inside, the GTI was driver-focused, with plaid cloth seats standard on lower trims and leather available on higher ones. The classic golf-ball shifter knob was retained for manual models, and stainless steel pedals were standard across all trims. The interior was designed to be both functional and stylish, with a focus on enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, on the other hand, had remained largely unchanged since its 2015 update, maintaining a sleek and modern appearance despite its age. The Charger stood out with its bold design, especially in the R/T Scatpack Swinger variant, which featured a widebody kit, flared fenders, and large bronze wheels. The car's aggressive styling was complemented by a large hood scoop, black honeycomb-patterned air intakes, and a matte black decklid spoiler. The interior, however, felt dated, with a design reminiscent of 2011. While the seats and gauges looked good, the small touchscreen and plasticky controls detracted from the overall experience. The Swinger trim added unique touches like green stitching and a Swinger badge, but the interior remained basic.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, an updated version of the EA888, offered improved performance with integrated exhaust headers for better heat management. The GTI's power was delivered to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car's fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the manual, slightly better with the automatic. The GTI's handling was enhanced by a retuned suspension, electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential, and various drive modes, allowing for a smooth and engaging driving experience.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engine options, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing up to 300 horsepower. However, the real performance came from the Hemi V8 engines. The R/T models featured a 5.7-liter V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scatpack models boasted a 6.4-liter V8 with 485 horsepower. The Hellcat variants took it further with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering up to 807 horsepower in the Redeye Jailbreak model. The Charger was equipped with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, praised for its smoothness and quick shifts. Despite its size, the Charger handled well, with good grip and steering precision, although it was best to avoid aggressive cornering due to its large size.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered a balance of performance and practicality, with 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 34.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior was driver-centric, with a center stack angled towards the driver and a unique "light and sight" panel for easy control of headlights and defogging settings. Rear legroom was surprisingly good, making the GTI suitable for family use.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its large exterior, felt cramped inside. Headroom was adequate, but the footwells were tight, and the transmission tunnel reduced rear legroom. The trunk, however, was spacious at 16.5 cubic feet. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large buttons and switches for climate and audio systems, providing a familiar and distraction-free experience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a fully digital driver information display, allowing customization of gauge layouts and colors. The infotainment system included an 8.25-inch touchscreen in the S trim and a 10-inch display with navigation in higher trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. Volkswagen's Car-Net system offered additional features like remote access and WiFi capability, although some required a subscription.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest Uconnect system and advanced driver-assistance features. It had an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and voice recognition. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of performance settings, including throttle, steering, and transmission. Performance Pages provided real-time data on power and torque, and Hellcat models featured additional cooling functions for the supercharger.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI came with Volkswagen's IQ.Drive, offering advanced driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, these features were only available on automatic models. Park Distance Control was standard, with Park Assist available on the Autobahn trim. The GTI had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Charger received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests, with good ratings in many IIHS categories. Standard safety features included rear parking sensors and a backup camera. Optional features included forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control, but these were not available on Hellcat models.