2020 Dodge Charger vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra retained its bold geometric styling from the previous year, which was a precursor to the more angular design of the 2021 model. Available in five trims—Essential, Preferred, Luxury, Ultimate, and Sport—the Elantra's price ranged from $17,099 to $27,549, excluding a $1,825 destination charge. The Ultimate trim, tested in a striking black paint, highlighted the car's angular design elements and chrome detailing, resulting in a stylish, albeit divisive, appearance. Inside, the Elantra's interior was updated with silver trim accents, giving it a more upscale look, though it still featured some hard plastics typical of a mainstream compact car.

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its roots in the muscle car era, maintained its aggressive design with menacing headlights and a prominent grille. The 2015 facelift introduced a thinner grille and more pronounced headlights, aligning with Dodge's performance identity. The Charger's interior combined retro elements with modern technology, featuring large bezels housing digital displays. The RWD platform necessitated a raised transmission tunnel, creating a cockpit-like feel. Available in trims like SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack, and SRT Hellcat, the Charger offered a range of visual and performance enhancements, from 17-inch alloy wheels to the widebody kit on the Hellcat, emphasizing its performance pedigree.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered a 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, dubbed the "Intelligent Variable Transmission," featured a chain belt and wide-ratio pulley system for improved efficiency and responsiveness. However, real-world testing showed an average fuel consumption of 8.0 L/100 km, falling short of the expected 6.8 L/100 km. The Elantra Sport trim, with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 201 horsepower, offered a more engaging drive with its independent rear suspension, contrasting with the standard torsion beam axle that detracted from ride quality.

The 2020 Dodge Charger provided a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine in the SXT and GT trims, producing up to 300 horsepower. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower. The SRT Hellcat, with its supercharged 6.2-litre V8, delivered a staggering 707 horsepower. The Charger's performance was complemented by features like Brembo brakes, adaptive suspension, and the Performance Pages system, which allowed for detailed monitoring and customization of driving dynamics. Despite its weight, the Charger handled well, especially in widebody models with Bilstein adaptive suspension.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was among the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodating four adults, with a fifth for short trips. The test car featured power driver's seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding centre console armrest. Upper trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, though rear passengers lacked air conditioning vents. The trunk offered 407 litres of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans, and included a convenient interior grab handle.

The 2020 Dodge Charger excelled in interior space, offering ample legroom even in the rear seats. The front featured well-bolstered bucket seats with generous head- and legroom. Storage solutions included door trays, cup holders, and a spacious centre console. The Charger's trunk, with 467 litres of space, surpassed many performance sedans and was above average for large family sedans. A 60/40 split-fold rear bench further enhanced storage flexibility.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base Essential trim featured a 5-inch screen, while the Preferred trim upgraded to a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Ultimate trim added a wireless charging pad, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a premium Infinity sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and a responsive voice recognition system.

The 2020 Dodge Charger featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's simplicity was its strength, with a lower dock of icons for easy navigation between functions. The digital display in the instrument panel, controlled via the steering wheel, provided access to trip information, vehicle settings, and navigation directions.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered advanced driving assistance systems on the Preferred trim, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate trim added features like adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with full LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though rear-door intrusion was noted in side-impact tests.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Additional safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Charger's crash prevention technology received a Superior rating from the IIHS.