2021 Dodge Charger vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a staple in the muscle car segment, continued to captivate buyers with its wide array of variants, including the high-performance SRT Hellcat Redeye. Despite its decade-old design, the Charger maintained a distinctive presence with its widebody options and signature Hellcat badging. The exterior offered a plethora of customization options, from wheel sizes to paint colours with evocative names like Hellraisin and Frostbite. However, the interior, while improved over the years, still lagged in terms of luxury and modern technology, with a prevalence of hard plastics and a somewhat dated gauge cluster.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, though subtly evolved in its eighth generation, presented a sleek and modern hatchback design. The GTI's exterior featured a refined aerodynamic profile with a signature red accent line and optional light bar, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the GTI offered a driver-centric layout with a focus on practicality and comfort. The interior boasted plaid cloth seats and a unique "light and sight" panel for easy control of lighting and defogging settings. The GTI's spacious rear legroom and cargo capacity made it a versatile choice for families, despite falling short of some competitors in total cargo space.

The 2021 Dodge Charger excelled in performance, offering a range of powertrains to suit different driving preferences. The base models, including the SXT and GT, were equipped with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the R/T model featured a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the Scat Pack models boasted a 6.4-litre HEMI V8 producing 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The pinnacle of the lineup, the SRT Hellcat Redeye, offered a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8 with an astounding 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. Despite its impressive power, the Hellcat Redeye was the least fuel-efficient, with a combined consumption of 15.6 L/100 km. The Charger provided a connected driving experience with configurable drive modes and a Performance Pages function for SRT models, although its automatic transmission was noted for clunky downshifts.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivered 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The engine's low-end torque and responsive power delivery made it a joy to drive on winding roads. The GTI offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG), with front-wheel drive as the sole option. The GTI's fuel efficiency was commendable, with a combined consumption of 8.3 L/100 km for the automatic and 8.5 L/100 km for the manual. The Mk8 GTI featured a retuned suspension with stiffer rear springs and a lighter front assembly, enhancing its handling capabilities. Various drive modes and an electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential contributed to its agile performance, while the top-tier Performance trim offered an advanced DCC adaptive damping system for even greater driving dynamics.

The 2021 Dodge Charger, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, balanced performance with practicality. Its spacious back seat and 60/40 split-folding rear seat provided ample cargo space, making it a viable family car. The interior, though dated in technology, featured a functional steering wheel with easy-to-reach controls. Paddle shifters were available on most models, though their placement could lead to accidental gear changes during spirited driving. The Charger's trunk space was average compared to other large cars, but its overall interior space was accommodating.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, known as the original hot hatch, offered a blend of performance and practicality. With 564 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 977 litres with the seats folded, it catered to daily needs, though it fell short of some competitors. The GTI's interior was driver-focused, with a centre stack angled towards the driver and a unique "light and sight" panel for easy control of lighting and defogging. Rear legroom was surprisingly generous, providing comfort for passengers. The GTI's compact size and manoeuvrability made it an excellent choice for urban driving and family outings.

The 2021 Dodge Charger came with basic standard features, including a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Optional upgrades included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, premium audio systems, and navigation. However, the lack of a head-up display and the dated Uconnect system detracted from its technological appeal. The system's interface was user-friendly, but some functions were buried in menus, and the latest Uconnect version was not yet available.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI boasted a fully digital driver information display, allowing customization of gauge layouts and ambient lighting profiles. The infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen in the base trim and a 10-inch display with navigation in higher trims. Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with Bluetooth connectivity, ensured seamless smartphone integration. The GTI's infotainment system was intuitive, though the touch-capacitive controls for volume and climate settings were less user-friendly. Volkswagen's Car-Net system provided remote access features, enhancing the GTI's technological offerings.

The 2021 Dodge Charger received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the 2020 model earning mostly "Good" ratings from the IIHS. Standard safety features included brake assist, electronic stability control, and rear park assist, with optional packages offering advanced driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured Volkswagen's IQ.Drive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including Travel Assist for semi-autonomous driving, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. However, IQ.Drive was only available on automatic GTIs. Standard Park Distance Control provided parking assistance, with the Performance trim offering Park Assist for automated parking. As a newly redesigned model, the GTI had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.