2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from its past of drab and unattractive sedans. The K5, with its fastback form and GT-Line trim, showcased a stylish and sporty design reminiscent of the Kia Stinger. The exterior featured unique elements like a long rear window, polished black trim, and distinctive taillights. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions and details made it a visually appealing sedan. The interior of the K5 was equally impressive, with a driver-focused design, quality materials, and a sporty feel. The GT-Line trim added red seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and polished black trim, creating an upscale and sporty ambiance.

In contrast, the 2022 Dodge Charger, built on a platform dating back to 2005, had a more modern and menacing design since its 2015 facelift. While the exterior received updates, the interior felt dated with thick bezels and chunky buttons. Despite this, the Charger offered ease of use and a range of trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat variants. The Hellcat Widebody, introduced in 2020, transformed the Charger into a well-rounded performance machine with a supercharged V8 engine, wide tires, and advanced suspension. The Charger combined sports-car performance with the practicality of a four-door sedan.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance didn't quite match its aggressive GT-Line styling. The GT-Line lacked paddle shifters and had softer suspension damping, making it less sporty than competitors like the Volkswagen GLI. The standard 1.6-liter turbo-four engine produced 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, providing decent acceleration but lacking midrange power. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine delivering 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, but it was only available with front-wheel drive. Fuel economy was a strong point, with the base engine achieving an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque in the base SXT trim. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Hellcat variants took performance to another level with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, producing 717 horsepower in the Hellcat and up to 807 horsepower in the Jailbreak model. The Hellcat Widebody, with its wider tires and advanced suspension, provided incredible acceleration and handling, making it a true performance machine.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered comfortable seating for two adults in the back, despite its raked profile. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10-inch display. Trunk space was 16 cubic feet, providing ample storage. However, rear air vents were missing, which was a drawback.

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. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, but the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. Despite these limitations, the Charger combined sports-car performance with the practicality of a four-door sedan.

The 2021 Kia K5 came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to set up. The LX trim included LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and a Bose stereo system. The GT trim included paddle shifters and performance hardware, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a 7-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. Higher trims came with an 8.4-inch screen, offering larger icons and easier navigation. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger's technology blended well with conventional controls, providing a straightforward user experience.

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top scores due to its strong chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear emergency braking, and parking sensors.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The backup camera's grainy image was a drawback, but the availability of modern safety features as options helped mitigate this.