2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design was inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, featuring a wide, angular grille that added a dramatic flair to its appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued this angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional. The interior offered a premium feel with comfortable seats suitable for long drives, despite not all surfaces being soft-touch. The Jetta came in three trims: Comfortline, Highline, and Execline, with the base Comfortline trim surprisingly well-equipped, including features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In contrast, the 2022 Dodge Charger, built on a platform dating back to 2005, showcased a modern and menacing exterior design that had been updated in 2015. While the exterior was refreshed, the interior felt dated, with thick bezels and chunky controls. Despite this, the Charger’s cabin was user-friendly, offering ease of use over cutting-edge design. The Charger came in several trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat and Jailbreak variants with supercharged V8 engines. The Hellcat Widebody, in particular, was noted for its well-rounded performance capabilities, combining power with improved handling thanks to its wider track and Pirelli P-Zero tires.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, aided by an 8-speed automatic transmission that replaced the previous six-speed version. This transmission allowed the Jetta to deliver power efficiently across various speeds, making it suitable for both city and highway driving. The Jetta offered a smooth and sporty steering experience, with minimal body roll and a refined ride quality. Fuel efficiency was impressive, with the manual transmission achieving 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and the automatic at 7.1 L/100 km.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 in the SXT and GT models, producing up to 300 horsepower. The R/T trim introduced a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the Scat Pack 392 boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower. The Charger SRT Hellcat featured a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8, delivering 717 horsepower, with the Redeye and Jailbreak variants pushing power even further to 797 and 807 horsepower, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive available on V6 models. The Hellcat variants offered exhilarating acceleration, with the Widebody setup enhancing handling and traction.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta provided a comfortable and spacious interior, with front seats that were supportive even on long journeys. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were adequate, and the trunk offered 399 litres of space. The layout was practical, with a touchscreen positioned for easy access and a blend of real buttons and dials for controls, enhancing usability.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite being a large sedan, felt intimate due to its high centre console and performance bucket seats. Both rows offered ample legroom, but headroom was limited, particularly in the rear. The Charger’s trunk provided 467 litres of space, though accessing it required some effort due to the small trunk lid and high rear bumper. Despite these limitations, the Charger offered sports-car performance with the practicality of a four-door sedan.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Execline trim offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display that could project navigation and other information directly onto a 10.25-inch screen.

The 2022 Dodge Charger featured a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. An 8.4-inch version was available on higher trims, offering larger icons for easier use. Both screens included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger’s technology was well-integrated with conventional controls, providing a balanced user experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features like blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Jetta received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to its headlights.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Charger received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but scored a Marginal rating in the IIHS driver’s side overlap test.