2020 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its roots tracing back to 2006, carried a modern muscle car silhouette that evolved significantly over the years. By 2015, the Charger had undergone a major facelift, featuring a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights, aligning perfectly with Dodge's identity as a modern American performance brand. Inside, the Charger blended retro themes with modern technology, offering a cockpit-like feel due to its raised transmission tunnel and large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays. The trim levels ranged from the base SXT to the high-performance Hellcat, each adding unique features and visual touches, such as larger wheels, dual-zone climate control, and advanced infotainment systems.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra embraced Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language, characterized by sharp creases and dramatic angles. The Z-shaped dent in the doors was a standout feature, breaking conventional design rules to give the Elantra a unique character. The Elantra came in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited. Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering upscale materials and advanced technology. The Limited and Hybrid Limited trims, in particular, boasted a modern and upscale look with light gray interiors that contrasted starkly with the otherwise black cabin.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 engine in the SXT and GT trims, producing 292 and 300 horsepower, respectively. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower. The top-tier Hellcat came with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering a staggering 707 horsepower. All engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive available on the SXT and GT. The Charger’s performance was further enhanced by features like Brembo brakes, adaptive suspension, and the Performance Pages system, which allowed drivers to monitor and customize various performance metrics.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a variety of powertrains, including a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower in the SEL trim, a 1.6-liter hybrid powertrain with 139 horsepower in the Limited Hybrid, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower in the N Line. The high-performance Elantra N featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 276 horsepower. The Elantra’s driving experience varied across trims, with the standard engine providing adequate power for city driving, while the N Line and N trims offered a more engaging and sporty drive. The Elantra Hybrid impressed with its instant torque and fuel efficiency, although it fell short of EPA estimates in mountainous driving conditions.

The 2020 Dodge Charger stood out for its spacious interior, offering ample legroom for rear passengers and well-bolstered front bucket seats. The Charger’s trunk was also notably large, with 16.5 cubic feet of space, making it practical for both performance enthusiasts and families. The interior featured helpful storage solutions, including door trays, cup holders, and a center console with quick and easy access.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, provided a roomy interior with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat offered best-in-class legroom, although the backrest shape and angle could be improved for better upper back support. The Elantra’s trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat added to its utility. However, the lack of air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers was a drawback.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an 8.4-inch screen. The Uconnect system was praised for its simplicity and ease of use, with a lower dock of icons for quick access to various functions. The system supported Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The digital display screen in the instrument panel provided easy access to trip information, vehicle settings, and navigation.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the SE, SEL, and N Line trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, offering a high-tech and visually impressive setup. The Limited Hybrid’s voice recognition system had some inconsistencies, but the overall technology package, including a Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key, was impressive.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came with standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. The Charger’s crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS, although many of these features were optional rather than standard.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform designed to absorb and disperse collision energy. Every Elantra came with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims offered cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist.