Kia K5 vs Dodge Charger

The 2024 Dodge Charger roars into showrooms in coupe and sedan configuration, not to mention with an available all-electric powertrain lurking beneath its sleek retro-themed exterior. Dodge has made a concerted effort to drag the Charger into the 21st century, without alienating a loyal fanbase that loved the previous Charger’s penchant for tire-smoking antics thanks to its rumbling Hemi V8 engines.

The bad news for some is that the Hemis are gone and never to return. Stricter emissions requirements and the need to modernize the Charger’s solid, yet undoubtedly dated, underpinnings meant a fresh automotive blueprint was required.

The good news is that the design of the Charger is classically handsome, and straight-line speed is a match for any of the outgoing Charger’s brag-worthy zero to 60 mph times.

Verdict: Simply put, many muscle car purists will decry the lack of a growling V8 engine under the hood. Trust us, they don’t know what they’re missing. The 2024 Dodge Charger pairs practicality with the boisterous excess, successfully reinventing the brand’s approach to crafting a head-turning muscle car. The biggest caveat we discovered is price, the Charger Daytona is many things, but a bargain isn’t one of them.

Kia has updated the stylish 2025 K5 with new exterior lighting, revised front and rear styling, and redesigned wheels. The only turbocharged version is now the GT sports sedan; other K5 models have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with less real-world driving punch than the previously-standard turbo four. New technology, redesigned dashboard controls, and more standard features are also on the menu, and Kia’s family car remains a good value.

Verdict: Unfortunately, the 2025 Kia K5 still doesn’t offer a hybrid powertrain like its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Sonata, does. It’s also less enjoyable to drive, thanks to this year’s engine swap. However, the new tech impresses, the K5 remains stylish and comfortable, and it costs less than some rivals.