Compare the2026 Dodge ChargerVS 2026 Mercedes CLA EQ

Both the Charger and CLA EQ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Charger has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CLA EQ’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Charger are reminded to check the back seat. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Dodge Charger has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Charger. But it costs extra on the CLA EQ.

Both the Charger and the CLA EQ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Charger 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA EQ. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA EQ ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

The Charger has more powerful engines than the CLA EQ:

For more complete vehicle control the Charger offers an optional manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Charger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a 2-speed automatic is available for the CLA EQ.

The Charger Scat Pack’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Charger has larger standard tires than the CLA EQ (275/40R20 vs. 205/55R17). The Charger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA EQ (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. F:225/45R18 & R:255/40R18).

The Charger Scat Pack’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLA 250+ EQ’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear tires. The Charger’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the CLA EQ’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CLA 250+ EQ. The CLA EQ’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Charger has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Charger offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The CLA EQ’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 11.2 inches longer than on the CLA EQ (121 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 4.9 inches wider in the front and 6.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CLA EQ.

The front grille of the Charger uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Charger has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA EQ.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Charger. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Charger’s standard Keyless Enter-N-Go allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless-Start standard on the CLA EQ only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Charger to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Both the Charger and the CLA EQ have standard heated front seats. The Charger also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLA EQ.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Charger keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CLA EQ doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Charger has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CLA EQ.

The Charger has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the CLA EQ.

The Dodge Charger has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Mercedes charges extra for Homelink® on the CLA EQ.

The Dodge Charger comes in coupe and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Mercedes CLA EQ isn’t available as a coupe.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Charger as the 2026 North American Car of the Year. The CLA EQ has never been chosen.

The Dodge Charger outsold the Mercedes CLA by 24% during 2025.