Compare the2026 Mercedes CLA EQVS 2026 Dodge Charger

The CLA EQ’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Charger doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes CLA EQ are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Dodge Charger 2-Door doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The CLA EQ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Charger doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The CLA EQ has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Charger doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The CLA EQ has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Charger doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the CLA EQ and Charger have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CLA EQ has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Charger’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CLA EQ and the Charger 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.

The CLA EQ comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

On the EPA test cycle the CLA EQ gets better mileage than the Charger running on electricity:

The CLA EQ can travel longer on a full charge than the Charger on electricity, only, on a full charge:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the CLA EQ’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Dodge only offers a regenerative brake system on the Charger Daytona.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLA EQ higher (10 out of 10) than the Dodge Charger (6 to 10). This means the CLA EQ produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Charger every 15,000 miles.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the CLA EQ can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Charger doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the CLA EQ’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Charger Six Pack’s (36.8 feet vs. 40 feet). The CLA EQ’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the Charger Daytona’s (36.8 feet vs. 41.5 feet).

The Mercedes CLA EQ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 1100 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The CLA EQ is 1 foot, 8.7 inches shorter than the Charger, making the CLA EQ easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CLA EQ is 6.8 inches narrower than the Charger, making the CLA EQ easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the CLA EQ easier. The CLA EQ’s trunk lift-over height is 30.1 inches, while the Charger’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CLA EQ’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Charger, the CLA EQ has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The CLA EQ’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Charger.

The CLA EQ’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Charger’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the CLA EQ the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Charger can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CLA EQ’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Charger’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLA EQ offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The CLA EQ also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The CLA EQ’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Charger has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Mercedes CLA EQ and Dodge Charger offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CLA EQ features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Charger’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The CLA EQ offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger.

The CLA EQ’s optional Drive Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Charger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The CLA EQ is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Charger doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.