Compare the2019 Lexus IS SeriesVS 2019 Dodge Charger

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS Series have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Charger doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The IS Series’ optional 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.

The IS Series offers optional Intuitive Park Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Charger doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the IS Series and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Dodge Charger:

	IS Series	Charger
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/602 lbs.	582/440 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Charger:

	IS Series	Charger
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	122	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	2/2.4 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.73/.43	1.21/.58

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Dodge Charger:

	IS Series	Charger
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	99	138
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	193 G’s	212 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	164
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	44 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	48 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS Series the rating of “Top Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 85 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Charger was not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2018.

Warranty

The IS Series 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 and 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS Series 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Dodge covers the Charger. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Charger ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS Series’ corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Charger’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/60,000).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the IS Series have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Charger.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the IS Series’ reliability 54 points higher than the Charger.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in reliability. Dodge is ranked 24th.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS Series’ standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Charger:

	IS Series	Charger
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches

The IS Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Charger SXT are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS Series has larger standard tires than the Charger (225/45R17 vs. 215/65R17).

The IS Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger SXT’s standard 65 series tires. The IS Series’ optional 255/35R18 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Charger’s optional 40 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the IS Series’ turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the Charger’s (34.2 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The IS Series AWD’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Charger AWD’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus IS Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 650 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The IS Series is 1 foot, 2.1 inches shorter than the Charger SXT, making the IS Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Lexus IS Series amounts to more than styling. The IS Series has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Charger (.304 to .335) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the IS Series get better fuel mileage.

The IS Series 300 RWD offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Charger doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The IS Series has 3 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Charger.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS Series offers cargo security. The Charger’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in service department satisfaction. With a 90% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 30th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the Charger, the IS Series offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS Series’ 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The IS Series’ headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Charger’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the IS Series offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The IS Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Dodge charges extra for heated mirrors on the Charger.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS Series is less expensive to operate than the Charger because typical repairs cost much less on the IS Series than the Charger, including $636 less for a muffler, $111 less for front brake pads and $134 less for a fuel pump.

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