Compare the2022 Dodge Charger SRTVS 2021 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Charger SRT has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Charger SRT has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Both the Charger SRT and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Dodge Charger SRT weighs 691 to 769 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Dodge Charger SRT is safer than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan:

	Charger SRT	AMG C-Class Sedan
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	96	246
Neck Injury Risk	33%	60%
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	219 lbs.

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

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 Dodge Charger SRT is safer than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan:

	Charger SRT	AMG C-Class Sedan
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	164	459
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	67 G’s
Hip Force	243 lbs.	949 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	692 lbs.	769 lbs.

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

Warranty

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Charger SRT 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG C-Class Sedan 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 SRT’s warranty.

Reliability

The Dodge Charger SRT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the AMG C-Class Sedan’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The Charger SRT has more powerful engines than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

	Horsepower	Torque
Charger SRT 6.2 supercharged V8	717 HP	650 lbs.-ft.
Charger SRT Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	797 HP	707 lbs.-ft.
AMG C 43 Sedan 3.0 turbo V6	385 HP	384 lbs.-ft.
AMG C 63 Sedan 4.0 turbo V8	469 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
AMG C 63 S Sedan 4.0 turbo V8	503 HP	516 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Charger SRT (702 HP engine) is faster than the AMG C 43 Sedan 3.0 turbo V6:

	Charger SRT	AMG C-Class Sedan
Zero to 30 MPH	1.6 sec	1.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	3.4 sec	4.5 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	5.1 sec	7.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.2 sec	11.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.7 sec	5.4 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	1.7 sec	3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	2.3 sec	3.7 sec
Quarter Mile	11.4 sec	13.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	128 MPH	108 MPH
Top Speed	204 MPH	131 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Charger SRT has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG C-Class Sedan (18.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Charger SRT has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Charger SRT’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG C-Class Sedan:

	Charger SRT	AMG C-Class Sedan
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches

The Charger SRT stops much shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

	Charger SRT	AMG C-Class Sedan
80 to 0 MPH	194 feet	206 feet	Road and Track
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	160 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	118 feet	Road and Track

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Charger SRT has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (305/35R20 vs. 225/45R18). The Charger SRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG C-Class Sedan (305/35R20 vs. 245/40R18).

The Charger SRT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C 43 Sedan’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger SRT has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C 63 Sedan. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger SRT’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the AMG C-Class Sedan (120.4 inches vs. 111.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Charger SRT is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Charger SRT Hellcat handles at .94 G’s, while the AMG C 43 Sedan pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Charger SRT a Large car, while the AMG C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Charger SRT has 14.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG C-Class Sedan (104.7 vs. 90).

The Charger SRT has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 4.2 inches more front shoulder room, 4.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

The Charger SRT has a much larger trunk than the AMG C Sedan (16.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Charger SRT’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

Both the Charger SRT and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The Charger SRT also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG C-Class Sedan.

On extremely cold winter days, the Charger SRT’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.