Compare the2023 Dodge ChargerVS 2023 Infiniti Q50

The Charger 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 Q50 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Charger and the Q50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, 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 Dodge Charger is safer than the Infiniti Q50:

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 is safer than the Infiniti Q50:

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

There are almost 12 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Charger has larger alternators than the Q50:

The battery on the Charger is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Charger’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Q50’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Infiniti is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 1 place higher in reliability than Infiniti.

The Charger has more powerful engines than the Q50:

As tested in Car and Driver the Charger Scat Pack 6.4 V8 is faster than the Q50 Red Sport 400:

On the EPA test cycle the Charger 3.6 DOHC V6 RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD (19 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Charger R/T’s fuel efficiency. The Q50 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Charger 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 Q50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Charger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q50.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Charger Daytona/Widebody’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q50:

The Charger stops much shorter than the Q50:

For better traction, the Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q50 (305/35R20 vs. 245/40R19).

The Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q50 Red Sport 400’s 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger R/T has standard 20-inch wheels. The Q50’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Charger has a standard space-saver spare (not available on R/T/Scat Pack) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Charger has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q50’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Q50 (120 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q50.

The Charger Scat Pack handles at .95 G’s, while the Q50 Red Sport 400 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Charger a Large car, while the Q50 is rated a Mid-size.

The Charger has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q50 (104.7 vs. 100).

The Charger has 3 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 5 inches more rear legroom, 3.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q50.

The Charger has a much larger trunk than the Q50 (16.5 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The Charger has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Q50 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Damping on the Charger uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Charger has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Q50 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Charger’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 Q50 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Charger and the Q50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Charger is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Q50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Both the Charger and the Q50 offer available 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 Q50.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Insurance will cost less for the Charger owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Charger will cost $3960 less than the Q50 over a five-year period.

The Charger will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Charger will retain 51.11% to 58.82% of its original price after five years, while the Q50 only retains 43.31% to 44.42%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Charger is less expensive to operate than the Q50 because it costs $255 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Charger than the Q50, including $269 less for a starter, $209 less for fuel injection, $392 less for front struts, $112 less for a timing belt/chain and $798 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Charger will be $8554 to $16340 less than for the Infiniti Q50.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Dodge Charger and the Infiniti Q50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Dodge Charger outsold the Infiniti Q50 by almost six to one during the 2021 model year.