Compare the2023 Dodge Charger SRT VS 2022 Mercedes AMG CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Dodge Charger SRT 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 Mercedes AMG CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Charger SRT has a standard rear 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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the AMG CLA.

Both the Charger SRT and the AMG CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 931 to 1089 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG CLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Charger SRT 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG CLA. 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 CLA 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.

The Dodge Charger SRT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the AMG CLA’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’ 2022 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 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, 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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below 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.

The Charger SRT has more powerful engines than the AMG CLA:

	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.
Charger SRT Charger King Daytona 6.2 supercharged V8	807 HP	707 lbs.-ft.
AMG CLA 35 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	302 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
AMG CLA 45 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	382 HP	354 lbs.-ft.

The Charger SRT has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG CLA (18.5 vs. 13.5 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 CLA doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Charger SRT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG CLA:

	Charger SRT	AMG CLA	AMG CLA 45
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.8 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches	13 inches

The Charger SRT stops shorter than the AMG CLA:

	Charger SRT	AMG CLA
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	109 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Charger SRT has larger tires than the AMG CLA (305/35R20 vs. 235/40R18). The Charger SRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG CLA (305/35R20 vs. 255/35R19).

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 CLA 35’s standard 40 series 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 CLA 35. The AMG CLA’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger SRT’s wheelbase is 12.6 inches longer than on the AMG CLA (120 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Charger SRT is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG CLA.

The Charger SRT’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56.7% to 43.3%) than the AMG CLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Charger SRT more stable handling and braking.

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

The Charger SRT has 15.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG CLA (104.7 vs. 89).

The Charger SRT has .1 inches more front headroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 6.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG CLA.

The Charger SRT has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLA (16.5 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

The engine in the Charger SRT is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the AMG CLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 CLA 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 CLA doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Charger SRT has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Charger SRT has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the AMG CLA. 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 CLA.

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 CLA doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Charger SRT will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Charger SRT will retain 56.69% to 57.13% of its original price after five years, while the AMG CLA only retains 43.32% to 43.79%.

The Dodge Charger outsold the Mercedes CLA by almost 11 to one during the 2021 model year.