Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2023 Dodge Charger SRT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan 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 SRT doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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

The Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Active Brake Assist, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Charger SRT doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Charger SRT only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the Charger SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras 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 Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan is safer than the Dodge Charger SRT:

	AMG E-Class Sedan	Charger SRT
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	230 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	41 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	387/578 lbs.	582/440 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29%	33%
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	155 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	257/126 lbs.	267/469 lbs.

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

	AMG E-Class Sedan	Charger SRT
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	173	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	28 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.4/1 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.43/.4	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	3/2 kN	3/4.7 kN

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

	AMG E-Class Sedan	Charger SRT
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	132	138
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	149 lbs.	212 lbs.
Hip Force	223 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	15 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 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 IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its available vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” to “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the AMG E-Class Sedan the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 174 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Charger SRT is not a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

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

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the AMG E-Class Sedan have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Charger SRT.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard 850-amp battery. The Charger SRT’s 730-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG E 63 S 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Charger SRT Redeye:

	AMG E-Class Sedan	Charger SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	11.1 sec	11.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the Charger SRT:

			MPG
AMG E-Class Sedan
	AWD	4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	16 city/24 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/29 hwy
Charger SRT
	RWD	6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy
		Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG E-Class Sedan E 53’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the AMG E-Class Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Charger SRT (21.1 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Dodge Charger SRT (1). This means the AMG E-Class Sedan produces up to 45.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Charger SRT every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Charger SRT.

The AMG E-Class Sedan offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	AMG E-Class Sedan	Charger SRT
70 to 0 MPH	155 feet	162 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The AMG E 53’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger SRT’s 35 series tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the AMG E-Class Sedan uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Charger SRT, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.3% to 44.7%) than the Charger SRT’s (56.7% to 43.3%). This gives the AMG E-Class Sedan more stable handling and braking.

The AMG E 63 S handles at 1.01 G’s, while the Charger SRT Redeye pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Dodge Charger SRT.

The AMG E 53 is 5.8 inches shorter than the Charger SRT, making the AMG E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan amounts to more than styling. The AMG E-Class Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Charger SRT (.3763) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the AMG E-Class Sedan get better fuel mileage.

Cargo Capacity

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Charger SRT, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard 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 AMG E-Class Sedan offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Charger SRT’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’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 SRT’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 AMG E-Class Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote (remote must be aimed at door sensor). On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Charger SRT can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Charger SRT’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’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 SRT’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG E-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

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 AMG E-Class Sedan’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Charger SRT’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the AMG E-Class Sedan detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the AMG E-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The AMG E-Class Sedan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger SRT.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the AMG E-Class Sedan offers an optional Active Distance Assist Distronic, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes AMG E-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The AMG E-Class Sedan offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Dodge Charger SRT isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The Charger SRT has never been chosen.