Compare the2023 Dodge ChargerVS 2023 Nissan Maxima

The Charger GT/SXT AWD offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Maxima doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Charger and the Maxima 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, 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 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 Nissan Maxima:

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

The Dodge Charger has a better fatality history. The Charger was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 10.9% lower per vehicle registered than the Maxima, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There are over 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Nissan 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 a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Charger AWD/GT/R/T and 220 Scat Pack). The Maxima’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Maxima’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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

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 Nissan 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, Nissan is rated below average.

The Charger R/T’s standard 5.7 V8 produces 70 more horsepower (370 vs. 300) and 134 lbs.-ft. more torque (395 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Charger Scat Pack’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 185 more horsepower (485 vs. 300) and 214 lbs.-ft. more torque (475 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Charger Scat Pack 6.4 V8 is faster than the Nissan Maxima:

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

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 Maxima doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Charger SXT’s standard brakes have 18% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Maxima (523 vs. 444 square inches), so the Charger has more braking power available. The Charger Daytona/Widebody’s brakes have 71% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Maxima (758 vs. 444 square inches), so the Charger Daytona/Widebody has more braking power available.

The Charger stops much shorter than the Maxima:

For better traction, the Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maxima (305/35R20 vs. 245/45R18).

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 Maxima SR/Platinum’s 40 series tires.

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

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

The Charger offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Maxima’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 10.7 inches longer than on the Maxima (120 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Maxima.

The Charger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Maxima’s (60.8% to 39.2%). This gives the Charger more stable handling and braking.

The Charger Scat Pack handles at .92 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Charger Scat Pack executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Maxima Platinum (25.3 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Charger Scat Pack’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (37.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

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

The Charger has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maxima (104.7 vs. 98.5).

The Charger has 2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 5.9 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maxima.

The Charger has a much larger trunk than the Maxima (16.5 vs. 14.3 cubic feet).

The Charger has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Maxima 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 Maxima doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Charger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maxima. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

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

The power windows standard on both the Charger and the Maxima 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 Maxima 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 Maxima doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Maxima only retains 43.69% to 43.8%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Charger is less expensive to operate than the Maxima because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Charger than the Maxima, including $118 less for a water pump, $175 less for a starter, $222 less for fuel injection, $79 less for front struts, $258 less for a timing belt/chain and $256 less for a power steering pump.

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

The Dodge Charger outsold the Nissan Maxima by over 11 to one during 2022.