Compare the2024 Dodge ChargerVS 2024 Tesla Model S

The Charger offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Charger’s standard Rear Cross Path Detection uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Charger offers optional Uconnect 9-1-1, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Charger and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Dodge Charger weighs 1062 to 1278 pounds more than the Tesla Model S. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are almost 13 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 117 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 33rd, below the industry average.

For better stopping power the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Model S:

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Charger has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better traction, the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model S (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. F:265/35R21 & R:295/30R21).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Model S (121 inches vs. 116.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Model S.

The Charger has 9.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (103.1 vs. 94).

The Charger has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 5.8 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

The Charger’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The Charger offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Charger’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 Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Charger’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

The Dodge Charger outsold the Tesla Model S by almost three to one during 2023.