Compare the2024 Mercedes CLEVS 2024 Dodge Charger

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

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CLE are reminded to check the back seat. The Charger doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The CLE has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Charger doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The CLE has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Charger doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The CLE has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Charger doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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

Both the CLE and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available four-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. With 95 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Dodge.

For better stopping power the CLE’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Charger:

The CLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger’s standard 55 series tires. The CLE’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe’s 35 series tires.

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

The CLE’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 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the CLE’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Charger Coupe’s (38.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Mercedes CLE may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1350 to 1800 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The CLE is 1 foot, 3.5 inches shorter than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe, making the CLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CLE is 6.6 inches narrower than the Charger, making the CLE easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The CLE Coupe has 1.2 inches more front headroom and 2.3 inches more front hip room than the Charger Coupe.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CLE’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Charger, the CLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the CLE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Charger doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLE offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The CLE also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The CLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes CLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Charger.

The CLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Charger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes CLE comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Dodge Charger isn’t available as a convertible.