Compare the2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridVS 2026 Dodge Charger

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid 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 Dodge Charger 2-Door doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard Secondary 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.

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Dodge Charger doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Prius Plug-In Hybrid and Charger have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Prius Plug-In Hybrid offers optional Parking Support Brake (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 Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Prius Plug-In Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Charger.

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Charger running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Charger running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Charger Scat Pack requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Charger doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid stops shorter than the Charger:

For better maneuverability, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 5.6 feet tighter than the Charger Six Pack’s (34.4 feet vs. 40 feet). The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE/Nightshade’s turning circle is 6.1 feet tighter than the Charger Daytona’s (35.4 feet vs. 41.5 feet).

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1350 to 2250 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is 2 feet, 1.5 inches shorter than the Charger, making the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is 9.6 inches narrower on average than the Charger, making the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier. The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s trunk lift-over height is 29.2 inches, while the Charger’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’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’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 Prius Plug-In Hybrid the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Charger can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’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’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a 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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium’s optional Advanced Park 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Prius/Prius Prime was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” twice in the past twenty-five years. The Charger has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Plug-In Hybrid as their 2024 Car of the Year. The Charger has never been chosen.

The Toyota Prius outsold the Dodge Charger by 27% during 2024.