Compare the2027 Dodge Charger VS 2026 Nissan Altima

Both the Charger and Altima have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Charger has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Altima’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Charger. But it costs extra on the Altima.

Both the Charger and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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.

The Dodge Charger weighs 1301 to 2547 pounds more than the Nissan Altima. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 230-amp alternator. The Altima’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Charger has a standard 650-amp battery (800 optional). The Altima’s 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Charger has more powerful engines than the Altima:

	Horsepower	Torque
Charger R/T 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	420 HP	468 lbs.-ft.
Charger Scat Pack 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	550 HP	531 lbs.-ft.
Charger Super Bee 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	600 HP	531 lbs.-ft.
Charger Daytona Scat Pack electric motors	670 HP	627 lbs.-ft.
Altima AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	178 lbs.-ft.
Altima 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	188 HP	180 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Charger R/T 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder is faster than the Altima AWD:

	Charger	Altima
Zero to 60 MPH	4.7 sec	7.6 sec

As tested in Motor Trend the Charger Scat Pack 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Altima (188 HP engine):

	Charger	Altima
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	114.7 MPH	90.2 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Charger running on electricity gets better mileage than the Altima:

			MPGe
Charger
	AWD	Scat Pack 305 Tires Electric Motors	93 city/79 hwy
		Scat Pack All Season 325 Tires Electric Motors	82 city/73 hwy
		Scat Pack Performance 325 Tires Electric Motors	80 city/70 hwy
Altima
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy

The Charger can travel with zero emissions for 223 to 267 miles (dependent on model). The Altima can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Charger Daytona’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Altima doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Charger Six Pack’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 Altima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Charger Six Pack has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.5 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Charger Six Pack has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Altima FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.5 vs. 16.2 gallons).

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 Altima doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Charger’s optional 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 Altima doesn’t offer launch control.

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

	Charger R/T	Charger Super Bee	Altima
Front Rotors	13.9 inches	16 inches	11.65 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	16 inches	11.02 inches
Opt Rear Rotors			11.5 inches

The Charger’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Altima are solid, not vented.

The Charger stops much shorter than the Altima:

	Charger	Altima
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Charger has larger standard tires than the Altima (245/55R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Charger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Altima (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The Charger’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Altima SR’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger R/T has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Altima SV. The Charger Scat Pack’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Altima SR.

The Charger offers an optional 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 Altima’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 9.8 inches longer than on the Altima (121 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 5.1 inches wider in the front and 5.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Altima.

The Charger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.4% to 44.6%) than the Altima’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the Charger more stable handling and braking.

The Charger Daytona Scat Pack Four-Door handles at .97 G’s, while the Altima SV AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Charger Daytona Scat Pack Four-Door executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.1 seconds quicker than the Altima SV AWD (24.6 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The Charger Six Pack offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Altima doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The Charger has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Altima (103.1 vs. 100.6).

The Charger Four-Door has 1.6 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more rear legroom, 3.3 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Altima.

The Charger Four-Door has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Altima (22.7 vs. 15.4 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Charger’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Altima’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Charger. The Altima doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Charger offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Altima doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The Charger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Altima uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

When two different drivers share the Charger, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Altima doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Charger’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Altima doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Charger’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Altima does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

The Charger’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Altima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Charger and the Altima 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 Altima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

On a hot day the Charger’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Altima can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Altima’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Charger’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Altima’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 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 Altima doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Charger’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Altima doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

When the Charger with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Altima’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Charger and the Altima offer optional heated front seats. The Charger also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Altima.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Charger keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Altima doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Charger has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Altima.

Both the Charger and the Altima offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Charger has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Altima doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Dodge Charger comes in coupe and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Nissan Altima isn’t available as a coupe.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Charger as the 2026 North American Car of the Year. The Altima was last chosen in 2002.