2019 Nissan Altima vs 2020 Dodge Charger

Shopping for a modern midsize sedan is tougher than you may think. Whether we're talking about the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, or Hyundai Sonata, it seems like each year we conclude it can’t possibly get any better. Deciding among sedans is tough because nearly every player in the segment brings its absolute A game every year.

The Nissan Altima is all-new for 2019 and delivers a ton of improvements. But considering the competition, are those improvements enough to launch it from a middling entrant to a serious contender?

The previous Altima had some things going for it, like spacious seating and a powerful V6 (if you were willing to pay extra for it). And by the final year of its fifth generation, some driver-assistance features arrived as standard, but it never stood out in any particular area.

For decades, buyers didn’t expect sedans to be anything more than reliable, economical daily commuters. But the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Check out the competition: The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Mazda6 are all near-premium cars, with the latest infotainment and safety technology, and they handle well, too. The new Altima has some of those things—let's see how it delivers on the rest.

The Dodge Charger represents an all-in-one approach to modern performance. Unlike its Challenger coupe counterpart, the Charger is a sedan, providing the usability of four full doors and five-passenger seating. It offers a wide variety of potent powertrains, as well as the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD). The Charger also provides the latest tech and infotainment features. It may be a classic nameplate, but it is a very different approach to the family sedan. This also makes it a breath of fresh air in the modern sedan market.

Thanks to its wide variety of performance models, the Charger's exact competition is hard to pin down. V6-powered versions like the SXT and GT compete with the likes of the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, and Chevrolet Impala. But the available performance on tap with R/T and Hellcat models opens it up to a world of sports cars and muscle cars. Which model you select determines its rivals.

No matter the trim selected, the Charger provides a baseline of athleticism paired with a spacious cabin, large rear seats, and a large trunk. Together, these make the Charger a fun and functional new car, with styling that helps it stand out in a crowd.