2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2020 Dodge Charger

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its roots tracing back to 2006, maintained a modern muscle car aesthetic that evolved significantly over the years. By 2015, the Charger had undergone a major facelift, introducing a sleeker front grille and more aggressive headlights, aligning with Dodge's identity as a modern American performance brand. The interior of the Charger combined retro elements with contemporary features, offering a cockpit-like feel due to its raised transmission tunnel and large digital displays housed in vintage-style bezels. The various trim levels, from the SXT to the Hellcat, provided a range of features and performance options, with the Hellcat boasting the most powerful engine and additional luxury touches.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class subtly refined its exterior design, focusing on aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.22, making it more efficient than many competitors. The S-Class was slightly larger than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and increased dimensions, enhancing its road presence. The interior was a showcase of luxury and technology, centered around a large infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. Mercedes emphasized minimalism by reducing physical controls and enhancing ambient lighting, creating a sophisticated and spacious cabin environment. The S-Class offered high-end materials and features, such as Nappa leather and a Burmester audio system, although some design choices, like the piano-black trim, were less practical.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a diverse range of powertrains, starting with the SXT and GT trims equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 and 300 horsepower, respectively. These models featured an 8-speed automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. The R/T trim stepped up with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, delivering 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, complemented by an upgraded suspension and active exhaust system. The R/T Scat Pack took performance further with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, generating 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, and included high-performance brakes and launch assist. The pinnacle of the lineup, the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, offering exhilarating acceleration and precise handling thanks to its adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured two main powertrains: the S500 4Matic with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, producing 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, and the S580 4Matic with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 496 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both models included a nine-speed automatic transmission and the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, which provided additional power and efficiency. The S-Class achieved 0-60 mph times of 4.8 seconds for the S500 and 4.4 seconds for the S580, with electronically limited top speeds of 130 mph. The standard air suspension and optional E-Active Body Control system, along with rear-wheel steering, enhanced ride comfort and maneuverability, making the S-Class a refined yet capable performer.

The 2020 Dodge Charger stood out among performance sedans for its spacious interior, offering ample legroom for rear passengers and well-bolstered front bucket seats with generous head- and legroom. The cabin featured practical storage solutions, including door trays, cup holders, and a large center console. The Charger's trunk provided 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing many competitors and accommodating larger loads with its 60/40 split-fold rear bench.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class improved on its predecessor with increased front and rear headroom and more rear legroom, although front legroom was less than some rivals. The S-Class excelled in shoulder room, contributing to a sense of spaciousness. Cargo space increased to 12.9 cubic feet, though still less than other luxury sedans. The front seats offered exceptional comfort with 19 motors for adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The interior design minimized analog controls, freeing up storage space in the center console and providing a large rear console for passengers, especially with the Executive Line package, which added features like power-adjustable rear seats and four-zone climate control.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an 8.4-inch screen. Both sizes utilized the user-friendly Uconnect system, offering Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system's intuitive layout allowed for easy navigation between functions, with docked icons always accessible, even when using CarPlay or Android Auto. The digital display in the instrument panel provided essential information and was easily controlled via the steering wheel.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six USB ports. The MBUX infotainment system, with increased computing power, relied heavily on the touchscreen for functions like climate control and seat massagers. The system included an augmented-reality head-up display and voice control from all seats. While some features, like the ambient lighting, seemed gimmicky, the S-Class offered advanced tech like biometric profiles and rear-seat navigation input, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2020 Dodge Charger included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. The Charger's crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS, though many features were optional rather than standard.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, lacking crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including an industry-first rear-passenger airbag. Standard driver-assist features encompassed adaptive cruise control, automated lane centering, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. Mercedes improved existing features, such as traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist, and introduced a new steering wheel with capacitive sensors for enhanced driver monitoring.