2020 Dodge Charger vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its modern muscle car silhouette, retained the menacing headlights and gaping grille that defined its identity since its 2011 iteration. The 2015 facelift introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights, aligning with Dodge's performance-driven image. Inside, the Charger's cabin blended retro themes with modern touches, featuring large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays and a raised transmission tunnel that created a cockpit-like feel. Trim levels ranged from the base SXT to the high-performance Hellcat, each offering unique features and visual enhancements.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling, including a "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille. The Maxima's steeply-angled front end and massive grille gave it a distinctive, locomotive-like appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition added a two-tone exterior, black trim, and red leather upholstery, enhancing its interior with stylish touches like white gauge faces. While the Maxima's design was bold, it was also toned down in subsequent models, maintaining a balance between sportiness and elegance.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 292 horsepower in the SXT and 300 horsepower in the GT. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with AWD available as an option. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The range-topping Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody came with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering an impressive 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Charger excelled in performance, offering a variety of driving experiences from the base V6 to the high-powered Hellcat.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While the Maxima wasn't a "four-door sports car," it provided a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine delivering a satisfying sound. The Maxima's handling was agile, but the steering lacked precision and feel, and the front end struggled with grip and torque steer. Despite these limitations, the Maxima offered a comfortable and quiet ride, making it a solid choice for highway cruising.

The 2020 Dodge Charger stood out for its spacious interior, offering ample legroom for rear-seat passengers and well-bolstered front bucket seats with plenty of head- and legroom. The Charger also featured practical storage solutions, including door trays, cup holders, and a large trunk with 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench added to its versatility, making it a practical choice for families and performance enthusiasts alike.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort at the expense of rear-seat space. While the front seats offered generous headroom and legroom, the rear seats were cramped, with limited headroom and the worst legroom among full-size sedans. The Maxima's seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the spacious front area. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the smallest in its class, but the front seats featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" design for optimal support and comfort.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an 8.4-inch screen. Both screens ran FCA's Uconnect system, known for its simplicity and ease of use. The system included Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The logical menu layout and always-present dock icons made it easy to navigate between functions, even when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Charger's digital display screen in the instrument panel provided additional functionality, including trip computer, digital speedometer, and turn-by-turn navigation.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. While the Maxima's system covered the basics, it fell short in functionality, with dated graphics and small icons that were difficult to navigate while driving. The Maxima did include analog controls for climate and audio, but the notification sounds were jarring and unpleasant. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was available, but the overall infotainment experience was less user-friendly compared to the Charger's Uconnect system.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came with standard safety features, including 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 earned a "Superior" rating for its crash prevention technology from the IIHS, but many of these features were optional rather than standard.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received top safety ratings, including an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 banner included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Maxima's comprehensive safety suite made it a strong contender in terms of safety.