2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA vs 2020 Dodge Challenger

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA featured a significant design overhaul compared to its predecessor, with the most noticeable change being the headlights. The massive eagle-eye clusters were replaced with more elegant, wedge-like units, aligning the CLA more closely with its larger sibling, the CLS. The roof and trunk design gave the CLA an almost boat-like appearance, reminiscent of the full-size S-Class Coupe. Inside, the CLA boasted a modern, upscale cabin with a multi-tier dash and vintage-looking climate vents, enhanced by ambient lighting that illuminated various tiers and vents. The instrument screen and new infotainment screen formed a single sweeping panel across two-thirds of the dash, creating a stunning display.

In contrast, the 2020 Dodge Challenger maintained its classic, muscular silhouette, paying homage to the first-generation car of the 1970s. The recessed headlights and grille gave it a menacing look, while the interior featured a beamy cockpit with controls and panels that enveloped the driver. The Challenger's cabin combined modern infotainment screens with vintage-looking bezels, creating a blend of old and new. Despite its retro styling, the Challenger offered a spacious cabin with plenty of legroom and decent headroom, making it more practical than its competitors.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA offered four different powertrain configurations. The CLA 250 and CLA 250 4Matic featured a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CLA 250 sent power to the front wheels, while the CLA 250 4Matic added all-wheel drive. The CLA's steering was light yet refined, and its cornering was precise without being too stiff. The EPA estimated the CLA 250 4Matic's fuel economy at 23 mpg city, 33 highway, and 27 combined, with observed fuel economy just over 25 mpg.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger offered a range of powerful engines across its nine trims. The SXT and GT trims came with a 3.6-liter V6 making 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque, with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, producing 475 hp and 410 lb-ft with a 6-speed manual, or 372 hp and 400 lb-ft with an 8-speed automatic. The R/T Scat Pack upgraded to a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft. The Hellcat featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 717 hp and 656 lb-ft, while the Hellcat Redeye cranked up to 797 hp and 707 lb-ft. The Hellcat variants came with two sets of keys, with the red key unleashing the full power of the engine. The Widebody variants featured flared fenders, wider tires, and a wider track, enhancing cornering capabilities.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA, despite being called a "coupe," was a sedan with a raked rear window and tight back seats. The rear seats were nearly unusable for adults on long drives due to the low roof. However, the front seats provided plenty of bolstering, keeping occupants planted during hard cornering. The CLA offered 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space, with the backseat folding down for larger items.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger stood out with its spacious cabin, offering plenty of legroom and decent headroom, even in the rear seats. The Challenger provided 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space, significantly more than its competitors. The traditional rear-wheel-drive setup resulted in a large center console, but helpful storage cubbies in the doors compensated for the limited space in the center console cubby. The AWD Challenger had additional drivetrain components that cut into the front passenger footwell space.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA featured the latest MBUX infotainment system, replacing the old non-touchscreen and rotary dial with a touchscreen and trackpad controller. The steering-wheel-mounted controls included two small pads for operating the digital screens. The advanced voice-control system allowed for complex commands with a simple "Hey, Mercedes." However, the CLA only had USB-C ports, which could be inconvenient for those with traditional USB cables.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring the intuitive Uconnect system. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy switching between the car's menus and mobile platform screens. The available Uconnect 8.4 provided a larger screen and Garmin-based navigation. Higher trims included an Alpine premium stereo system with a 276-watt digital amplifier. The digital display in the instrument panel featured logical menu layouts, controlled by large directional pad buttons on the steering wheel.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA came with a full host of driver-assistance features, including a lane-departure warning system, forward-collision avoidance, automatic high beams, and a driver-drowsiness monitor. The lane-keeping assist was abrupt, quickly stabbing the brakes and jerking the wheel. The CLA also came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The available surround-view camera activated automatically at low speeds for precise parking.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, supplemental side curtain airbags, traction control, brake assist, and a child-seat anchoring system. Optional safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path alert, and the ParkSense reverse sensing system. The Challenger earned four out of five stars in front driver’s side crash testing by the NHTSA, five stars for front passenger side testing, and four stars for rollover testing. It earned the best score of “Good” in many phases of IIHS crash tests but received a “Marginal” overall score.