2020 Dodge Charger vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2020 Nissan Altima came in various trims, including the base S, sporty SR, SV, SL, and Platinum. The test car was an Altima Platinum with a turbocharged engine, extra-cost paint, rear spoiler, splash guards, floor and trunk mats, grocery bag hooks, and illuminated doorsill kick plates, totaling $37,825. The Altima Platinum, with its 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, looked impressive, thanks to a recent redesign that refined its styling. However, some details, like the door handles' placement and the body-color lower diffuser panel, were less appealing. The interior was clean and contemporary, featuring an ergonomic design with a high-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, clear climate controls, and a traditional transmission shifter. The materials quality was on par with the midsize sedan segment, with matte chrome detailing and simulated wood trim adding a touch of elegance.

The 2020 Dodge Charger, with its modern muscle car silhouette, retained its menacing headlights and gaping grille from its 2011 iteration, with a significant facelift in 2015. The 2015 update introduced a thin inlet grille and more aggressive headlights. The Charger's cabin blended retro and modern elements, with large vintage-looking bezels housing digital displays. The rear-wheel-drive platform required a raised transmission tunnel, creating a cockpit-like feel. Trim levels included SXT, GT, R/T, and Hellcat, with the SXT featuring 17-inch alloy wheels, remote start, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The GT added 20-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen. The R/T and GT shared visual cues, with the GT boasting a V8 engine. The Hellcat featured the largest engine, leather upholstery, heated seats, and safety features like blind-spot monitoring.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 188 horsepower, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel drive. The test car had a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the VC-Turbo, producing 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. This engine, available only in SR and Platinum trims, came with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The EPA estimated 29 mpg in combined driving, but the test car averaged 26.2 mpg. The Altima featured a strut front, multi-link rear suspension, dual-pinion electric steering, and 4-wheel-disc brakes. The SR and Platinum trims had 19-inch wheels, with the SR getting sports suspension tuning. The Altima's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control, making it quick, sharp, and responsive.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered various powertrains, with the SXT and GT featuring a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 horsepower in the SXT and 300 horsepower in the GT. Both engines routed power to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission, with optional all-wheel drive. The R/T had a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, featuring an upgraded performance suspension and active exhaust. The R/T Scat Pack had a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, Brembo brakes, and launch assist. The Hellcat, with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, produced 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Charger excelled in acceleration, with the Hellcat offering unparalleled performance. The widebody models had Bilstein adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes, enhancing cornering and handling. The Performance Pages provided detailed performance data and customizable drive modes.

The 2020 Nissan Altima's seats, inspired by NASA, offered superior comfort, though the lack of a front passenger seat height adjuster and ventilated front seats was disappointing. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote engine starter were available, but heated rear seats were not. The Altima provided substantial in-cabin storage, though it lacked a wireless smartphone charging pad. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, with optional grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle.

The 2020 Dodge Charger provided ample space, with plenty of legroom in the rear seats. The front bucket seats were well-bolstered, and the cabin offered numerous storage solutions. The trunk, with 16.5 cubic feet of space, was larger than many performance sedans and above average for large family sedans. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench added versatility for additional storage.

The 2020 Nissan Altima featured an 8-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, a text-messaging assistant, Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included satellite radio, navigation, a 9-speaker Bose audio system, and NissanConnect Services. The connected services technology offered various plans, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and remote door lock access. The door-to-door navigation function was particularly helpful. However, the voice recognition technology required specific commands for desired results.

The 2020 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, with higher trims featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect system. It included Bluetooth, USB connectivity, satellite radio, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Uconnect system was praised for its simplicity, with a lower dock of icons for easy navigation. The digital display screen in the instrument panel provided trip computer, digital speedometer, vehicle settings, radio station, and phone call information. The available navigation system offered turn-by-turn directions.

The 2020 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on the base S trim. Higher trims added pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance. Additional safety systems included a driver monitoring system, road-sign recognition, and a surround-view camera. ProPilot Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid, was available but had mixed reviews. The Altima received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.

The 2020 Dodge Charger offered standard front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and rear parking sensors. Available safety features included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams. Other options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Charger's crash prevention technology earned a Superior rating from the IIHS.