Compare the2026 Dodge ChargerVS 2025 Tesla Model S

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Dodge Charger Four-Door are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Charger are reminded to check the back seat. The Model S doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Charger has standard Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Charger offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Charger has standard Uconnect 9-1-1, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Charger and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are almost 12 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

As tested in Car and Driver the Charger Daytona Scat Pack electric motors is faster than the Tesla Model S (base engine):

For better stopping power the Charger Daytona Scat Pack’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Model S:

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Charger has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better traction, the Charger has larger standard tires than the Model S (275/40R20 vs. 255/45R19). The Charger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model S (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. F:265/35R21 & R:295/30R21).

The Charger Scat Pack’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Model S’ standard 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model S.

The Charger has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model S doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Model S (121 inches vs. 116.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Model S.

The Charger has 9.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (103.1 vs. 94).

The Charger has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 5.8 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

The Charger’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The Charger offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Charger’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Charger’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Charger has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Charger is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model S, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Charger offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model S.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Charger equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model S, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Dodge Charger empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The Dodge Charger comes in coupe and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Tesla Model S isn’t available as a coupe.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Dodge Charger retains 47.49% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 34.87% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model S after five years, which can save the Dodge’s owner up to $20800.31852 in depreciation.

The Dodge Charger outsold the Tesla Model S by almost three to one during 2024.