2023 Nissan Altima vs 2023 Dodge Charger

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door sedan even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima featured updated front styling with a revised grille and new wheel designs, enhancing its visual presence, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, the stylish wheels were prone to curb damage. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and stood out as the only mid-size sedan with standard all-wheel drive. The interior, while appealing, had its share of hard plastics, and the new simulated wood dashboard trim was not entirely convincing.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, largely unchanged since 2015, maintained its distinct and modern look compared to competitors like the Accord and Camry. The Charger Scat Pack with the widebody kit featured a flat-bottomed steering wheel, flared fenders, and 20-inch wheels, giving it a commanding presence. The interior, though dated, was functional with analog gauges and a small touchscreen. The Swinger model added unique touches like green stitching and decals, but the overall interior quality was not upscale. Despite its age, the Charger remained a bold choice with its vibrant exterior colours and muscle car appeal.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The standard all-wheel-drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The Altima's performance was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim, with slightly higher figures for other trims. The Altima's ride was firm, and rear visibility was poor, necessitating reliance on the reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert system. In mountainous areas, the Altima displayed good grip and flat cornering, but the steering felt lifeless, and the brakes heated up easily.

The 2023 Dodge Charger offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 producing 292 or 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, paired with an exceptional ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 was the only engine available with all-wheel drive, but its performance was lacklustre. The Charger R/T featured a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, while the Scat Pack models boasted a 6.4-litre V8 with 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The Charger SRT Hellcat models were equipped with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing up to 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque in the Redeye Jailbreak variant. The Charger excelled in handling, with good front-end grip and steering precision, but its large size made mid-corner corrections challenging. Braking was exceptional, with Brembo brakes on higher trims.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically and Zero Gravity seats providing exceptional comfort. The test vehicle featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit difficult. The floor mats were poorly designed, and rear seat comfort was good, but the seatbelt buckle anchor caused discomfort. Interior storage was reasonable, with a large tray forward of the transmission shifter and a good-sized storage bin under the centre armrest. The Altima's trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2023 Dodge Charger, despite its size, felt cramped inside. Headroom was adequate, but the footwells were tight, and the transmission tunnel reduced rear legroom. The trunk was spacious, offering 470 litres of cargo space. The Charger's controls were straightforward, with large, easy-to-find buttons for climate control, lighting, and audio. The touchscreen integrated additional features without requiring deep menu navigation, making the Charger familiar and user-friendly.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available on higher trims, offering a navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, but its performance varied. The new infotainment system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2023 Dodge Charger lacked the latest Uconnect infotainment system and advanced driver-assistance features. The 8.4-inch touchscreen was small but offered fast, logical menu structures and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Charger SRT Dashboard app allowed customization of various performance settings, including throttle, steering, and transmission. The Performance Pages feature provided real-time data on power and torque, while the Hellcat models included additional cooling functions for the supercharger.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist was available on higher trims, adding adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Dodge Charger received four out of five stars overall from the NHTSA, with varying scores in different crash tests. The IIHS based its ratings on the 2015 Chrysler 300, which shared the same chassis. The Charger lacked standard advanced safety features, with options including forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.