If you’re looking for a four-door sporty vehicle, there are two that could fit the bill. One option is the Nissan Maxima, and the other is the Dodge Charger. Each one has a decent amount of benefits to make them a worthwhile purchase. 

However, the Dodge Charger comes out on top with one major reason as to why it’s the one to choose. MotorTrend compares both of these vehicles and shows you what makes the Charger stand out above the Maxima. 

What does the Nissan Maxima offer?

When you factor in fuel economy ratings, the Nissan Maxima comes out on top here, but not by much. The Dodge Charger can get approximately 19 mpg on city roads and 30 mpg on the highway for the V6 motor. The 5.7-liter V8 gets 16 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.

For the 6.2-liter motor, the Charger can get only 12 mpg city and only 21 mpg on the highway. The Maxima barely slides by with 20 mpg when traveling in the city and 30 mpg on highway roads. 

MotorTrend reported the Maxima has more driver-assist features to make for a smooth, comfortable ride. The Charger came with fewer features to play with and while it was a fun drive, the ride wasn’t as smooth as the Nissan Maxima’s. They also felt the Maxima had a much nicer interior than the Dodge.

What can you expect with the Dodge Charger?

When it comes to head and legroom, the Dodge Charger is pretty close to the Nissan Maxima. The Maxima has more room in the front seats, but the Charger has a bit more room to spare when you sit in the back. Actually, it’s significantly larger since the Maxima only has 34.2 inches for legroom and the Charger has over 40 inches.

If color choices are important to you, the Dodge Charger wins hands down here. There are a plethora of paint colors, like blue, red, and even orange tones. The Maxima has some fun colors as well, but they’ll cost you $395 extra, while the Charger doesn’t cost more for the paint choices. 

Reviewers at MotorTrend calculated the long-term value for both the Charger and the Maxima. The Dodge rated in the average range for the SXT base model, but the value for those with the V8 engines depreciated quickly. The Maxima, with insurance and ownership costs, received a poor rating for long-term value.

Why the Dodge Charger is the one to choose

While the Nissan Maxima has a lot to offer, it doesn’t quite hold a candle to the Dodge Charger in one important way. The Dodge Charger has more engine options to choose from. The Nissan Maxima only has the 3.5-liter that generates 300 hp. The Charger has a 3.6-liter V6 motor that produces 292-300 hp as the standard engine. 

But it offers a couple of V8 options if you want more power under the hood. You can choose a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that will generate 370 hp. The top motor is the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that can produce a whopping 797 hp, and you can find it in the Hellcat SRT. 

The engine choices are the main reason why the Dodge Charger is the one to buy, but there’s another reason to get it. It has a slightly bigger trunk than what you would find in the Maxima. With 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space, you gain about 2 cubic feet more than the Nissan. 

The Nissan Maxima is certainly a decent vehicle to buy, but only if you’re looking for something that has more features and a nicer interior. The Charger, however, is the one to choose for those looking for more power to play with.