Compare the2026 Dodge ChargerVS 2026 Lexus ES

Both the Charger and ES have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Charger has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The ES’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Charger. But it costs extra on the ES.

Both the Charger and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

There are almost 10 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

The Charger has more powerful engines than the ES:

The Charger Six Pack has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES (17.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Charger has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The ES doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Charger Scat Pack’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ES doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Charger’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

For better traction, the Charger has larger standard tires than the ES (275/40R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Charger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. 235/55R19).

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 ES’ standard 55 series tires. The Charger’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the ES’ optional 45 series tires.

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

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 ES doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Charger offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the ES (121 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ES.

The front grille of the Charger uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Charger has .9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear hip room and 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Charger to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The ES doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Charger as the 2026 North American Car of the Year. The ES has never been chosen.