Up front, the Chargers are larger than the Crown Vics. The back doesn’t count, of course.
The only times that local officers have complained about the size of the Charger is when the departments cheap out and don’t buy the optional Dodge-built cage. The third party cages sometimes take up more room, aren’t as sturdy, and don’t offer the storage on the officers’ side that the factory optional one does.
That said, there’s another reason why they like the cars.
Crown Vic Police Interceptor engine: 245hp.
Dodge Charger Police 5.7L V8: 340hp/390lb ft *and* gets better fuel mileage
Check out the web page for it - they’ve built the Charger police car specifically for the police, where the Crown Vic is just a badly adapted civvie car:
https://www.fleet.chrysler.com/fleetcda/CDAController?pageid=252
I’ll let the police choose their own car, and I know my friends in the Lynnwood force here prefer the older Crown Vic. They like the size, the storage, the big door openings, and the heavier weight (in city use, top speed is really not an issue; being able to spin another car with a tap, or take a beating in the pursuit is critical). So I don’t argue numbers, I leave the choice to the pros and around here they prefer the Crown.
Additionally, I’ve rented Chargers and while they’re fun, for a road trip with buddies the comfort of the Crown Vic is hands-down better for my tastes. Cruising 8 hours is painless and easy. And for a road trip the size of the rear seat REALLY keeps the complaints down! Not to mention an enormous trunk...
And people get out of the way of the Crown Vic; the only people who drive Crowns are either retirees who do 55 MPH, or the police. If you’re hustling down the road at 85, everyone assumes you’re the latter not the former...:)