Compare the2022 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2021 Dodge Charger

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Charger doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Charger doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Charger doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Charger.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Charger only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Charger doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The 8 Series Gran Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Charger.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the 8 Series Gran Coupe have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Charger.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series Gran Coupe first among large premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Charger was rated second in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 17th.

Engine

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has more powerful engines than the Charger:

	Horsepower	Torque
840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	335 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
M850i Gran Coupe 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Charger 3.6 DOHC V6	292 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Charger 3.6 DOHC V6	300 HP	264 lbs.-ft.
Charger R/T 5.7 V8	370 HP	395 lbs.-ft.
Charger Scat Pack 6.4 V8	485 HP	475 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the Charger:

			MPG
8 Series Gran Coupe
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
Charger
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 V6	18 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Charger doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Charger doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Charger:

	8 Series Gran Coupe	Charger
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	15.7 inches	12.6 inches

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Charger SXT are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has larger tires than the Charger (F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19 vs. 215/65R17).

The 840i Gran Coupe’s standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger SXT’s standard 65 series tires. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 840i Gran Coupe has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Charger SXT.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Charger doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M850i has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Charger doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i Gran Coupe offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Dodge doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Charger.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 8 Series Gran Coupe is 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Charger.

Chassis

The front grille of the 8 Series Gran Coupe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Charger doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has .5 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear headroom than the Charger.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Charger doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Charger’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 42% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Charger, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Charger.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Charger doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Charger’s parking brake has to released manually.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Charger’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series Gran Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Charger can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Charger’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 8 Series Gran Coupe also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the 8 Series Gran Coupe and manual rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Dodge charges extra for heated mirrors on the Charger.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Charger.

Model Availability

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Dodge Charger isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.