Compare the2023 Audi SQ7VS 2022 Dodge Durango SRT

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ7 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango SRT doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The SQ7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the SQ7 and Durango SRT have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ7 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 Durango SRT’s 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.

The SQ7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Durango SRT 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the SQ7’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The SQ7’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango SRT.

The SQ7 has a standard Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango SRT only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the SQ7 and the Durango SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi SQ7 is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ7	Durango SRT
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25%	34%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	236 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	61/46 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	295
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	118 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/29 lbs.	303/32 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi SQ7 is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ7	Durango SRT
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	557 lbs.	714 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The SQ7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Durango SRT’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The SQ7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Durango SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the SQ7 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Durango SRT.

Engine

The SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 25 more horsepower (500 vs. 475) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 470) than the Durango SRT’s 6.4 V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi SQ7 is faster than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ7	Durango SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	4.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.1 sec	12.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.6 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	12 sec	13.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	113 MPH	104 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SQ7 gets better fuel mileage than the Durango SRT (14 city/20 hwy vs. 13 city/19 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the SQ7’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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi SQ7 higher (3 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango SRT (1). This means the SQ7 produces up to 22.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Durango SRT every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the SQ7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Durango SRT:

	SQ7	Durango SRT
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15 inches

The SQ7 stops much shorter than the Durango SRT:

	SQ7	Durango SRT
70 to 0 MPH	155 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The SQ7’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango SRT’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Only 20-inch wheels are available on the Durango SRT.

Suspension and Handling

The SQ7 Prestige offers 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Durango SRT, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ7 offers an available adjustable 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 Durango SRT.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the SQ7 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango SRT.

The SQ7 Premium Plus handles at .91 G’s, while the Durango SRT 392 pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The design of the Audi SQ7 amounts to more than styling. The SQ7 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is lower than the Durango SRT (.38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the SQ7 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The SQ7 has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Durango SRT.

The front step up height for the SQ7 is 1.1 inches lower than the Durango SRT (18.6” vs. 19.7”). The SQ7’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Durango SRT’s (18.7” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the SQ7’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SQ7’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Durango SRT, the SQ7 Prestige offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The SQ7 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The SQ7’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango SRT’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The SQ7’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 Durango SRT’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Laser headlights, standard on the SQ7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Durango SRT’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ7 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the SQ7 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the SQ7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The SQ7 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango SRT.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ7 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The SQ7 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The SQ7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The Durango SRT has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.