Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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.

Both the SQ8 and Durango SRT have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8’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 SQ8 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 SQ8’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 Durango SRT.

The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8 is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	34%
Neck Stress	235 lbs.	236 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	82/59 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	238	295
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	156 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	47/47 lbs.	303/32 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Audi SQ8 is safer than the Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	26 cm	26 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Femur Force R/L	0/0 kN	5.3/2.5 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	6%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.24/.23	1.53/.59
Tibia forces R/L	1.3/1 kN	1.9/1.4 kN

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 SQ8 is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	593 lbs.	714 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ8 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Durango SRT is not a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The SQ8 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 SQ8’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 SQ8 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Durango SRT.

Engine

The SQ8’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 SQ8 is faster than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	3.6 sec	4.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.5 sec	12.1 sec
Quarter Mile	12.2 sec	13.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	104 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better fuel mileage than the Durango SRT (14 city/20 hwy vs. 13 city/19 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ8’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 SQ8’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 SQ8 higher (3 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango SRT (1). This means the SQ8 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 SQ8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15 inches

The SQ8 stops shorter than the Durango SRT:

	SQ8	Durango SRT
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The SQ8’s optional 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 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Only 20-inch wheels are available on the Durango SRT. The SQ8 offers optional 22-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8 Prestige 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 SQ8 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango SRT.

The SQ8 Prestige handles at .92 G’s, while the Durango SRT pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The SQ8 is 4.2 inches shorter than the Durango SRT, making the SQ8 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The SQ8 has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Durango SRT.

Cargo Capacity

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume than the Durango SRT with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 17.2 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SQ8’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

The SQ8 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 SQ8’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 SQ8’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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The SQ8’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Durango SRT’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the SQ8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The SQ8 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 SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The SQ8 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.

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