Compare the2023 Dodge Durango SRTVS 2023 Audi SQ5

The Dodge Durango SRT has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The SQ5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Durango SRT has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango SRT and the SQ5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

The Dodge Durango SRT weighs 1090 to 1422 pounds more than the Audi SQ5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Dodge Durango SRT is safer than the Audi SQ5:

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

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Durango SRT 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the SQ5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the SQ5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango SRT’s warranty.

The Dodge Durango SRT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the SQ5’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Durango SRT has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Durango SRT optional and 220 optional). The SQ5’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango SRT has a standard 700-amp battery. The SQ5’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 96 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Durango SRT’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 126 more horsepower (475 vs. 349) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Durango SRT Hellcat’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 361 more horsepower (710 vs. 349) and 276 lbs.-ft. more torque (645 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Dodge Durango SRT is faster than the Audi SQ5:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango SRT’s fuel efficiency. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango SRT has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ5 (24.6 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Durango SRT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ5:

The Durango SRT stops shorter than the SQ5:

For better traction, the Durango SRT has larger tires than the SQ5 (295/45R20 vs. 255/45R20).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Durango SRT can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The SQ5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango SRT’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the SQ5 (119.8 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Durango SRT is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the SQ5.

The Durango SRT’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.6% to 48.4%) than the SQ5’s (54.3% to 45.7%). This gives the Durango SRT more stable handling and braking.

The Durango SRT Hellcat handles at .90 G’s, while the SQ5 Prestige pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango SRT Hellcat executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the SQ5 Prestige (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

The Durango SRT uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The SQ5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango SRT has standard seating for 7 passengers; the SQ5 can only carry 5.

The Durango SRT has .3 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the SQ5.

The Durango SRT’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ5.

The Durango SRT’s cargo area is larger than the SQ5’s in almost every dimension:

The Durango SRT’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the SQ5’s (8700 vs. 4400 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Durango SRT uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The SQ5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Durango SRT has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Durango SRT’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the SQ5.

The Durango SRT’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The SQ5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Durango SRT has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the SQ5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Durango SRT has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the SQ5.

The Durango SRT has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Durango SRT owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango SRT will cost $965 to $1710 less than the SQ5 over a five-year period.

The Durango SRT will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango SRT will retain 55.55% of its original price after five years, while the SQ5 only retains 50.53% to 50.54%.