Compare the2023 Dodge Durango SRTVS 2023 Audi SQ8

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 SQ8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Durango SRT and the SQ8 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 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 SQ8:

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 SQ8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the SQ8 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 SQ8’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 start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango SRT has a standard 700-amp battery. The SQ8’s 380-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 Hellcat’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 210 more horsepower (710 vs. 500) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (645 vs. 568) than the SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango SRT’s fuel efficiency. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango SRT has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ8 (24.6 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Durango SRT’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The SQ8 doesn’t offer launch control.

The Durango SRT stops much shorter than the SQ8:

For better traction, the Durango SRT has larger tires than the SQ8 (295/45R20 vs. 285/45R21).

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 SQ8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango SRT’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the SQ8 (119.8 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

The design of the Dodge Durango SRT amounts to more than styling. The Durango SRT has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .38 Cd. That is lower than the SQ8 (.4). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Durango SRT get better fuel mileage.

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 SQ8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Durango SRT has standard seating for 7 passengers; the SQ8 can only carry 5.

The Durango SRT has 2.8 inches more front headroom and 1.7 inches more rear headroom than the SQ8.

The Durango SRT’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ8.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Durango SRT easier. The Durango SRT’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.4 inches, while the SQ8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The Durango SRT’s cargo area is larger than the SQ8’s in almost every dimension:

The Durango SRT’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the SQ8’s (8700 vs. 7700 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 SQ8 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 SQ8 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 SQ8 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 $6095 to $6420 less than the SQ8 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 SQ8 only retains 51.44% to 52%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango SRT will be $24698 to $29678 less than for the Audi SQ8.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by almost six to one during 2022.