Compare the2023 BMW X3 MVS 2023 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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The X3 M’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.

The BMW X3 M 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X3 M 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 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 X3 M’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X3 M’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 X3 M offers an optional Surround View 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.

The X3 M’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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X3 M and the Durango SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 BMW X3 M is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	34%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	236 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	295
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	72 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	183/114 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 BMW X3 M is safer than the Durango SRT:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	118	119
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	25 cm	26 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Femur Force R/L	.1/.1 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	.25/.23	1.53/.59
Tibia forces R/L	1.2/.9 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 BMW X3 M is safer than the Dodge Durango SRT:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	624 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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 M its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Durango SRT is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The X3 M 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 X3 M’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Durango SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 M 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 Durango SRT.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the X3 M have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Durango SRT.

Engine

The X3 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (503 vs. 475) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 470) than the Durango SRT’s standard 6.4 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 M Competition is faster than the Dodge Durango SRT V8:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	4.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	13.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	117.3 MPH	103.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 M gets better mileage than the Durango SRT:

			MPG
X3 M
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
Durango SRT
	AWD	6.4 OHV V8	13 city/19 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/17 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X3 M’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 X3 M’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 BMW X3 M higher (3 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango SRT (1). This means the X3 M 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 X3 M’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Durango SRT:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	13.8 inches

The X3 M stops shorter than the Durango SRT:

	X3 M	Durango SRT
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The X3 M Competition’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 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 M Competition has standard 21-inch wheels. The Durango SRT’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The X3 M’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the Durango SRT’s (51.6% to 48.4%). This gives the X3 M more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M Competition handles at .95 G’s, while the Durango SRT 392 pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Durango SRT 392 (24.2 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 M has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango SRT (8.1 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the X3 M to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The BMW X3 M may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1100 pounds less than the Dodge Durango SRT.

The X3 M is 1 foot, 2.8 inches shorter than the Durango SRT 392, making the X3 M easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the BMW X3 M amounts to more than styling. The X3 M has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .36 Cd. That is lower than the Durango SRT (.38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the X3 M get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the X3 M is 1.2 inches lower than the Durango SRT (18.5” vs. 19.7”). The X3 M’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Durango SRT’s (18.5” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume than the Durango SRT with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 17.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 M easier. The X3 M’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Durango SRT’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3 M’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X3 M’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 BMW service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 26% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

The X3 M offers an optional 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The X3 M’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 X3 M’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 X3 M’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Durango SRT’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X3 M has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X3 M also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 M to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X3 M offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The X3 M’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The BMW X3 outsold the Dodge Durango by 19% during 2022.