Compare the2024 BMW 5 SeriesVS 2023 Dodge Charger

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 5 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Charger doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW 5 Series 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 Charger doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 5 Series 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 Charger 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.

The 5 Series’ 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 Charger.

The 5 Series offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Charger only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The 5 Series has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Charger’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 5 Series has standard Cross Traffic Warning and Brake Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Dodge charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the Charger and the Charger’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

The 5 Series’ 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 Charger doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 5 Series and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

Warranty

The 5 Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 5 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Charger.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series gets better mileage than the Charger:

			MPG
5 Series
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/35 hwy
Charger
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 V6	18 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 5 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Charger doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 5 Series’ 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 Charger doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the BMW 5 Series uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Charger Scat Pack requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The 5 Series has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Charger. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

The 5 Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Charger SXT are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 5 Series has larger standard tires than the Charger (245/45R19 vs. 215/65R17).

The 5 Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger SXT’s standard 65 series tires. The 5 Series’ optional 275/30R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Charger Scat Pack Widebody’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Charger SXT. The 5 Series’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Charger R/T.

Suspension and Handling

The 5 Series 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 Charger doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 5 Series 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 Charger.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 5 Series is 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Charger.

Chassis

The front grille of the 5 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Charger doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 5 Series has .5 inches more front headroom and 1.1 inches more rear headroom than the Charger.

Cargo Capacity

The 5 Series has a much larger trunk than the Charger (18.4 vs. 16.5 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 5 Series offers cargo security. The Charger’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 5 Series’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Charger, the 5 Series has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 5 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Charger.

The 5 Series offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Charger doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 5 Series’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Charger’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The 5 Series’ 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 Charger’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 5 Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Charger can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 5 Series’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Charger’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 5 Series offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 5 Series also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the 5 Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The 5 Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Dodge charges extra for heated mirrors on the Charger.

The 5 Series offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 5 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Charger doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 5 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Charger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.