Compare the2024 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2023 Dodge Charger SRT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 SRT doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard City Collision Mitigation, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Charger SRT doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 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.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Charger SRT 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 8 Series Gran Coupe’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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the Charger SRT 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, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The 8 Series Gran Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger SRT’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Charger SRT.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the 8 Series Gran Coupe have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Charger SRT.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series Gran Coupe first among large premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Charger SRT isn’t in the top three in its category.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the Charger SRT:

			MPG
8 Series Gran Coupe
	RWD	840i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	840i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		M850i Gran Coupe 4.4 turbo V8	17 city/24 hwy
		Alpina B8 Gran Coupe 4.4 turbo V8	17 city/24 hwy
Charger SRT
	RWD	6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy
		Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 8 Series Gran Coupe’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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Charger SRT. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe higher (3 out of 10) than the Dodge Charger SRT (1). This means the 8 Series Gran Coupe produces up to 22.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Charger SRT every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger SRT’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Alpina B8 Gran Coupe has standard 21-inch wheels. The Charger SRT’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M550i/Alpina B8 has 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 SRT doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M550i/Alpina B8 offers an available 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 SRT.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.8% to 49.2%) than the Charger SRT’s (56.7% to 43.3%). This gives the 8 Series Gran Coupe more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Dodge Charger SRT.

The front grille of the 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 SRT doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has .5 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear headroom than the Charger SRT.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Charger SRT’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 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger SRT 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 in the Charger SRT, the 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard 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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Charger SRT’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’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 Charger SRT’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 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 SRT can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 SRT’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the 8 Series Gran Coupe detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 8 Series Gran Coupe also has standard 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 standard in the 8 Series Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 8 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 8 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Dodge Charger SRT isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the 8 Series Gran Coupe owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 8 Series Gran Coupe will cost $5080 to $9700 less than the Charger SRT over a five-year period.