Compare the2024 BMW M3VS 2023 Dodge Charger SRT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The M3’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 M3 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 M3 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 M3 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M3 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 M3’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 M3 offers an optional Surround View 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 M3’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 M3 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The M3 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 M3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 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 M3 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Charger SRT.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the M3 Competition is faster than the Charger SRT Redeye (automatics tested):

	M3	Charger SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	2.8 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	11 sec	11.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the M3 gets better mileage than the Charger SRT:

			MPG
M3
RWD	Manual	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/22 hwy
		CS 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/22 hwy
Charger SRT
	Auto	6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy
		Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M3’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 M3 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 M3 higher (5 out of 10) than the Dodge Charger SRT (1). This means the M3 produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Charger SRT every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The M3 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops much shorter than the Charger SRT:

	M3	Charger SRT
70 to 0 MPH	150 feet	162 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	104 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The M3’s optional 285/30R20 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.

Suspension and Handling

The M3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the Charger SRT’s (56.7% to 43.3%). This gives the M3 more stable handling and braking.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Charger SRT Redeye pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Charger SRT Hellcat (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 24.5 seconds @ .91 average G’s).

Chassis

The BMW M3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 750 pounds less than the Dodge Charger SRT.

The M3 is 11.9 inches shorter than the Charger SRT, making the M3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the BMW M3 amounts to more than styling. The M3 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Charger SRT (.3763) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the M3 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The M3 has 2 inches more front headroom and 1.2 inches more rear headroom than the Charger SRT.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’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, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 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 M3’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The M3 also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper. 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

The M3 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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The M3’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 M3’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 M3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. 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 M3’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Charger SRT’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The M3’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the M3, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Charger SRT’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the M3 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 M3 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M3 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the M3 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 M3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The M3’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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the M3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the M3 will cost $9350 to $10605 less than the Charger SRT over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW M3 will be $16072 to $16684 less than for the Dodge Charger SRT.