Compare the2024 Audi S8VS 2023 Dodge Charger SRT

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S8 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Charger SRT doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The S8’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.

Both the S8 and Charger SRT have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S8 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Charger SRT’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi S8 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 S8 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The S8 has standard Pre Sense Front, 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 S8 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, 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 S8 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The S8 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the S8 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The S8’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The S8 has a standard Top View Camera System 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.

Both the S8 and Charger SRT offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the S8 with Rear Cross-Traffic Assist also has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Charger SRT’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S8 and the Charger SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The Audi S8 weighs 532 to 535 pounds more than the Dodge Charger SRT. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The S8 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 S8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the S8 has 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 Audi S8 is faster than the Dodge Charger SRT:

	S8	Charger SRT	Charger SRT Redeye
Zero to 60 MPH	3.2 sec	3.8 sec	3.5 sec
Quarter Mile	11.6 sec	11.9 sec	11.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S8 gets better mileage than the Charger SRT:

		MPG
S8
	4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	15 city/24 hwy
Charger SRT
	6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy
	Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the S8’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 S8’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 S8 has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Charger SRT (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The S8 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 Audi S8 higher (3 out of 10) than the Dodge Charger SRT (1). This means the S8 produces up to 22.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Charger SRT every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S8 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Charger SRT’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The S8 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Charger SRT; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the S8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Charger SRT, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The S8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The S8’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S8’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Charger SRT (123.2 inches vs. 120 inches).

The S8 handles at .95 G’s, while the Charger SRT Hellcat pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The design of the Audi S8 amounts to more than styling. The S8 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 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 S8 get better fuel mileage.

The S8 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The S8 has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Charger SRT (111 vs. 104.7).

The S8 has 1.9 inches more rear headroom and 4.2 inches more rear legroom than the Charger SRT.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the S8’s available rear seats recline. The Charger SRT’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the S8 easier. The S8’s trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the Charger SRT’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the S8 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 S8’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 Audi service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Charger SRT, the S8 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 and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The S8 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 SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The S8’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 S8’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 S8 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 S8’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 S8 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 S8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the S8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The S8 has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The S8 has standard massaging front and optional massaging rear seats. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger SRT.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the S8 offers an optional Adaptive 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 Audi S8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The S8 offers an optional 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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The S8’s optional Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the S8 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S8 will cost $6645 less than the Charger SRT over a five-year period.