Compare the2025 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2025 Dodge Charger

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

The 8 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.

Both the 8 Series and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. With 95 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Dodge.

The M850i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 27 more horsepower (523 vs. 496) and 149 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 404) than the Charger Daytona R/T Coupe’s standard electric motors.

The 8 Series has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Charger doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better traction and acceleration, the 8 Series has larger rear tires than the Charger (275/30R20 vs. 245/55R18).

The 8 Series’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Charger Daytona R/T Coupe’s standard 55 series tires. The 8 Series’ optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 8 Series has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Charger Daytona R/T Coupe.

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

The 8 Series M850i 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 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i 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.

The M850i xDrive Coupe handles at .98 G’s, while the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the 8 Series’ turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Charger Coupe’s (38.1 feet vs. 40 feet). The 8 Series xDrive’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Charger Coupe’s (39 feet vs. 40 feet).

The BMW 8 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1800 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The 8 Series is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe, making the 8 Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

With its coupe body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Charger’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 8 Series’ trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Charger, the 8 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 8 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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 8 Series has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 8 Series also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The 8 Series’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Charger has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the BMW 8 Series and Dodge Charger offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The 8 Series features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Charger’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Charger.

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

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

The 8 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Charger doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.