2022 Dodge Charger vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh, including streamlined LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The M Sport Package added trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and new bumpers. The interior retained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and shifter typefaces. Lower trims featured SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather. The aluminum trim added a high-end feel, but the sport steering wheel felt out of place.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, running on a platform dating back to 2005, had a modern and menacing design. Despite updates, the cabin felt dated with thick bezels and chunky buttons. The SXT trim came with a V6 engine, power-adjustable front seats, and a 7-inch touchscreen. Higher trims like the GT added a rear spoiler and sport-tuned suspension. The R/T trim introduced a V8 engine, while the R/T Scat Pack featured a larger V8 and performance enhancements. The Hellcat Widebody, with a supercharged V8, offered a well-rounded performance machine. The Redeye and Jailbreak trims pushed power output even further.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrains. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M5 boasted 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2022 Dodge Charger SXT and GT models used a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in base form, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in AWD trims. The R/T trim had a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. The R/T Scat Pack featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The Hellcat had a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 with 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Redeye and Jailbreak trims pushed power to 797 hp and 807 hp, respectively. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available on V6 models. The Hellcat and Redeye achieved 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 196 mph.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available only as a four-door sedan in the U.S., offered spacious front seats and adequate rear-seat room. The trunk had 14.0 cubic feet of space, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with heating and ventilation. Forward visibility was poor, but a surround-view camera system helped with maneuvering.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, a large sedan, had a high center console and performance bucket seats, creating an intimate front-seat experience. Both rows offered ample legroom, but headroom was limited. The rear seats were tight on headroom, especially when entering and exiting. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, but the small trunk lid and high rear bumper made loading large items challenging. Despite this, the Charger offered sports-car performance with four doors and a usable trunk.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with iDrive 7 and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L, and a WiFi hotspot. The infotainment screen's location made it easy to read, but the instrument cluster layout could be confusing. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile feel, and voice control responded to "Hey BMW." Gesture controls were available but less precise than traditional knobs.

The 2022 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its ease of use. The layout included a dock area with large icons for major functions. An 8.4-inch version was optional on the base SXT and standard on higher trims. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger's technology blended well with conventional controls, offering a user-friendly experience.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS for the 2020 model, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tests. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. The driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth in operation.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered only a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard safety features. Optional features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The backup camera displayed a grainy image, highlighting the Charger's aging safety technology.