2022 Dodge Charger vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite its aging platform dating back to 2005, managed to maintain a modern and menacing exterior design, especially after its 2015 facelift. While the exterior updates gave it a contemporary look, the interior felt dated with its thick bezels and chunky controls, reminiscent of a small truck. However, the cabin's straightforward layout made it user-friendly, compensating for its lack of cutting-edge technology. The Charger offered a range of trims, from the base SXT with a V6 engine to the high-performance Hellcat and Jailbreak variants, each adding unique features and performance upgrades.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a bold new design language, particularly noticeable in its oversized grille and split lighting elements. The exterior's controversial front-end styling was balanced by a more traditional profile and rear design. Inside, the 7 Series boasted a modern, minimalistic interior with high-quality materials and a futuristic curved glass housing for the instrument panel and infotainment screen. The cabin offered luxurious features like a reclining rear seat with massage functions and a striking theater screen, although some new features, like power-operated doors, were seen as unnecessary.

The 2022 Dodge Charger offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 292 horsepower in the SXT and GT models, with slight increases in the AWD versions. The R/T trim introduced a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 horsepower, while the R/T Scat Pack boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 delivering 485 horsepower. The Charger SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 producing 717 horsepower, and the Redeye and Jailbreak variants pushed this further to 797 and 807 horsepower, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available on V6 models. The Hellcat's acceleration was impressive, reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 196 mph.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two initial powertrains: the 740i with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower, and the 760i xDrive with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 536 horsepower. The 740i accelerated to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while the 760i xDrive achieved it in 4.1 seconds. The 7 Series provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, with sportier handling than its rivals, though at the cost of a slightly stiffer ride. The V8-powered 760i xDrive impressed with its powerful acceleration and smooth gear changes, making it a strong contender in the luxury sedan segment.

The 2022 Dodge Charger, despite being a large sedan, felt intimate due to its high center console and performance bucket seats. While both rows offered ample legroom, headroom was limited, especially in the rear. The Charger provided 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, though accessing it required maneuvering due to the small trunk lid and high rear bumper. Despite these limitations, the Charger offered sports-car performance with the practicality of a four-door sedan.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, which were more of a hindrance than a convenience. Inside, the front seats were comfortable and adjustable, with standard heating and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious, accommodating tall passengers with ease, and the lounge seating option added a reclining seat with massage functions. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than some competitors, with a low liftover height for easy loading. Interior storage was adequate, with wireless charging, cupholders, and small bins for personal items.

The 2022 Dodge Charger came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface. An 8.4-inch version was available on higher trims, offering larger icons for easier use. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While not the most advanced, the Charger's technology was well-integrated with conventional controls, providing a straightforward user experience.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured iDrive 8, BMW's latest infotainment system, operable via touchscreen, central dial, or voice commands. While basic functions were easy to access, deeper menu navigation was complex. Voice controls helped mitigate this, though they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System provided excellent audio quality. The optional theater screen had usability issues, with inconsistent touchscreen responses and a missing remote control in the test vehicle. Overall, iDrive 8 felt less intuitive compared to previous versions and competitors' systems.

The 2022 Dodge Charger lagged in standard safety features, offering only a backup camera and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more, but these were not standard.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control and highway driving assistant were praised for their smooth operation, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.