When it comes to driving in a straight line, the two cars are quite equally balanced. However, when it comes to corners, they perform differently.
- Edmunds sets up a special "U-Drag" race between the Dodge Charger EV and the BMW i5.
- The two vehicles appear quite comparable on paper, and this equality is evident in their actual performance as well.
- The BMW emerges victorious in all three races, albeit by a slim margin.
While they might cater to entirely different markets and have distinct target audiences, these vehicles still share some similarities. BMW i5 M60 and the Dodge Charger Daytona The EV Scat Pack demonstrated remarkable similarity during a direct comparison. Given their virtually equal power-to-weight ratios, they perform almost identically in a straight line, and both have difficulty decelerating quickly when braking firmly. However, one of them has a slight edge when it comes to navigating turns.
This must be the nearest and most thrilling race ever. Edmunds The U-Drag series features two vehicles engaging in a conventional drag race that concludes with a 180-degree turn before they accelerate back to the starting point. This format offers greater insight compared to a straightforward linear contest because victory depends not only on raw power but also on skills like braking and maneuvering through corners. Thus, the challenge encompasses multiple aspects of performance beyond mere speed.
The Charger boasts 670 horsepower, making it the stronger performer between the pair. Nonetheless, the BMW with its 593 horsepower tips the scales at over 700 pounds less than the Charger. This gives it an edge regarding power-to-weight ratio. The BMW claims a zero to sixty miles-per-hour acceleration under 3.4 seconds, narrowly besting the Dodge’s official figure by a tenth of a second; however, they're anticipated to deliver virtually matching quarter-mile runs clocking in roughly around 11.5 seconds each.
In actual races between the two vehicles, several important observations emerge. Across the three attempts, the BMW consistently emerged as the victor, albeit by narrow margins. the German car appeared to easily move ahead and keep maintaining its lead before reaching the turn. Additionally, it stops somewhat more effectively compared to the nearly 6,000-pound Dodge (though halting from high speeds with over 5,230 pounds isn’t simple). Furthermore, it performs predictably better when going through the curve.
Despite the fact that during all three attempts the BMW consistently exits the turn ahead, the Dodge demonstrates superior speed when coasting and manages to close much of the gap. During the second attempt, which was nearly too close to call, the Dodge comes very near to overtaking the BMW. The outcome might have favored the Dodge if the race were extended slightly further. After each turn, both racers engaged their vehicles' corresponding turbo functions for an additional burst of energy; however, the Dodge appeared more powerful on the straights.
We recently took the Charger EV for a test drive. While we appreciated many aspects of it, the cornering and overall handling were less impressive. It has an attractive design and is quite swift in a straight line, but it still handles akin to a muscle car, which isn’t exactly praise-worthy. The BMW , on the other hand, is not only fast in a straight line, but it works some kind of magic through the corners, hiding its heft and driving like a much smaller and more agile car.
When it comes to stopping power, neither of these vehicles excels; however, when considered as complete sporting packages, the BMW takes the lead. If you were to compare the i5 with the recently introduced four-door electric Charger, the extra mass of the Charger would likely make the advantage even more pronounced for the BMW.
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