Overview & Reviews
Popularized by NASCAR dominance and later a hokey TV show, the Dodge Charger is one of America's most revered performance nameplates. Originally an icon of the muscle car era, the Charger was reborn as an affordable performance sedan -- and it's one of the better ones available in this market niche.
The current Dodge Charger may not be the two-door muscle car you remember from the '60s (to the chagrin of traditionalists, it's a four-door sedan), but it does a fine job of being a modern interpretation. As a bonus, the latest Charger has a usable interior and plenty of standard equipment. Think of it as a muscle car the whole family can enjoy.
Current Dodge Charger
The current Dodge Charger is based on the same platform used for the Chrysler 300. As such, the Charger has four doors and is a fairly large sedan. Its front-end styling is much more aggressive than the 300C's, and the rear roof line slopes downward in a coupelike fashion.
The current Charger is available in five trim levels: SE, SXT, R/T, SRT8 and SRT8 Superbee. The SE and SRT8 trims are only offered with rear-wheel drive, while the SXT and R/T can be rear-drive or all-wheel drive.
The SE and SXT come with a 3.5-liter 292-horsepower V6 engine that achieves good fuel economy given its output. Adding the Rallye Appearance Group or Blacktop package raises horsepower to 300. A five-speed automatic is standard on the SE; an eight-speed automatic is optional for the SE and standard for all SXTs.
Stepping up to the R/T gets you a 370-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine along with a sport-tuned suspension and a variety of luxury, convenience and technology items that are mostly available as options on the V6 trims. The R/T's Super Track Pak gets you additional handling and braking upgrades, including a three-mode adjustable stability control system.
The SRT8 ups the performance ante further by essentially pairing the Super Track Pak items with a 470-hp 6.4-liter V8. It gets an abundance of luxury features standard, but should you be OK with less stuff, the decontented SRT8 Superbee should do the trick. We hope you like yellow or black paint, though, as they are mandatory, along with some not-so-subtle Superbee graphics.
The current Charger scores points not only for the plentiful power output of its big V8 engines, but the ample grunt and decent fuel economy of the entry-level V6 as well. The spacious cabin, improvements in ride quality and interior design also contribute to the overall appeal. There are a couple downsides, notably a lack of rear headroom and lifeless steering, but overall the Dodge Charger is one of the most fun-to-drive large sedans on the market.
Used Dodge Charger Models
The current Dodge Charger was heavily overhauled for 2011. Although it maintained the platform of its predecessor, it is largely a redesigned model. Besides styling changes, interior quality, driving involvement and overall refinement were dramatically improved. Its new V6 engine was also a huge step up from the old six-cylinders. In the current Charger's first year, only the SE and R/T trim levels were available.
Although it's closely related to the current model, the Dodge Charger from 2006-'10 differed in many ways. At its debut, only SE, R/T and SRT8 trims were available. The SE had a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6, while the R/T had a 340-hp version of the current car's 5.7-liter V8. The SRT8 came with a 6.1-liter V8 good for 425 hp. All came with a five-speed automatic transmission. For 2007, a 190-hp 2.7-liter V6 engine became standard on the SE, while the 3.5 became optional.
From 2006-'10 Dodge offered a couple performance packages for the Challenger R/T -- the Daytona and Road/Track packages included sport-tuned suspension and steering. There was a SXT trim level from 2008-'10; it came standard with the 3.5-liter V6. Other notable changes for this period included an improved interior and new features in 2008 and an increase to 368 hp for the R/T for '09.
Overall, we were impressed by this revived Charger's spacious cabin, comfy ride, affordable price and available all-wheel drive. Of course, the big V8 was a nice bonus as well. However, the V6 engines were always disappointing, especially the 190-hp 2.7-liter, which was both underpowered and inefficient. As such, we would avoid it. The cabin also had a low-buck feel (even after the interior was improved for '08), with subpar materials and forgettable design. Rear seat entry was also hampered by the sloping roof line. But overall, this Charger will be a solid choice for a large sedan.
From a historical standpoint, the Dodge Charger originally debuted as a1966 model. This Coronet-based coupe had a unique look, with a sweeping fastback and concealed headlights. But it's the second generation of the Charger that was most popular. This was the one that served as the basis for the winged and race-wining Charger Daytona of 1969 and, later, the bright orange "General Lee" from the 1980s television show The Dukes of Hazzard.
Less popular were three successive generations of Chargers. Third- and fourth-generation models from the 1970s were emasculated by new emissions regulations. A fifth generation, made available from 1982-'87, was a variation of the front-drive Dodge Omni 024 economy hatchback. Near the end of its production, there were sporty, turbocharged versions modified by Carroll Shelby that culminated in the Shelby Charger GLH-S.
User Reviews:
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Its bad! - 2006 Dodge Charger
By biscuitg09 - September 18 - 10:35 amI cant explain how awesome this car is i love it so much its so fast so comfortable and i have no complaints. Im used to driving my 1995 dodge Dakota, but now wit this 5.7 lr hemi powered beast man its no match i drive it everywhere and the whole time im on the road, the eyes are on my, i put a srt-8 spoiler on it and it is a dark red with silver pinstripe. white leather interior, sunroof smoothest ride i have ever been in and a custom chrome grill. i could go on but im am leaving it at that, but i cant say one bad thing about this car.
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Still in Love after 18 months. - 2007 Dodge Charger
By Steve - September 3 - 4:01 pmI have been driving my SRT8 Charger everyday for over a year now and I am still in love with this car. I am retired and do not have to drive, but if I look at my car I want to take it for a ride. The gas prices stopped that desire for a while so I learned how to drive the speed limit. The car is still jumpy as ever and if not for the brake dust, and the fact that the Goodyear RSAs lasted a good year/18 months, I would have no complaints.
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Will not buy another - 2007 Dodge Charger
By Jose - August 31 - 3:14 pmFun car to drive but is expensive to maintain after 40,000 miles. Fans go out and transmission has problems. Things that you should not have problems with at this mileage are failing. I had a 95 Chevy Impala SS that did not cost as much to maintain and I kept it until 125,000 miles. If looking to buy just remember it is a "DODGE".
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Almost as fun as my 69 Roadrunner. - 2006 Dodge Charger
By RoadRunner - August 30 - 5:03 amNice sound!! Great power! Tough keeping foot off the floor. The best color for me is the Inferno Red. (With this car it maybe it should be called "Arrest ME red". Almost as fun as my 69 Roadrunner. Maybe Ill get a Daytona too.
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Sweet - 2006 Dodge Charger
By undertaker - August 27 - 3:23 pmA good driving car. For the most part the car does a good job of hiding its ponderous weight. I would recommend getting the R&T Performance group and definitely Sirius satellite radio. Exhaust note sounds better the more you drive the car, but if youre used to TownCar like quietness, youre going to be upset. In general Im a pretty low key guy, and Ive had trouble dealing with the volume of comments, looks, etc. that have come with driving this car. The Road and Track performance group will give you the best seats that youve ever had in a car (unless youve had the Recaros in the Evo).
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My baby - 2006 Dodge Charger
By cynthia boiler - August 25 - 6:16 amThis car has a smooth ride, and is very responsive to quick turns. Passing is effortless, having the power when you need it. The gas mileage great when driving sensible. I took trip from FL to IN and back, and had a great ride, very comfortable . It definitely turns heads. People stop me when getting in or out of it and want to look inside. I have had more people intrested in this vehicle than any other I have owned.
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German Design wins out - 2008 Dodge Charger
By 007 - August 24 - 4:49 pmWhen I first drove it I had already decided not to like it due to my experience with my last Dodge Police car (1982).But the exterior design is so outstanding. When I drove it it felt like my Mercedes, but has the speed of an American muscle car. Its tight, solid fast, and built. It had a mileage problem, but that was taken care of with an air induction system. 3 mpg pickup and 20 extra hp, plus it sounds good! And the transmission is outstanding. Made in Germany! I have had 6 back and neck surgeries, and these are the only adjustable seats I found that make driving a pleasure. Mines solid black and I tinted the Windows legally black. Wow. Ive got an American muscle car in a Mercedes body!
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Feels Like a $50,000 car - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Jim Nash - August 24 - 4:36 amA friend who knows fine cars said that the Hemi-RT feels like a $50,000 car even though my Charger is the $30,000 Charger RT with the fancy red paint as its only option. Every morning turning the key to bring the Hemi V8 to life makes me smile and the power drivers seat and with the lether as well as the multi adjustable wheel and Boston Acustic 6 speaker sound system make this car a very good value at its price point. The Charger feels solid as a bank vault and the attention that this car gets at the store or buying gas makes me feel sort of like a rock star. The 340 HP Hemi will get an honest 24 MPG on the highway if you let it. Bottom line I cant wait for my next drive!
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Best Vehicle Ive owned ! - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Ray - August 21 - 7:43 pmPlenty of power and gas mileage is where I expected it to be. Ride, I feel is rather stiff. Style and the looks I get are great! I love that autostick shift, WOW what a down shift that is. It will set you back in the seat! LOVE IT!!
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50k miles of awesome - 2007 Dodge Charger
By 50 k miles SE - August 21 - 8:09 am1 year ago when I first bought my 2007 Charger SE, used with 18k miles on it, I was driving 100 miles a day. Now its been 50k miles. I have loved driving it for every minute. My one complaint: I think Ive started to hear a tiny squeak in the passenger compartment. Its the bare-bones model with the 2.7 L engine, so I get fantastic gas mileage. The only repairs have been the front wheels and suspension after a blow-out.
