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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  Fun fun and loving it - 2015 Dodge Charger
  By pantydropper - June 4 - 4:23 pm

  I traded my 2009 MB C300 for the Dodge SXT Rallye edition has upgraded suspension and more ponies under the hood. Im loving every aspect of this car. Honestly this model feels great driving. I was in the market for a car with more cabin space and this car definitely has it. Fuel economy on sticker looks great for this car size only driven it a week puts a smile on me every time I get in. Sure brand is not as prestiges as a Mercedes, however its super fun drive and you get a lot for your money , uconnect is one of the best in market plus XM satellite one year free. Plus the new lines on this car gets a lot attention. I dont feel like I downgraded at all.

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  WOW! - 2015 Dodge Charger
  By joner800 - May 21 - 10:44 am

  i went from a Chrysler w/360hp to the 485hp beast known as the Charger Scat Pack. all i can say is - WOW! i wanted the SRT, but dealers wanted to much for an SRT lease, IMO. the Scat Pack delivers the same performance (more or less, same engine/tranny, slightly smaller tires/brakes) for less entry fee, and it looks and sounds just as killer! for under $50k fully-loaded (w/everything except the black roof paint), i am instantly on top of the food chain you basically need an exotic car that costs twice as much to beat it! ive only got 1500 miles on it, so i cannot comment on reliability, but i love the car so much i had to write a review!

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  Worst car I have ever owned - 2014 Dodge Charger
  By zenchargerguy - May 11 - 8:42 pm

  Worst car ever, 2nd charger owned, 1st one died at 20k miles, transmission blew up, 2nd one, 2014 has horrible off gas odor that makes me sick and the car impossible to drive. Chrysler says the car is "operating as designed and that I am out of luck. Do yourself a favor and buy literally anything else but Dodge.

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  A great car - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By bbfd86 - April 9 - 7:42 am

  I bought my Charger R/T Max AWD in 2011. This car has just now had its first service issues after 3-1/2 years and 66K miles. The check engine light came on and the blind spot feature is only working intermittently. I am sure my Dodge dealership will fix these problems tomorrow. This car is really fun to drive and is very safe. With the AWD and snow tires it has no problem handling the tough Upstate NY winter conditions of snow and ice.

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  2014 dodge Charger RT 100th Anni Edition Review - 2014 Dodge Charger
  By michaelf120 - March 27 - 8:03 pm

  I have a 2014 Dodge Charger RT 100th Anniversary edition. It gets a lot of looks with the deep red color and the styling is great. The car is just straight up fast. It will put out that 400bhp anytime you need it or just want to. The interior is spacious, high in tech and the heated seats and steering wheel will spoil you. I really like the charger but there are some issues too. I have had electrical issues with my car. Some are annoying and some are very concerning. I have had the radio just turn off to the headlights turning off while driving. Once the entire car just shut down while on the freeway. Chrysler has been trying to find the issue but havent been able to locate it yet.

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  Enjoyable car to drive - 2015 Dodge Charger
  By charger8 - January 26 - 11:59 am

  Traded my Honda Accord in for the 2015 Charger SXT, Redline, Rally, 8.5 media, navigation, 20 in wheels. Liked what I saw on dealer lot but fell in love with it during the test drive. In fact, I drove it a second time to my home to see how it would fit in my garage and there was plenty of room even with a second car. The car is exciting to drive and the 300HP is more than enough for both city and highway driving. Acceleration is great, but the car would be super with a turbo. Handling is very nice, seats are comfortable, there is plenty of room, visibility is very good, and media center is outstanding.

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  Great Car to drive - 2014 Dodge Charger
  By joelyjoel03 - January 20 - 12:13 pm

  After driving the car for 9 months now, Ive been able to greatly assess the vehicle. What it lacks in acceleration it makes up in top speed. Its a very quick muscle car. My car is fairly "factory" on the mechanical side with the exception of an aftermarket K&N Air intake system. This simply added 2 or 3 horse power off the line and a more muscle sound from under the hood. The car has great handling on the high end, since being a bit more heavy than usual sedans, while the car is going slower. Its a heavy car (5100 lbs not including the gas and passengers) so you feel it greatly when trying to maneuver quickly. Lets just say I smoked a V8 Mustang with all the bells and whistles.

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  Great Car! but disappointing customer service - 2013 Dodge Charger
  By motormann2 - December 31 - 1:42 pm

  Own a 2013 Dodge Charger SE V6 with Sports Appearance Package. To noe it s been a great car,comfortable, great handling, surprising amount pf power, gets many compliment, but was disappointed to recently receive a recall involving faulty alternator which could potentially compromise my safety. Been a month now and Chrysler still has no alternator replacements, and doesnt know when they will! Meanwhile Im paying for a car i m afraid to drive! Very poor service on Chryslers part! Because of this I dont think I would buy another! Beware recall involves 2012,2013,2014 Charger, Challenger, 300, Durango , Cherokee/V6

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  Performance with gas mileage you can live with - 2014 Dodge Charger
  By 0to60in15mins - October 28 - 1:39 pm

  I have driven my Black on Black Charger for 7000 miles. Great performance. The gas mileage I am getting on my mixed commute is about 21 MPG. On the trips it can range from 26-28 depending on the speed, wind and terrain. The car is a rocket. Depending on what state I am in, folks get out of the way. Car wants to run at 80 MPH. With a top speed of 140 MPH, I wish I was back assigned back in Germany so I could drive this car as designed. Car is very comfortable at highway speeds. Car is a bit too stiff at low speeds on rough roads but that to be expected.

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  Steering wheel lock while driving! and car wont accelerate randomly on the highway - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By relentleshemi - October 5 - 6:06 pm

  I absolutely love this car, But when it comes to reliability it sucks. I bought this car 3 months ago @ darcars silver spring in maryland and had 3 incidents with my car all with the same issue and still not fixed. Dealer mechanics cant seem to get it right almost causing me three accidents two on the highway and one in the city while making a turn in the middle of the road!