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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  Great Car! - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By Tuckercmop - July 24 - 8:49 pm

  The Charger is a wonderful vehicle that loves to move. I have to say its the first automatic Ive driven that doesnt mind going past the red line. The only downer is that I had it back in the shop after 11 days for a malfunctioning rocker in the engine. The dealership fixed it and its been better ever since. When I first got in it, I thought the interior was too plain, but the smooth and sporty ride is what sold me.

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  B B B Bad to the Bone - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Big J - July 24 - 11:21 am

  I love this car, fun to drive, I get a lot of looks dont know if its me or the car. Ive had it for one month and this by far is the best car Ive driven.

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  Best car yet for me - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By jmiles82 - July 4 - 10:44 pm

  I have had many new vehicles in the past including 1987 Buick Grand National, 1995 Impala SS, 1996 Mercedes Benz E300D, 1998 Mercedes C280 Sport, 2005 Subaru WRX STi. The SRT8 Charger I can honestly say delivers the best driving experience to date. The highway ride is outstanding, the brakes are beyond reproach and Dodge has the balls to not govern the top speed on this rocketship. (Unlike almost every other manufacturer). The fit/finish is very good and although it is a fairly heavy car the 425HP SRT8 engine makes every trip enjoyable. I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Dont have it? Get it! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By George Zimmerman - July 2 - 3:54 pm

  Have owned many MOPAR products and loved them all, but the Charger R/T is without a shadow of a doubt the best of all bar-none. This Inferno Red beauty has the style, comfort, power and performance unrivaled by any other so-called competitive model of another brand. To those critics who say the Charger should have been a 2-door I have one thing to say: These extra 2 doors you complain about have not done a thing to hurt any functional feature or styling of this car in any way, especially not the performance and power. After 13 months and almost 15,000 miles, I have no complaints. The car delivers the rated 17/25 mpg (Providing your right foot doesnt take control) Excellent!

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  Great Fun - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By Dan - July 1 - 9:48 pm

  This car gets looks wherever you go. Its powerful and sounds and looks like its got attitude. One of the funnest cars I have ever driven. Gas mileage is OK

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  My charger - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By charlotte704 - June 30 - 12:53 am

  I was wanting a charger in 2005. I finally got one this year. I love it. Its big and mean looking. A little slow on take off, but once it gets rolling Im gone. I feel like Im king of the road when Im driving!

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  Love My Charger - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By GG - June 29 - 8:36 pm

  I love this car. I have driven a minivan for the past ten years and did not even consider buying a car until I drove the Charger at the urging of my favorite sales man who got tired of me test driving every other SUV/minivan he had in stock. I did not think a car would have enough room for me after being used to driving the minivan. But the Charger has a huge trunk for all the junk I carry with me. It looks awesome and drives like a dream. The power is unbelievable. I can actually pass other vehicles now! I know that things are not supposed to make you happy but my Charger makes me very happy every time I drive it. I dont think I will ever get tired of driving it.

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  Great Bargain - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By Michael - June 27 - 12:43 pm

  The Charger is a great looking muscle car like the Mustang, only is suitable for families. The Charger also has features the Mustang lacks at 30K such as heated seats, rear DVD, and a GPS. I purchased a Mango Daytona, and I love it. The only downside is the cheap doors, but I guess they have to do something to make money off of a 350hp car with a plethora of features.

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  Driving like a teenager - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Cheetah - June 27 - 4:03 am

  I wanted a car that says "I drive this because I want to, not because I have to." My Charger does exactly that. I shopped for 18 months looking for a car that had a WOW factor and I found it in this car. I look forward to stopping for red lights because it gives me a chance to blast off the line. The car gets to 80 really fast and I have to stop myself from pushing too far past. The bottom line is this car is a joy to drive. Oh, and I can still get the family in it when reality calls me back.

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  A great car - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By boblop - June 19 - 11:49 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven. I got the torred color with the road/track performance group and it looks awesome. The bright color and big chrome wheels really stand out. My wife said we will never lose the car in a parking lot. I get thumbs up all the time. Ive had it over a month now and my gas mileage is about 20 mpg. Much better than I expected. The ride and comfort is great.