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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Ill go! - 2007 Dodge Charger
By pms2go - April 7 - 6:33 pmPlenty of room in back seat for passengers. Enough get up and go to merge or say fuggettaboutitt to that yellow light. Handling is responsive. I wish the rear had a sporty look like the front! Havent had this much fun driving since my Trans Am. I love the electronic stability control. This I could feel when driving in "monsoon" season. I have to disagree with the previous review about not enough acceleration to beat other cars. I can put myself wherever need be. It isnt called high output for nothing!
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Return of rear wheel drive - 2007 Dodge Charger
By Cory - April 7 - 2:23 pmTraded in 2004 Dodge SRT-4 for roomier and more comfortable car. Im not pro- Dodge, it just happens to be the roomiest, least expensive RWD 4 door sedan on the market. After a high performance FWD car, I wanted something that wouldnt rip my arms off with torque steer. The R/T was what got me looking at the Charger in the first place but I ended up leasing the SXT model beacuse of overall cost. Being 66" I needed something I didnt have to curl into a ball to fit into. Only had it for a week but am very pleased with the Charger so far.
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Best Car Ever Owned - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Brown Sugar - March 31 - 12:13 amI never thought about buying new until the Charger arrived. It fits all my familys needs, yes family. It has all the thrills of nostalgic muscle of modern day refinment. I feel safe puting my newborn and 7 year old in it but yet dont feel like I bought the old boring old family four door. It has the thrills of a muscle car.
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Fun Family car - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Krukedi - March 29 - 4:24 pmWe bought because we are having a baby and needed more room. We wanted fun and practical. We got the R/T with R&T performance package. It turns heads, gives plenty of power and feels safe compared to other four door sedans in the same price range. Wish you could spin the tires better but its probably good it cant because I would go through them too quick.
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Mixed thoughts - 2007 Dodge Charger
By AceRock - March 28 - 11:24 pmWanted one for a while now and finally bought it about a month ago. Already put 2,500 miles in it! So far the back seat cushion needed to be replaced because a seam came undone, the drivers power window will need to be repaired because it is extremely noisy when being rolled up and makes noise when driving and the headliner makes a terrible rattle when driving over bumps or rough pavement. It is because of these small teething problems that I have mixed thoughts on my purchase. I love driving the car and especially love the styling but this is becoming extreme. I read in a forum that the headliner noise is "common" on cars equiped with a sunroof so keep this in mind when choosing your car!
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What a car! - 2007 Dodge Charger
By b.c. - March 28 - 8:32 pmLove this car. It was an anniversary gift given to me by my husband. I can honestly say that this car isnt just for a man, girls like to go fast too. Very spacious interior, great performance and extremely fun to drive. The interior lacks some frills but you dont need em when you have a Hemi under the hood.
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Great looking car, but poor quality - 2006 Dodge Charger
By ilcrosscountry - March 26 - 10:14 amI love the look and the power of my Dodge Charger if only I can keep it out of the dealership every month. So far its been in for transmission problems twice, carpet quality issues, leaking fluids, and several other small problems. If only DCX fixes the quality of their cars.
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High Performance with Seating for Five - 2007 Dodge Charger
By 2000rt - March 24 - 1:03 pmThis is an awesome car. It has room for five adults yet performs like a two seater. I laugh at those that those that talk about fuel economy. You do not buy a car like this and complain about fuel economy. It is what it is, a gas guzzler. If I wanted to be economical I would by an econo box!
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Really a Mercedes... - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Ranger - March 21 - 10:06 pmWow--what a car! Dont let its macho looks and American-designed interior fool you. This is really a clone of the Mercedes Benz E-series for half the price! It is as refined and polished as it gets... I narrowed down my search to the Dodge Charger and the BMW 530i/550i. The Charger is right up there with the BMW. Id say the BMW comes out ahead very slightly in the handling/steering and road feel (as always), but it is not $25-30K better than the Charger--maybe for 5k extra only would I choose the 5 series.
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What a Car! - 2006 Dodge Charger
By truckmiser - March 21 - 6:24 pmThis car has been a lot of fun. Flaws: trunk rubs on the corners, gps went out, update gps isnt as good and now the cd player doesnt work, 100+mph in the heat a whistle comes by the front windshield ( during hotter days) Tires have been a major issue, can anyone agree if the Goodyears wear on the inside walls quickly, at $300 each tire man Id like to see as much wear as possible, they lasted to 30k though. Other than that I really love the car. I hate the gps locator why in the world would it prompt you with locations 1000 miles away when you know a place of business that your looking for is within 10 miles. I highly recommend to purchase this car its been a real joy overall!
