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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  AWD family sedan disguised as a sports car - 2016 Dodge Charger
  By Jim - March 21 - 7:41 am

  This car is everything I wanted in a daily year round driver. I live in a true 4 season climate along the Lake Michigan shore line. We get tons of lake affect snow during the cold winter months and a good amount of rain in the spring and fall. This car is heavy with lots of steel protecting me and my family. Great traction in all weather conditions with a smooth luxurious ride The AWD system works well and is fully automatic. It engages when you need it and disengages when you dont. Very little road noise and a top notch infotainment system and Beats Audio System. My only gripe is that I dont have HID headlights. (available in the AWD plus package only) I might look into an after market option.

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  Fun car to drive - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Norm - March 20 - 9:32 pm

  The first 1000 miles I just drove it up and down the highway it was so fun to drive with the performance it has. Holds the road with little effort. Brakes are outstanding. First car I have owned that people call it a sharp car. Dealer installed a cold air intake which gives it addition HP. Love the car.

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  Charger SXT! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By xtec - March 20 - 2:56 pm

  I have owned Chrysler cars most of my driving years and this Charger is one of the best cars Chrysler made. It has good power with the 3.5, and it handles great with a very smooth ride. The transmission is the smoothest I ever seen in a Chrysler car. This is todays modern muscle car.

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  Best purchase I ever made - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By jbchoc - March 17 - 4:46 pm

  This car has been everything I expected it to be and more. I had been eyeing the Charger ever since it first came out again in 2006. I love the way it looks, handles, and feels. The Hemi in the R/T version will take on any Corvette or Mustang hands down. The cabin is very roomy - almost too roomy in fact. I am 6 1" and I have to lean forward to adjust the rear view mirror. Theres enough controls on the steering wheel to control the radio, cd changer, and navigation system. I love this car to death and I plan on keeping it for a long time.

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  The Colonel Mosby - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Francesco - March 16 - 9:10 pm

  Went the distance and got a silver R/T w/Performance Group - well worth it, esp the leather seats. Mine is the only one in the hood and all are transfixed. Took it from Quebec to Georgia and back and smiled the whole time. The smooth sure performance of this machine amazes. Its 350 ponies yield so much mature, confident power I can only shake my head when some kid is foolish enough to provoke it by revving up his engine at a stoplight. This Dodge muscle car is King of the Road and all must concede the fact. I highly recommend it to anyone. But if you go for it, make sure its equipped with its legendary growling soul: the Hemi engine that makes the crazy sane and the sane crazy...

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  This is a fun v6 - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By knightrider74 - March 16 - 3:15 am

  This car is a perfect balance of fun and comfort rolled into a gas saving v6. I am impressed. Keep up the good work Dodge.

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  Fantastic Fun Super Bee - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By Steve - March 15 - 9:15 pm

  What an amazingly fun car to drive. Incredible power, handling, and looks. The SRT-8 will go like the wind, stop on a dime, and give you 9 cents change.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By xtec - March 13 - 5:31 pm

  The Charger is the best car I ever owned. It has a great ride, the car is solid, and fun to drive. This is one of the best cars Chrysler made. The transmission is smooth, and the auto stick is great if you want to shift it yourself. The 3.5 has good power for a car this size, and the fuel mileage has been better then I thought it would be.

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  Great car - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By Chris V - March 13 - 12:12 am

  This car is fantastic in all aspects, if u want the whole package you must get the R/T MAX .

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  Awful in New York Snow - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Jaybob - March 10 - 7:48 am

  I love this car in the summer. It is beautiful and gets tons of comments. But if you live in an area like Upstate New York do not waste the money unless you have a winter car. Even with the ESP and snow tires this car is awful in the snow. During he non-snow months this car is wonderful. I wish I didnt need to dump it but after one winter I have to get rid of it. We have a local police department that has this car and even they have said that they had to sit the car for the winter because it is too unreliable in the snow.