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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  Impressed - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By DCJ - September 15 - 5:50 am

  Great car, first week I had it I took it on a 1100 mile trip; out performed the EPA sticker for gas mileage. Even in a 35 mph headwind I was able to get 24 mpg and 28 mpg after the wind died down. Love the large cabin, some friends rode with me and they couldnt believe the leg room. This car doesnt look that spacious but WOW. I expected it to have about 4" of backseat legroom like the Mustang, but very comfortable for my guests to ride in without feeling cramped in the back. I traded in a Audi A4 for this and I will never go back to a small cramped car again.

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  FuntoDrive - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By BLKCHARGER805 - September 3 - 11:56 am

  Its all good. It goes, but with 250hp you might as well made it 300hp for the 3.5L and used the 250 for the 2.4L V6. The rearview mirror is a little too far away to adjust. For $23,000 the 3.5L V6 SE could have at least gotten some aluminum wheels instead of plastic covers.

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  Great Value and Fun - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By LouC - September 2 - 9:36 am

  Took mine on 2000 mi roadtrip. Absolutely the best highway cruiser Ive owned. Quiet, supple ride, great seats for tall & heavy guy like me. Easy to get in/out. Happy in LA traffic and at 80 on the open road. (26 MPG) Light, quick steering requires your attention though. Nice tight turning circle, but challenging to back up. Not as nimble as my previous Mazda6, but very poised and sprited in the mountain roads. It just doesnt feel like a 2 ton car. Though trunk is huge, opening a bit small. Transmission is smooth, but will downshift 2-3 gears if you stomp on it. V6 is quite adequate even with 4 aboard. At a bit over $25K, this is a heck of buy. SXT with Leather/CD Changer/Sirius

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  Charger + Hemi = Great - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By GS - August 31 - 4:13 am

  This car is awesome! When a buddy of mine saw my new Charger, he said that it was the best vehicle that he has seen in a long, long time. Which meant something to me considering hes always been a high-end European sports car snob. When we took it for a spin, he was actually speechless. Well, he actually uttered one word (that cant be mentioned here) The style, the power, plus the fact that I can still get two car seats and luggage in it, simply amazing. Awesome, awesome machine.

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  Calgary Canada - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By DAVE DODDS - August 25 - 10:03 pm

  Fun car to drive. R/T seats make a lot of differance with my bad back. Nice to have power when you want. Better gas mileage than I thought I would get. I tinted back windows, makes a lot of difference with heat from sun

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  srt!!! - 2016 Dodge Charger
  By Gary Lightfoot - August 8 - 10:02 pm

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  An Excellent Buy - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Clarence - August 7 - 3:00 am

  I love riding this vehicle. I got it fully loaded and the family loves it. This is by far the best Sedan that Ive owned. The Hemi definitely gets you where you need to go...and in a hurry if need be.

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  Great Ride - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By PARGOLFER - July 19 - 2:13 am

  It has been 23 years since I have owned a muscle car like this. The 5.7 V8 is the same that I have in my 2006 Ram 2500 except the Charger has the deplacement that helps save on fuel. I am averaging 19 in the city and 23 on the highway. This car gets to 80 quickly. Interior is great and there are a lot of features to keep me busy. I choose the Charger over the 300C becuase the Charger rode better and has a cleaner look.

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  Better than I expected - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By FrankAssist - June 28 - 5:23 pm

  This is a fun car to drive. The SRT-8 is pure pleasure. My cousin (next door to me) bought the Mustang Saleen and its nice (same price) but the interior is nowhere near as nice as the Chargers. Everything on the Charger seems well thought out. You can even dim the nav system screen! The interior is better than Ive seen on any priced car. It looks good and feels good. Plenty of room in the back seats and it feels safe when driving. You cant help notice the large lump in the hood while behind the wheel and then smile knowing how the drive will be. The power is there when you need it. This is the best car I have ever owned and Ive been driving performance cars for 20 years.

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  Charger RT - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By RichCheryl - June 27 - 7:26 am

  Initial problems: Front brake discs needed to be replaced (Guess I couldnt keep my foot off the gas) and stangely, the interior ceiling fabric came down during a passing event on the highway. Windows being down at high speed may have had something to do with it. This is my wifes car and she loves it. She has told me this is the last car she will ever have.