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:
Showing 651 through 660 of 743.00-
Greatest Graduation Present! - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Meredith - December 13 - 10:33 pmI got my Charger R/T as a graduation present and I couldnt be happier! I love driving it -- its comfortable to ride in, full of power and is just a dream come true.
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06 Charger R/T - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Tim - December 2 - 6:10 pmI love the fact I get 25-26 mpg with combined highway and city driving. The Hemi engine has alot of pep for a 4,000 lb vehicle, but am addicted to power so more would be better. Aftermarket upgrades for the engine are plentiful so hp upgrades are relatively easy. Smooth ride, with lots of features and the sound system is flat out great for a stock system.
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2006 Charger R/T - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Gene Herbert - November 21 - 3:03 amI have owned this car for a year and a half. It goes like the muscle cars of the 60s.The gas mileage isnt great, but , what do you expect? The car has great handling and a perfect ride, not too soft. This is a great car.
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This car is plain awesome! - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Buddy Rogers - November 19 - 10:50 amI bought the Charger Daytona R/T. I cant say enough about this car. Absolutely beautiful and amazing to drive!
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Not for everyone...but almost perfect for me! - 2016 Dodge Charger
By Michael R. - November 16 - 2:37 amAwesome performance. Enough room for my family of four. Gas mileage is actually pretty dang good if you keep your foot off the floor: I have averaged almost 19MPG in the first 550+ miles of owning the car, all stop-and-go driving through town. The entertainment features are really superb, along with the general functionality of the UConnect system. I am amazed at what can be had in cars today. The interior, to me, still seems somewhat cheap in certain areas (inside door skins, for instance) for a car costing north of $40K. Do I wish I would have opted for the Scat Pack instead of just the Road & Track package? Yes and no. Sure, more power and performance could have been cool, but the performance from the 5.7L HEMI is pretty awesome for my "family car." I dont know that I would opt again for the Alcantara Seats...if I had it to do again, I would opt for the full leather.
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I love this car - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Debbie - November 10 - 7:20 pmI love driving my Charger the ride is smoothe, it has quick pep, and very roomy inside. The one thing that bothers me is the fuel economy, it was rated at 17 mpg city but I get 13. Otherwise this car is the perfect car for a mom that likes muscle! Im having a blast!
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Lots of Hype, Little Substance - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Used to Be Fast - November 5 - 2:10 pmI got my 06 Charger Daytona with high hopes, and am very disappointed. The car is a joy to drive with its quiet interior, and delicious ride. The nav system and bluetooth give the interior a modern feel. The exhaust note is great when you hit the gas, but quiet when you cruise. Thats it for the good news. The car is sluggish at low speeds, due to its 4,000 lb. weight and 2.82:1 gear. The MDS system doesnt work well past 60 mph. Mileage is a dismal 17 hwy, 10 city, & the rated 350 HP from the bogus hemi (its a "semi- hemi", not a real hemi) is a joke. Not recommended.
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Love hate - 2006 Dodge Charger
By Stiffy - November 3 - 7:50 pm18 hours after I bought it it was in the shop with a defective oil pump. If it werent for the immediate response of the dealership Id have been really pissed. Now, I have electrical problems and different warning lights keep coming on and off. If it werent for that Id absolutely love the car. It has a great ride, decent handling for a big car and surprisingly tight fit and finish. The sheetmetal is particularly flawless.
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2016 charger sxt rally - 2016 Dodge Charger
By david gardner - October 25 - 6:24 amIve only had the car for a month, so far Im really liking it. havent had any [problems with it. fun to drive and kind of sporty for a sedan. Katy Chrysler Dodge jeep gave me a good deal. I am happy with my purchase so far!
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Redline Red Charger - 2016 Dodge Charger
By mike rippel - October 11 - 8:53 pmThis is a great car, very comfortable and quick with the 300HP V-6, so far averaging about 24-MPG overall. Love the retro style cues, visibility is good and seats are firm, sports car feel. The car is large by todays standards but handles great. I havent really driven in much bad weather yet, but in rain it didnt skid or slip. The package offers good value, there are only a couple of small things that I didnt really think about buying when I purchased it - since the drivers seat has electric positioning, a his and hers preset would have been helpful. No regrets on my choice, like to get some graphics added to the paint sometime. Its a lot of car to wash and dry, reminded my of my old 76 GMC van after maintaining a Jeep Compass for the last 8-yearsl Dealer support was great on the sale, couldnt ask for more. Looking forward to traveling in it.
