Bargain Priced Power: Dodge Charger 2008

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Summary

Power. Refinement. Comfort. These are all characteristics of the 2008 Dodge Charger. The Charger has enough power to throw you back into the seat, but enough comfort to make the seat relatively comfortable while driving at the high speeds that this powerhouse can reach. The Charger is fun to drive, and it is recommended to test drive one so you'll find out for yourself. With plenty of options and trim styling available there is sure to be a Charger that fits your lifestyle. 

Full Review 2008

The Charger illustrates just how multi-talented and accomplished today's high-performance cars are compared to the one dimensional hot rods of yesteryear. The Charger has all the pavement-ripping, gut-thumping power of the old muscle cars, but it's packaged with modern creature comforts and tempered by handling competency. The Charger is fun to drive and enjoyable for just cruising along. For 2008, the Charger gets minor interior design changes and two new entertainment options. Newly available are Sirius Backseat TV for the rear entertainment system, and Dodge's MyGig, a 20 gigabyte hard drive that holds songs, pictures, and navigation system map information. The interior changes include a new instrument panel and center console, as well as upgraded soft-touch surfaces on the arm rests, center console and door trim. The Dodge Charger was launched as a 2006 model in the spring of 2005.

Trims and Model Styling 2008

The base Dodge Charger SE has a 178-hp 2.7-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. SXT comes with a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission with Dodge's AutoStick manual shift gate. SRT8 models have a 425-hp 6.1-liter V8 and the AutoStick.

The SXT ($25,685) upgrades with an eight-way adjustable power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 60/40 split folding rear seat with fold-down center armrest, Boston Acoustics stereo with six speakers and 276-watt amplifier, interior air filter, power-adjustable pedals, Sirius satellite radio with one year subscription, fog lamps and cast aluminum wheels. The SXT is available with all-wheel drive ($28,035). Options include leather-trimmed seats ($640), sunroof ($950), and Dodge's UConnect hands-free cell phone link now with iPod interface. Also available are 18-inch aluminum wheels with P225/60R all-season tires coupled with a rear spoiler. In addition to the Protection Group and Smokers Group, there's a Comfort Seating Group with heated front seats, leather-trimmed bucket seats, power adjustable pedals and an eight-way power front passenger seat ($1395).

The R/T ($31,780) is a V8-powered, high-performance model also available with all-wheel drive ($33,880). The R/T adds to the SXT with folding heated mirrors, 160-mph speedometer, upgraded brakes, polished aluminum 18-inch wheels, larger fuel tank, dual exhaust, automatic headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and power eight-way front passenger seat. The Electronics Convenience Group ($630) adds a security alarm, programmable universal garage door opener, trip computer, selectable vehicle information display, compass and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

The Road/Track Performance Group ($3,350) for the R/T features unique aluminum wheels with black accents, sportier steering, self-leveling shocks, sport seats, performance suspension, a tweaked V8 making 350 horsepower, front and rear spoilers, and 20-inch wheels. The Daytona R/T package adds to the Road/Track Performance Group assorted aero add-ons, flat black graphics front and rear, and interior trim that includes a numbered plate on the instrument panel.

The SRT8 ($36,155) comes with a 6.1-liter V8 generating 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, a performance-tuned suspension, a reprogrammed electronic stability control, Brembo brakes, Goodyear Supercar F1 tires on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, and a 180-mph speedometer.

For 2008, two new entertainment options are available for all but SE models: Sirius Backseat TV and Chrysler's MyGig entertainment system. The rear-seat DVD entertainment system is now offered with Sirius Backseat TV with three channels. The Charger recalls the 1966 Dodge Coronet. The same design team that parented the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum birthed the Charger. Dominating the front of the car are the trademark Dodge crosshairs, chromed on the SXT and R/T, body-color in the SE and SRT8, and flat black on the Daytona. A thin, trifurcated air intake slices across the lower portion of the front bumper. The Daytona and SRT8 wear a flat-black chin spoiler. Fog lamps on the SXT and higher models fill small, sculpted insets at the lower corners.

The rear perspective shows a tall, almost vertical backside, with large taillights draped over the upper corners. On the SE and SXT a single exhaust tip exits beneath the right-hand side, while the V8-powered models sport chrome-tipped, muscle car-idiom, dual exhausts.

First Drive 2008

The 3.5-liter V6 produces 250 horsepower and is EPA rated at 17/24 mpg City/Highway. The 5.7-liter V8 makes the Charger R/T a muscle car, with a 0-60 mph time in the neighborhood of 6.0 seconds. The Charger is quiet at that speed, with little wind or road noise. Steering in the SE and SXT models we drove seemed a bit over-assisted at times, and could have used more on-center feel.

We drove a Charger along winding, two-lane back roads in southern Virginia then at Virginia International Raceway near Danville. The AutoStick transmission works equally well in either Automatic or Manual mode. The Charger's brake hardware is shared with Mercedes-Benz, but the software code for the stability program, brake assist and traction control is written by and for Dodge. Mercedes engineers could learn something from Dodge.

Styling and Interior Features

The standard fabric-covered seats are comfortable, with adequate thigh support and side bolstering. Thanks to the sedan-spec wheelbase, there's plenty of rear seat room, too, even with the front seats at their rearmost positions. No head restraint for the rear center seat is provided, however, making this car better for four adults than five.

Visibility from the driver's seat is a bit compromised by safety measures and styling dictates. The rear entertainment system installation takes a novel, but extremely well-integrated approach. The screen hides beneath a cover on the front center console when not in use, then pivots up between the front seats for viewing. Without the entertainment system, the center console functions as a traditional storage bin. Also available for 2008 is Dodge's MyGig radio in two iterations: the MyGig Entertainment System and the MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System. The trunk is large.

Conclusions

The Dodge Charger delivers pony car excitement and style and recalls a bygone era, all while providing the roomy accommodations of a full-size car. "A long way from the stripped down muscle car of the mid-1960s. It's a muscle car for today, with big power and performance, but all the amenities that 21st century drivers demand." says Motor Week  "Love it or hate it, the new car's styling does attract attention." adds Road and Track The availability of all-wheel drive is a bonus for customers in the north, and the range of engines and suspension setups allows buyers to choose between fast and comfortable models.