2006 Dodge Magnum Test Drive

Muscle Wagon

The Magnum SRT8 offers a unique combination of high performance and family-friendly accommodations.

Creating so-called muscle cars is one of the things American automakers do best. The idea is to jam as large an engine as possible under the hood and throw in a few performance-boosting suspension and braking upgrades. The new-for-2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 station wagon follows the classic formula and packs a burly 6.1-liter version of DaimlerChrysler’s Hemi V8 that’s been tweaked by its Street and Racing Technology (SRT) department to generate 425 hp.

That output is on par with some of the meanest, most powerful muscle cars of the 1960s, such as the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Barracuda. But Dodge is quick to point out that modern Hemi V8s are smaller, more fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly than the older iron.

The Hemi designation refers to the engine’s hemispherical combustion chambers, a hallmark of classic Dodge V8s from the 1960s. In another nod to the muscle-car heritage, the engine's cylinder block is painted orange with black valve covers, just as they were decades ago.

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Also true to the classic muscle-car formula, the Magnum SRT8 is rear-wheel drive. Enthusiasts have long preferred the traditional front engine/rear differential layout for its superior ride and handling characteristics and the ability to safely put more power to the pavement. Front-drive models with larger-displacement engines tend to exhibit what's called torque steer, where the steering jerks abruptly to one side under heavy acceleration.

With a starting price just over $37,000, the Magnum SRT8 sits at the top of the model line in both price and performance. Other versions include the R/T, which comes with a 340-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8; the SXT, with a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6; and the budget-minded SE that offers a 197-hp V6.

The Magnum is mechanically identical to the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans — both of which likewise come in high-powered SRT8 versions. But all three carry distinctive styling and offer different feature combinations.