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2008 Dodge Charger
2008 Dodge Charger Review
Down on All Fours
The sporty Dodge Charger sedan carries the torch for American muscle cars.
Dodge resurrected the Charger nameplate for the 2006 model year. Unlike the original coupe that ruled the roads in the 1960s and ’70s, the present model is a full-size sedan. The standard engine is a V6. A Hemi V8 is available for the horsepower-hungry. The rear roofline and upswept rear fenders pay homage to the original Charger’s design.
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The base model and the Dodge Charger SXT come powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission that includes a manual mode. The Charger R/T has a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine. Like the original Hemi, this engine is so named because the top of its combustion chambers are hemispherical. The 5.7-liter powerplant includes a “displacement on demand” function, which deactivates half the cylinders when not needed. It helps to boost fuel economy.
An optional Daytona package offered on the Dodge Charger R/T version includes a slightly more-powerful version of the 5.7-liter engine, along with steering, suspension, braking and exhaust upgrades. It also comes with sport seats, a rear spoiler, added features and specific retro-style paint and graphics treatments.
Meanwhile, the Dodge Charger SRT8 version burns the pavement with a 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi V8. It stays planted via a number of suspension and braking-system modifications. It will sprint from 0-60 mph in around 5 seconds. You’ll pay dearly at the pump to go that fast, however, and premium fuel is required. Options include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system that includes Kicker Mobile Surround Sound.
Like the Dodge Magnum wagon, the Dodge Charger sedan delivers a fairly well-mannered ride and well-balanced steering, with good cornering abilities, given its four-wheel independent suspension. Carrying less weight at the front end also makes the base and SXT V6-powered versions a bit more nimble around the curves than the weightier V8 models.
Electronic stability control does a nice job of taming the rear-drive chassis under a wide range of driving conditions. Although modern snow tires can turn any car into a blizzard beater, if you live in cold climates, consider buying an all-wheel-drive model.
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There’s plenty of room for five adult passengers to ride in comfort, though there’s less rear headroom than in the Magnum, given the sedan’s tapered roofline. Standard equipment is plentiful in the base version, with the SXT adding amenities like a Boston Acoustic audio system and a power driver’s seat.
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Additional options include adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, and a Bluetooth hands-free system for similarly enabled cell phones.
You want a modern-day version of a classic, rear-drive, large American auto.
You want a more sophisticated, faster or luxurious midsize car.
The Charger’s fairly spacious interior holds five passengers in reasonable comfort. Adjustable pedals are optional to help accommodate shorter motorists.
Offered from 1966 through 1978, the original Dodge Charger was a muscle car in the classic Detroit tradition. A large, rear-drive, two-door coupe that was built off the Coronet chassis, it came wrapped in its own sharp-edged and low-to-the-ground styling. An assortment of V8 engines included the famed 426 cubic-inch Hemi that offered a whopping 425 hp, and it enjoyed great success for a time on the racing circuit. The name was used briefly in 1984 for what had previously been designated the Omni 024 coupe.
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