It seems that as of late I've been behind the wheels of some pretty manly vehicles. From the Porsche Boxster S Black Edition to the Chevy Camaro 2SS Convertible, the cars gracing my driveway have been testosterone packed. There's something about driving a vehicle that's perceived as masculine that makes a car that much more appealing (in my opinion). To some, it might spell “intimidation.”
And in the case of the Dodge Charger, intimidation is the name of the game.
Just as Dodge has returned to its nostalgic American muscle roots with the Challenger (possibly one of the best reiterations of the original by all the American automakers), the big muscle-car is a return to the old and a reminder of where Dodge and Chrysler came from – the mean streets of USA. And so, the Dodge Charger was born of the same mindset, and during a time when things were less than stellar for Chrysler and Dodge.
Perhaps it's that return to American muscle that makes the Dodge Charger so appealing to begin with. I'm not usually a fan of large, cumbersome sedans, but there's something about the Charger that sets it apart and makes it eye-catching despite its large stance. And it's that large, give-me-room-on-the-road stance that I like the most, I think.
See how aggressive that front nose is. Choppy, angular and downright mean, the Charger means business when you see it in your rearview. The headlights angle down as if in an intense, “you want some of this, punk?” look.
The simplistic Dodge front grille manages to add to the menace, kind of like the Charger is sneering with a few teeth missing. No wonder police departments across North America are choosing to adopt the Charger as their vehicle of choice. Talk about intimidating motorists when you're chasing them down.
Muscular shoulders sit atop 19” aluminum wheels (new for the 2011 model), and the raked-back shoulder line only adds to the illusion of strength and power (that's not such an illusion, actually, but I'll get to that in a moment) and carries through to the old-school retro rear that is, perhaps, the coolest-looking design element on the Dodge Charger.
From the back, the Charger looks just as mean. The Dodge name, encased in glaring red taillights that outline the entire cropped off, edgy bumper are a nod to the way things used to be in the '70s. Dual exhaust pipes that mimic the shape of the rear end sit down low, and the large rear bumper and hunched wheel wells over the rear tires give the impression that the Charger's backend sits higher than the front – again, a throwback to the muscle-car stance and the good ol' days.
And speaking of the good ol' days, the 2011 Dodge Charger sports another real nod to the American automaker's history: a HEMI.
That's right, the Dodge Charger R/T AWD sports a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine under its menacing hood that's good for 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. Piloting the Charger was pretty thrilling. I have to admit I was a little sceptical at first; after all, the Charger is a big, heavy American beast.
However, the HEMI effortlessly powered the Charger full steam ahead whenever I asked it to. And while the 5-speed automatic seemed a bit sluggish at times, we can all keep in mind the fact that Dodge plans to change that out with an 8-speed in the near future. So, there's hope yet.
A unique feature of the Charger engine is something Dodge calls a FuelSave Multi-Displacement Technology. Basically what this does is make the engine shift seamlessly between 8 and 4 cylinders, depending on how heavily you mash the throttle. So, while cruising on the highway, you're riding on fewer cylinders, therefore using less fuel and saving you cash at the pumps. It's a win-win situation in my books.
Sitting behind the wheel (and behind that mean, mean hood) is actually quite nice. Where I've come to expect hard plastics and unrefined touches in American-made models, the Dodge Charger left me pleasantly surprised. The gauge cluster is simple, but that's OK because the 8.4” entertainment screen in the middle console is distracting enough. Equipped with Garmin GPS Navigation, satellite radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, the Charger offers all the creature comforts we've come to expect.
I'd like to offer a big thumbs-up to Chrysler and Dodge for their entertainment system. As I change cars every week, I'm privy to most every onboard system. And some are better than others – much better. The Charger’s system is one of those. The touchscreen is easy to manipulate and quick to respond, and the satellite radio text updates quickly so channel changes are fast and you know what's going to play before it starts to play instead of the other way around. Thanks for that Chrysler.
Of course, the radio is far from the most important aspect of this vehicle. The drive really is the most important thing and something I think Dodge should also be proud of. The fuel-saving cylinder shut-off technology is pretty cool and works flawlessly. Interior space is also ample (gotta love those American-sized seats in the front and back) as is the cargo space in the trunk – all important features to note. And the final important “feature” would be the price.
Starting at $29,995, the base SE model is a great way to park some American V6 muscle in your driveway; however, if you want the cream of the crop (like I had) you're going to have to dish out a base price of $39,995.
I don't know if I'd recommend the burnt orange and creamy beige interior colour combo for the Charger, but I would suggest checking it out if you're nostalgic for the good ol' days and you want to see how Dodge has come back into the automotive game.
