Resurrected in 2006 and improved for 2007, the Dodge Charger continues to blaze the trail of NASCAR and muscle-car nostalgia for 2008. The Charger represents a unique combination of muscle and brains: a performance sports sedan that can carry the whole family in swift comfort and spaciousness.
These nostalgia machines come in three basic trim lines with one of four engine offerings. The SE base level is equipped with a 2.7-liter, 178-hp V6, which is probably not the best choice for this nearly two-ton sedan. The SXT trim offers a 3.5-liter, 250-hp V6. Reviewers saw 17.9-21 mpg, averaging 19.4 mpg in extended use.
The R/T line moves into the heart of nostalgia territory with a 5.7-liter, 340-hp Hemi V8. A Daytona performance option provides 350-hp through the addition of a specially tuned exhaust system. 0-60 on the R/T comes up in 5.8 seconds. The 5.7-liter Hemi is equipped with Dodgeâ??s Multi-Displacement System, which deactivates 4 of the 8 cylinders during light acceleration or cruising. The EPA estimates 15/23 mpg city/highway, while reviewers saw 14.3 mpg in mostly city driving and 16.9 mpg in mostly highway driving. An all-wheel-drive system comes only with the SXT and R/T trims.
At the heart of this nostalgia trip sit the SRT8 and Super Bee options, both of which feature a mighty 6.1-liter, 425-hp Hemi V8. This is certified muscle-car territory, with 0-60 zipping by in five seconds flat. But this car is not pure muscle - it can turn, stop, and carry its passengers in relative comfort.
The back seat is a real back seat, so that even with the front seats back, there's plenty of room, and being a four door, that space is easily accessible for kids or full-sized adults. And the ride, unlike the first-generation muscle car's, is smooth and composed. Naturally, with the firmer suspensions of the performance models, there will be some shuddering on broken pavement, but as a highway cruiser the Charger is a joy. Reviewers recommend the AWD versions for snowy environs, but thatâ??s the beauty of this nostalgia runner: It's practical.
