After a major interior restyling for the ’08 Charger, including a redesigned instrument panel, satin chrome accents, new cloth seating, soft-touch surfaces, and available LED lighting on the front cupholders and map cases, Dodge has virtually no changes in mind for the 2009 version. Re-introduced in 2006, and admittedly less sporty than the also retro Dodge Challenger (the new incarnation of the Charger is, for better or worse, a family oriented four-door sedan), the ’09 Charger still appeals to drivers who once watched “The Dukes of Hazzard” over a bowl of Fruit Loops.

Appreciating high-end performance packed into a sedan that can handle the commute and the track with equal aplomb, owners of the ’08 compliment the Charger’s roominess, legendary styling, and the fact that it “drives like a Mercedes.” Drivers are not so enthusiastic, however, about its poor gas mileage (well, it is a muscle car) and a worrisome driver’s side blind spot. Many also mention the SE’s lack of acceleration.

The ’09 Charger offers a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive in its two middle trim levels, but the entry-level SE and top-of-the-heap SRT8 are rear-wheel drive only. The SE, with its standard 2.7-liter, 190-hp DOHC V6 and four-speed automatic, has been described as “tepid.” Moreover, the SE can claim only marginal fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 18/26 mpg city/highway.

Introduced in 2008, Charger’s SXT trim, with its 250-hp, 3.5-liter SOHC V6 and four-speed automatic, is a step in the right direction, performance-wise. According to Dodge, the SXT will do 0–60 in 9.3 seconds. Fuel economy suffers, though, at 15/22 mpg.

With the R/T trim, the ’09 Charger begins to flex some serious muscle, sporting a standard 340-hp, overhead valve (OHV) 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. This trim, at 15/23 mpg, remains a favorite of the weekend track addict who isn’t in a Charger to save on gas.

The family sedan becomes the Incredible Hulk in Charger’s 2009 SRT8. Packing a brutish 6.1-liter, OHV Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic, this monster pounds out an awe-inspiring – and gas guzzling – 425 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The SRT8 gets an EPA-estimated 14/20 mpg.

Except for the entry-level SE, the Charger in 2009 features Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS with brake assist, an anti-skid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. All of Charger's trims garnered five-star crash test ratings from the NHTSA.