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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2006 Dodge Charger R/T by Cordell Koland Dodge division of the Chrysler Corp. has revived the Charger name to designate a new high-performance sedan, following in the footsteps of the highly successful Chrysler 300, which has helped put the company back in the minds of car-buying customers. The original Charger was one of the legendary muscle cars that first took root in the mid-1960s and continued though the 1970s. The idea was to pack a huge engine into a sport coupe with a lot of performance extras. The original Chargers, particularly from the 1960s and early 1970s, are highly collectable, particularly if powered by Chrysler's massive 440 Magnum V-8 or one of the legendary Hemi V-8 engines. Chrysler- powered cars were second to nobody in those heady years of horsepower madness. The new Charger follows in the mold of the original with rear-wheel drive and a smokin' Hemi V-8 engine. Our test vehicle had the 340-horsepower version: an optional 425-horsepower version is standard with the special Charger SRT8. But you say, cars with big engines must be gas-guzzlers. And to some degree there's no denying that fact. But fuel consumption in the Charger R/T is somewhat mitigated by Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System. The technology that manages the Dodge Charger's HEMI engine seamlessly deactivates four cylinders in just 40 milliseconds when full V-8 power is not needed, improving fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. The resulting mileage is certainly comparable to that achieved by other less powerful full-size and mid-size sedans. The Dodge Charger has a kinder, gentler shape than its sister ship, the in-your-face Chrysler 300. The Charger wears a roofline that slopes to create a coupe-like profile. The front grille features the familiar Dodge crossed bars. The overall impression is of a substantial car with all the sharp edges buffed off. The EPA classifies the Charger as a large sedan. With an interior volume of 104 cubic feet, the sedan will transport five adults and a lot of luggage in back. If one is contemplating buying a large sedan with lots of power, the Charger R/T offers an interesting suspension option. In its base configuration, it offers a forgiving ride. Alternatively, it can be cranked up to sports sedan status with the optional Road/Track Performance Group, which is tuned specifically for firm steering and handling, provides a glued-to-the-road feeling best suited for the driving enthusiast. This optional package offers 18-inch Michelin MXM4 all-season performance tires, high-performance steering gear and Nivomat self-leveling shock absorbers. I will admit to a long-standing bias in favor of automobiles with tight performance-oriented suspensions, but the test Charter R/T gave me an additional perspective. At first, I was somewhat annoyed with the relatively soft suspension. For example, when I was driving aggressively and encountered a lot of uneven pavement, the car seemed to lurch all over as if moved by an unseen hand. And going around a tight turn at a speed not too much above the posted speed limit induced a lot of body lean. On the other hand, in the real world of roads that are anything but perfect, R/T as outfitted gave a very comfortable ride. And that can be a desirable condition when one is tense or tired, when you just don't want to personally experience every road imperfection. The Charger takes a minimalist approach to interior design and that's just fine. The center console is very simple, although some of the buttons and inscriptions could be easier to see. The optional satellite navigation system is not he easiest to use. It definitely suffers in comparison to industry leaders such as those marketed by Honda and Toyota. Additionally, I'd prefer its location a little higher on the center console for improved visibility. When you¹re reading the map, it is nice not to have to move your eyes too far off the road. Vehicle: Dodge
Charger R/T
Price as tested: $36,840 Engine: Type: 5.7-liter V-8 Horsepower: 340 @ 5,000 rpm Torque: 390 lbs.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 17 mpg Highway 25 mpg Curb Weight: lbs. 4,100 Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
