The Dodge Charger that debuted for the 2006 model year was everything we had come to expect from Chrysler over the past decade-both good and bad. On one hand, it looked superb, with a bold, muscular design that set it apart from the gangster-themed Chrysler 300, and offered the size and space necessary to serve as a practical family sedan. On the other hand, the Charger's interior quality was two decades out of date, with mediocre construction and cheap plastics throughout the cabin. As a result, the Charger was great to look at and useful to own, but far from satisfying when it came to actually sitting in the car.
With this in mind, can you guess where the biggest improvements have been made in the 2011 Charger?
Riding on the same LX platform as the original, the redesigned Charger has experienced some major upgrades both outside and-more importantly-inside. Although it rides on the same LX platform as its predecessor, the restyled Charger is fresh and original, with an interior that's is first class.
That's saying a lot for an automaker that has been heavily criticized over the past decade, and it suggests that the Fiat influence has been far more beneficial toward Chrysler than was the Mercedes-Benz experiment. Of course, in many ways that just makes sense. The old Chrysler was stuck in its ways, building big, imposing vehicles with bigger engines, and what it really needed was a dose of friendliness-not something for which Mercedes-Benz is known. Fiat, in contrast, builds wonderfully funloving vehicles such as the 500 subcompact, bringing with it an attitude that is both carefree and sensible at the same time.
If this friendlier approach holds true, the American automaker will benefit considerably from the completely different and long overdue perspective brought by its Italian counterpart. And if the 2011 Dodge Charger is a hint of what's to come, we're about to see some of the best Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products ever produced.
DESIGN:
The Charger's five-year-old exterior has been completely redone, keeping the general profile and tough attitude while trading the puffed-up bodywork for svelte lines and smooth curves. There's a hint of the popular '90s Dodge Intrepid in the curve of the rear deck, and a more sculpted and purposeful look to the new hood.
One thing you can't miss is the new front grille, which shoots out aggressively from between the headlamps similar to a Ram pickup truck. The look has been expertly translated to the sedan, enabling it to stand out from the crowd in nearly any setting.
The interior is just a huge step up, with a simple and effective layout that is both inviting and functional. The Charger isn't as fancy as some of its competitors, and it doesn't want to be. That's a vast improvement over last year's model, which simply couldn't meet today's standards.
Best of all, the cabin has a much higher-quality feel, with soft-touch materials and thoughtful aluminum trim. Most people would have been happy if the plastic was less overt, and Dodge has gone well above and beyond those minimum expectations.
PERFORMANCE:
Power comes from a 3.6L V6 with 292-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, a 5.7L V8 with 370-hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, or the upcoming SRT8's 6.4L V8, which generates a staggering 470-hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The base engine will be more than enough for most drivers, propelling the sedan with plenty of power and torque.
For now, all engines come with a five-speed automatic that's fairly mundane. However, a new, eightspeed automatic is on the way for the 2012 model year, delivering smoother shifts and improved fuel economy.
All-wheel drive is available for the otherwise rear-wheel-drive Charger, but to get it you have to opt for the upmarket R/T model at a price of $39,995. It would be nice to see Dodge offer a less-expensive AWD trim level.
Mid-size family sedans have gotten increasingly sporty over the years, and the Charger raises the average, with solid handling that blends old-school muscle-car fun with modern driving characteristics. The steering is quick and predictable, though not as sharp as it could be.
ENVIRONMENT:
Going beyond the attractive interior design, the cabin is a generally nice place to be, with lots of head and leg room, large storage spaces throughout, and useful touches such as illuminated cup holders. It's as practical as any family sedan gets.
Controls are laid out well, and the wide, driver-focused console positions the standard UConnectTouch screen high up, where it's easy to see. The upgraded touch interface is excellent, proving much easier to navigate and use than the control-wheel interfaces favoured by many automakers these days.
Where cargo is concerned, the Charger is no slouch: the trunk is huge, with folding rear seats and a trunk lid that opens almost vertically, making it easy to get stuff in and out. The only downside is that the lid could be difficult for shorter people to grab-a two-stage trunklid would be the best of both worlds.
Features:
The Charger starts at $29,995, and is available in six trims (SE, SXT, SXT Plus, R/T, R/T Road/Track, and R/T AWD), with the fire-breathing SRT8 model soon to arrive.
Standard equipment on the base SE includes ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, LED taillamps, UConnectTouch media centre, Keyless Enter-N-Go, power-adjustable driver's seat, and front/side/ knee/side-curtain airbags.
Additional features, available as options or standard on higher trims, include Bluetooth, Xenon headlamps, fog lamps, heated seats, remote starter, adaptive cruise control, GPS navigation, sunroof, backup camera, and a premium sound system.
Fuel efficiency for the base 3.6L V6 is rated at 11.7L/100km in the city and 7.3L/100km on the highway.
Thumbs up:
Fresh exterior; dramatically improved interior; value for money.
Thumbs down:
Lacklustre five-speed automatic; hard-to-close trunklid.
The bottom line:
The template for a new Dodge.
Competitors:
. Buick Regal Starting at $29,940, the Regal comes with a 2.4L inline-four producing 182-hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, or a turbocharged 2.0L inlinefour tuned for 220-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque or 270hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The Regal is a stunning sedan that looks and feels great, and plays a similar role to the Charger in reviving the Buick brand. However, a V6 option would be nice to calm down the front-wheel drive sedan.
. Ford Taurus The $27,999 Taurus features an impressive 3.5L V6 with 263-hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, or a turbocharged version with 365-hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. It's available with either frontor all-wheel drive.
Large and in charge, the Taurus is an imposing vehicle that lacks the Charger's sporty driving characteristics, but rivals it for practicality.
. Volkswagen CC At a price of $33,375, the CC (formerly the Passat CC) comes with a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four with 200-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.6L V6 with 280-hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. Frontwheel drive is standard, along with your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic, and all-wheel drive is optional.
CC stands for "Comfort Coupe," and the beautifully designed Volkswagen looks the part with its smooth lines and coupe-inspired shape.
