2018 Dodge Charger Road Test and Review

2018 Dodge Charger Scat Pack front profile hero ・ Photo by Dodge

The first Dodge Charger hit the main streets of America over 50 years ago, and early versions of the muscle car gained fame frame-by-frame in such classic films as Steve McQueen’s "Bullitt," Peter Fonda’s "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry" and Quentin Tarantino's "Deathproof." But it was TV’s "The Dukes of Hazzard" that put a flying orange Dodge Charger in our living rooms every Friday night. 

Today, the 2018 Dodge Charger remains an all-American dream machine that lives up to that legacy of sex appeal and speed. Although the new Charger has matured over those five decades to become a full-size family-friendly four-door sedan, it can still be optioned up with powerful V8 engines and all-wheel drive. And the 707-horsepower supercharged Dodge Charger Hellcat is the most powerful sedan in the world.

10 Trim Levels to Choose From

Built alongside the Dodge Challenger coupe and Chrysler 300 sedan in Ontario, the 2018 Dodge Charger is offered in 10 trim levels with powerful V6 and "Hemi" V8 engines. Prices start just over $31,000 including a $1,095 destination charge. The base rear-wheel drive SXT and SXT Plus are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 cranking out 292 hp. Add the optional Super Track Pack, or step up to the all-wheel drive GT or GT Plus models, and that engine jumps to 300 hp. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models and the SXT model comes well-equipped with a large 7-inch touchscreen, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and keyless entry.

R/T and Daytona models get a 370-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8, while the R/T Scat Pack, Daytona 392 and SRT 392 are powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that makes 485 hp. That's more horsepower than a Chevrolet Camaro SS, Ford Mustang GT or BMW M3. Our 2018 Charger Daytona 392 test vehicle, which starts just over $46,000, was close to $50,000 with options.

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The Most Powerful Sedan in the World

If even more power, performance and image are what you crave there’s the 2018 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. With 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, it’s the most powerful sedan in the world and one of the quickest and fastest cars on the road. Even without all-wheel drive, the Charger Hellcat can blast from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and cover the quarter mile in an unbelievably quick 11.4 seconds. Dodge says it can even top 200 mph, which is faster than some Ferraris.  

Under the Hellcat’s aggressively scooped hood is a 6.4-liter supercharged V8 that it shares with the Dodge Challenger. Far more powerful than the turbocharged BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, the Charger Hellcat is also much less expensive than those German super sedans. Prices start around $69,000, which makes the Hellcat an absolute high-performance bargain. Standard equipment on the Hellcat includes 20-inch wheels, Brembo performance brakes, an adjustable suspension, leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel.

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Tough, Sexy Styling

When it comes to affordable full-size family sedans, the 2018 Dodge Charger is the official car of extroverts. This is a sedan for people who like to get noticed. Passersby look and even take pictures. Our test vehicle was painted a subdued Destroyer Grey, but loud colors with cool names like Redline, White Knuckle and Yellow Jacket are also available if you want to ensure full celebrity status.

With its aggressive wide stance and long hood/short deck proportions, the new Charger’s design draws from Chargers of the past, including the ever-popular 1969 model made famous by Bo and Luke Duke. The carvings in the Charger’s front doors and the Daytona’s stripe package are modern interpretations of cues borrowed from the 1970 model, while its blacked-out wide-mouth grille pays homage to the 1968 model.

These features mesh beautifully with the sedan’s modern LED lighting and the sizable hood scoops found on the performance models. Dodge’s design team, led by hardcore car enthusiast Ralph Gillies, has done a wonderful job with the Charger’s lines. It blends new and old, while keeping the sedan from being overly retro. And designers deserve a round of applause for resisting the urge to glue an oversized rear spoiler to the Charger’s trunk.

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Comfortable and Cool Interior

This is a large car and the 2018 Dodge Charger seats five comfortably. The sport seats in our Charger Daytona 392 test car were firm and heavily bolstered, yet comfortable and wide enough to accommodate big guys. The leather-covered steering wheel is thick and feels good in your hands.

Overall, the Charger’s interior is well-appointed and nicely constructed, and it looks cool. All the controls are well-placed, and the available 8.4-inch touchscreen in the center of the dash is one of the largest in the class. The Charger’s analog instrumentation is easy to read, and the audio and climate controls offer relatively simple large knobs and big buttons. Unfortunately, WiFi connectivity is not available, and visibility can be a challenge because of the sedan’s low roof and thick pillars.

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Family-Friendly Features

The Charger’s trunk measures 16.5 cubic feet, which is average for the class. The Chevy Impala trunk is larger, but the Charger has more cargo volume than a Nissan Maxima. The rear seat folds to expand cargo space. Interior storage is also well-thought-out and generous. There’s a large console bin, big door pockets that have slots for water bottles, another storage shelf ahead of the shifter and two big well-placed cupholders.

Our Charger Daytona 392 was also equipped with the optional Technology Package, a high value at only $1,500. It adds a long list of comfort and safety features, including adaptive cruise control with the ability to stop the car for you, forward-collision warning, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning and lane keep assist.

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Feels Like the King of the Road

There’s something about being behind the wheel of this full-size, V8-powered, 485-hp American sedan that makes you feel like the king of the road. Maybe it’s the rumble of the Charger Daytona’s V8 or looking out over that long hood and big hood scoop. Whatever it is, I like it. This is a fun car to drive. The Charger is heavy, but it handles its heft well, managing to feel nimble and maneuverable. The massive 20-inch Pirelli tires on our test vehicle certainly help keep the big sedan glued to the road, but the Dodge’s suspension also keeps body roll in check during hard cornering. Its 6.4-liter engine doesn’t just sound great, it makes big power and its eight-speed automatic is responsive and geared perfectly.

Today’s Dodge Charger is as pleasant to be in as it is fast. It’s roomy and comfortable and it rides well. But it also asks you to participate in the driving experience. You can feel the road through the Charger’s suspension, even though it soaks up large road imperfections, and the steering is heavily weighted.

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Looking for Competition

Head-on competitors for the 2018 Dodge Charger are hard to come by. In a sea of four-door sedans from all over the world, it’s a unique beast. Although rear-wheel drive, the V6-powered SXT models compete against a long list of front-wheel drive full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala, Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon. But unlike the Charger GT, few of these models offer all-wheel drive.

Competitors for the Charger’s V8 models are much harder to pin down. The V8-powered Chevy SS has ceased production, and other big-power V8 sedans like the Cadillac CTS-V, BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG cost much more. Then there’s the domestic two-door competition, like the Chevy Camaro and Corvette, the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, which uses the same suspension and engines as the Charger.

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Surprising Fuel Economy

The Charger is surprisingly fuel-efficient considering its large engines and big horsepower. The SXT with the 292-hp V6 is rated by the EPA at 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg highway, while the 300-hp all-wheel drive GT models are rated 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

Models with the 5.7-liter V8 are rated 16 mpg city and 25 mpg on the highway, and Chargers with the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 like our Daytona 392 test vehicle are rated 15 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. I averaged 19 mpg during a week that included quite a bit V8-sponsored hooliganism. The top-dog 707-hp Charger Hellcat is a thirsty beast, rated at just 13 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

Photo by Dodge

Get the V8

Part muscle car, part family sedan, the 2018 Dodge Charger is packed with desirability, both inside and out. The Charger delivers high levels of style, features and technology, and it’s bursting with a fun-to-drive personality that makes it something special.

Although the already-powerful V6 is more than enough for most buyers, step up to the more powerful Hemi V8s if you can. You’ll appreciate the additional performance and other desirable equipment, and while the 5.7-liter is nice, the 6.4-liter in our Daytona 392 test vehicle is an engine for the ages. Meanwhile, the Hellcat has already become a legend.

For those in the market for a full-size sedan that won’t bore you to death, the Charger is an appealing overall choice.

Photo by Dodge