The 2015 Dodge Charger. |
And yet, it not only lives, it thrives. And now it has been refreshed and renewed.
2015 Dodge Charger. |
Four doors, rear-wheel drive, styling that shouts "muscle car" even when equipped with a base V6, possessed of the same basic form and styling cues of the 707-horsepower Charger Hellcat. All of which is based on the same body that has carried the Charger name for more than a decade, but which has had a remake that gives it new appeal.
The Charger we drove for a week was the second-from-base SXT, which differentiates itself from the base SE by offering the unavailable-on-SE navigation and rear back-up camera group and Driver Confidence Group as options and making the unobtainable-on-SE heated front seats, six-speaker audio and remote start system standard equipment.
Base price is a very reasonable $29,995. The base V6 mentioned earlier is by no means underpowered at 292 horsepower. It's more than enough. And for a large sedan, handling is nimble.
The interior has had a re-do as well, as Fiat-Chrysler continues to fix what was the most glaring deficit of Chrysler/Dodge products under the previous ownership.
The test vehicle had one option package, but it comes at zero extra cost: Customer Preferred Package 28H upgrades the standard six-speed automatic to an eight-speed unit and throws in a front license plate bracket they would not charge you for anyway.
With the 8-speed, the bite of the power is lessened somewhat. The EPA city estimate is a so-so 19 miles per gallon, but the highway figure of 31 is fairly impressive, given the punch of the engine.
With $995 destination charge, the as-tested price came to $30,990. Given the power and room alone, it qualifies as good old-fashioned American value.