What Price Power? The 2015 Dodge Charger R/T

The 2015 Dodge Charger R/T.

Two and a half months ago, I reviewed the 2015 Dodge Charger SXT,  and found it to be a remarkable value.  Where else might you find a full-size rear-wheel-drive American sedan with a 292 horsepower V6 capable of 31 miles per gallon on the highway for roughly $30,000?

But what if that's not enough?

2015 Dodge Charger R/T.

Well, the good news there is that Dodge is willing to sell you more power.  All the way up to the 707 horsepower Charger Hellcat.  If that---or its $63,995 pricetag---is a bit much, there's the $47,685 Charger SRT 392 with 485 horsepower or the $39,995 Charger R/T Scat Pack with the same 485 horses under the hood.

But if you want to kick it up just a single notch pricewise and powerwise, then the Charger R/T is your car.  Equipped with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, its 370 horsepower will take you from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and with its 8-speed automatic transmission, manages 16 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway, according to the EPA.  Best of all, the base price is a mere $3,300 above its V6-powered twin. In terms of equipment, Dodge's own chart does the best job of illustrating what you get for your money.

2015 Dodge Charger R/T interior.

Past that, our test vehicle came with some extra-cost options:

• The Plus Group ($2,000), which adds bi-function HID headlamps, 20-inch polished alumnium wheels with graphite pockets, 8-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats both with 4-way power lumbar adjustment, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a rearview camera, rear parking assist, power heated auto-adjust-in-reverse outside mirrors, an auto-dimming driver's side exterior mirror, memory for the radio, driver's seat and mirrors, Nappa leather sport seats, driver and passenger lower LED lamps, front overhead LED lighting, a security alarm and illuminated rear cupholders.
• Driver Convenience Group ($595), which appears to be redundant, as it consists of the power heated auto adjust-in-reverse outside mirrors, and memory for radio, driver's seat and mirrors already in the Plus Group.
• And the Navigation/Rear Back-Up Camera Group ($695) in which the rearview camera is redundant, thanks to the Plus Group, but which adds a UConnect 8.4-inch touchscreen AM/FM/SiriusXM/Navigation system with HD Radio, SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link.

With $995 Destination charge, the as-tested price of our test vehicle came to $37,580---about $6,600 more than the final tab for the SXT we tested. But this R/T was significantly better equipped, and a lot more fun when you allow your right foot to get a bit heavy.  

In case you're wondering, 0-60 in 5.3 seconds is what a 1968 Dodge Charger with a 426 Hemi would do. But in far less comfort with far worse gas mileage.  The fact that this is today's midrange Charger makes it clear that the golden age of automotive performance is now.