2006 Dodge Charger - The Rebirth of a Modern Day Muscle Car

The latest Charger has a usable interior and plenty of standard equipment. Think of it as a muscle car the whole family can enjoy. The Dodge Charger debuted in the mid 1960s as a response to America's growing interest in average cars with above-average performance. This two-door coupe boasted aggressive fastback styling and big V8 power, including Chrysler's famed 426 Hemi. As with similar vehicles of this time period, however, the Charger's glory quickly faded after 1970 due to rising insurance and gas prices, higher emissions standards and changing consumer tastes. Dodge brought back a famous model name from its muscle-car past with the 2006 model year. Chargers equipped with the legendary Hemi V-8 engine really captured the imagination of countless young drivers. The revived rear-wheel-drive Charger supposedly represents what the car would be if production had never stopped. But one basic element has changed: The 2006 version is a four-door sedan rather than a coupe. That Charger is related to the Chrysler 300 sedan and Dodge Magnum wagon. Safety features that come standard on all Charger models include antilock brakes, all-speed. The vehicle comes with Dodge's Electronic Stability Program and antilock breaks. Side curtain airbags are options. The 2006 Dodge Charger is a fun drive, especially considering its size.

Dodge Charger Daytona

 The original Dodge Charger spawned a 200-mph supercar, the Dodge Charger Daytona. Meant for NASCAR, it was farmed out to another company which modified the Charger R/T with aerodynamic modifications. A consumer Daytona model came out in 2006. The 2006 Charger Daytona R/T has two "updated versions of original colors," Go ManGo! (metallic orange) and Top Banana (yellow). It also has a "chin spoiler" and black honeycomb grille, Daytona and Hemi decals, R/T badging resembling that of the 1970s, a small black rear spoiler, and bright exhaust tips with 18 inch polished wheels. The engine has a Hemi orange cover instead of the plain black one. The interior had suede inserts, Daytona logos on the front headrests, body-color accent stitching, a body-color center stack bezel, and sequentially numbered Daytona badge on the instrument panel. Added creature comforts were dual-zone automatic climate control, heated power front seats, and power-adjustable pedals.

Dodge Charger Cabin Features

 The seats of the Charger are comfortable and the deep-set gauges are easy to read. In the front there is plenty of elbowroom and legroom, and rear legroom is ample. The five-occupant interior features front bucket seats and a rear bench. A 60/40-split, folding rear seat is part of an SXT package. Viper-inspired tunneled gauges feature white faces and satin silver accent rings. The two-tone interior features a darker upper trim color. From the driver's seat, easily scanned, large, round speedometer and tachometer share the top half of the steering wheel opening, with fuel and coolant temperature gauges down in the left and right corners, respectively. Standard SE equipment includes front-seat lumbar support; a manual tilt and telescoping steering column; a power trunk lid release; remote keyless/illuminated entry; cruise control; and power windows, locks and mirrors.

2006 Charger Handling

 With V-6 power, the Charger qualifies as satisfactory and impressively quiet, substituting a humdrum growl for the Hemi's exhaust note when floored. Vigorous Hemi performance is present when passing. The ride is nearly unbelievable on smooth surfaces, and rougher spots are dealt with appropriately. Except for a noisy exhaust sound when the gas pedal hits the floor, the Charger R/T is quiet. Long side windows aid visibility, but the low roof and steep windshield can make it difficult to see some overhead traffic lights.

Dodge Charger Exterior

The beltline of the '06 Charger arcs softly back from a slight droop over the headlights to about midway in the rear side window, then kicks up over the rear quarter panel, visually bulking up the design. The Dodge Charger is a throwback to the famous two door muscle car of the late 1960's; however, it differentiates itself by being a four door full size sedan. It takes aggressive styling cues from the past and combines it with the standard features and functionality that car buyers are looking for in a car today. The Charger is a bold design statement. The 2006 Charger has a bold crossbar front end and a short deck. There are minimal wheel flares, and a long bodyside crease meets another crease at the rear doors.  On the SE and SXT a single exhaust tip exits beneath the right-hand side, while the V8-powered models sport chrome-tipped, muscle car-idiom, dual exhausts. That Charger was somewhat blocky, with squared-off front end, superficially sculpted slab sides and equally vertical backside.

Powering the Charger

The 2006 Charger has all the pavement-ripping, super powers of the old muscle cars, but is packaged with modern creature comforts and tempered by startling levels of handling competency. The Charger's base engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 250 hp and 250 pounds-feet of torque. The available 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the R/T models gets 340 hp and 390 pounds-feet of torque. Dodge's five-speed-automatic transmission incorporates an AutoStick feature that allows manual gear selection. Dodge unveiled the high-performance SRT8 offshoot of the Charger at the 2005 New York Auto Show. Brembo brakes, a race-bred suspension and 20-inch aluminum wheels are installed on the SRT8 for 2006. Its ride height is half an inch lower than the regular Charger's. All three engines deliver power smoothly. 

Summary

Overall, the 2006 Charger is a cut above traditional family sedans in terms of performance capabilities.  Dodge claims the car's front-to-rear weight distribution is close to 50/50. Three levels of suspension tuning - topped by a Road/Track Performance Group - are available. Standard tires are 17 inches in diameter, but 18-inch rubber is used on the R/T. Chargers come in base SE and performance-oriented R/T trim levels.  First introduced as a 1966 model, this Coronet-based coupe had a unique look, with a sweeping fastback and concealed headlights. But it's the second generation of the Charger that was most popular. Less popular were three successive generations of Chargers. Third- and fourth-generation models from the 1970s were emasculated by new emissions regulations. A fifth generation, made available from 1982-'87, was a variation of the front-drive Dodge Omni 024 economy hatchback. Near the end of its production, there were sporty, turbocharged versions modified by Carroll Shelby that culminated in the Shelby Charger GLH-S. For another look at the Dodge Charger's handling, read a Car and Driver Charger Test Drive.