From V8 Power to Super Bee Packaging

The 2009 Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger used to be the only V8-powered large American car on the market, but for 2009 faces competition from the Pontiac G8 and an improved Ford Taurus.  The Charger offers a lot of room and power, although handling abilities and cabin quality could be better.  While the Charger name is a throwback to the 1970s coupe, the underpinnings and design are modern. The Charger comes in SE, SXT and R/T trims. There's also a high-performance SRT8 model. The Charger?s average EPA mileage is 13 ? 18 for city and 9 ? 26 on the highway.  It has a starting MSRP of $24,835 ? $38,970. On the inside, the Charger has plenty of room for a family of five, but the interior is largely plastic and the sightlines are partially obstructed in several directions. The Charger has a large trunk with a handy split-folding rear seat. All-wheel drive is available for all-weather capability.  For 2009, the Charger gets a few new desing cues and a whole lot of added features.  The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 gains power, and all-wheel-drive models get Active Transfer Case with Front-Axle Disconnect.  SE models add alloy wheels, additional interior chrome trim and more equipment, while the SRT8 model adds more standard equipment, a retuned suspension, and new calibrations for the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control systems. The SRT8 also adds a Super Bee package. LED lighting becomes standard for the front cup holders on all models, and the MyGIG hard-drive radio is now called UConnect Tunes and UConnect GPS when ordered with navigation system. Front side and curtain side air bags now optional instead of standard on most models.

Charger Drive

The Charger is quiet, even at highway speeds, and cruises along well with ease.  The 3.5-liter SXT model is in its element on the bumpy surfaces.  Steering in the SE and SXT models can be over-assisted at times.  2009 all-wheel-drive models come with Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect. When all-wheel drive isn't needed, the system automatically disconnects the front axle and opens the transfer case to reduce friction and rotational mass. The system reconnects the axle whenever AWD is needed, and drivers can opt to stay in AWD by shifting to AutoStick mode. Another light in the electronic vehicle information center indicates when the system switches modes. Dodge says Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect improves fuel economy by up to 1 mpg on the highway. AWD allows use of the Charger in winter weather and makes it more stable in heavy rain.

Design for 2009

 The Charger is a stylish and smooth vehicle, with plenty of unique features to make it stick out in a crowd.  From the rear the 2009 Charger gets a tall, almost vertical backside, with large taillights draped over the upper corners.  A modest, Kamm-like lip stretches across the trailing edge of an expansive trunk lid, atop which sits a lift-suppressing spoiler on the Daytona and SRT8. The SE and SXT get a single exhaust tip which exits beneath the right-hand side, while the V8-powered models sport chrome-tipped, muscle car-idiom, dual exhausts.  You know this is a Dodge because of the trademark Dodge crosshairs, chromed on the SXT and R/T, body-color in the SE and SRT8.  The Charger gets compound halogen headlights and a thin, trifurcated air intake across the lower portion of the front bumper.

Powering the Charger

The 3.5-liter V6 Charger produces 250 horsepower.  The 5.7-liter V8, updated for 2009, makes the Charger R/T a real muscle car. Horsepower is up from the previous 340 to 368 hp, while torque increases from 390 to 395 pound-feet.  The 0-60 mph acceleration test drops from about 6 seconds to the mid-5-second range, a significant increase.  For 2009, Dodge has added an ECO light in the electronic vehicle information center to indicate when four cylinders have been shut down.

Cabin Features

 
Surprisingly, rear-seat room is plentiful, thanks to the long wheelbase.  SRT8 owners will enjoy the Reconfigurable Display located in the vehicle information center. It displays what Chrysler calls Performance Pages. This feature can provide readouts of lateral and longitudinal G forces, 1/8- and 1/4-mile time and speed, 0-60 mph time, and braking distance.  The Charger's dashboard is largely plastic, and a bit cheap for a car that quickly tops $30,000.  The big, 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. Entertainment features are plentiful. In addition to an AM/FM/CD stereo, buyers can opt for Dodge's UConnect Tunes or UConnect GPS systems. Both have 30 gigabytes of hard drive space to hold music and picture files, but the GPS version also includes a navigation system with real-time traffic and voice activation.

Lineup Charger Style

The base Dodge Charger SE comes standard with cloth upholstery; air conditioning; interior air filter; cruise control; tilt/telescoping steering wheel; driver and passenger lumbar adjustment; AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input jack; power windows, locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; and P215/65R17 tires on aluminum wheels.

The SXT ($25,510) adds an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40 split folding rear seat with fold-down center armrest, a 276-watt Boston Acoustics stereo, power-adjustable pedals, heated mirrors and fog lamps.

The R/T ($31,860) upgrades to leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, eight-way power front passenger seat, folding heated mirrors, automatic headlights and 18-inch tires.

The SRT8 ($38,670) adds dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights, remote engine starting, interior air filter, heated front seats, a Reconfigurable Display with performance pages, performance-tuned suspension, sport bucket seats, functional hood scoop, rear spoiler, a reprogrammed ESC system, Brembo brakes, Goodyear Supercar F1 tires on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and a 180-mph speedometer. The Super Bee buzz model package ($1900) comes with Hemi Orange paint, a serialized dash plaque, a special wheel design, silver Brembo brake calipers, UConnect Tunes hard-drive radio, orange seat accents, and hood and rear quarter panel decals.

Summary

Safety features that come standard on all Charger models include two-stage front airbags, tire-pressure monitor, and rear-seat LATCH child safety seat anchors. Antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control, are standard on all but SE.  The Charger is a fun to drive vehicle that is named after a Charger of the ?70s.  For another view on the Charger read a review by Edmunds.com.  The V8 power turns the Charger into a real muscle car, and a reason alone that many consumers would consider this vehicle.   While the Charger is not cheap, and cabin features could be better, it offers an excellent source for five passenger muscle car fun. For more details on the Dodge Charger, click here.