2009 Dodge Charger

By Karl W. Ritzler

Dodge brought back the Charger for 2008 to recapture the muscle car spirit of the 1970s, when Chargers, Camaros and Mustangs – and their corporate siblings – ruled the roads.
The R/T version, often with a 5.7-liter, 340-horsepower V-8 Hemi under the hood and a Dukes of Hazzard orange paint job, brings back those memories. The more mainstream SXT, with its 3.5-liter V-6 and four-speed automatic, leaves those memories at the curb.
This is a tamer Charger. There’s a noticeable engine lag in the downshift when you stomp on it. While, it’s very capable at speed, don’t expect muscle-powered acceleration. But it’s no econobox either. Mileage is a respectable 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, compared with the 15/23 in the fuel-thirsty R/T.
This Charger is more mild than wild, a family sedan that looks sporty but which is really a sheep in wolf’s clothing. It seems like a car made for Dad to haul the family to church or soccer practice while keeping up appearances of his misspent youth.
Comfort gets the nod over horsepower, with good success. The front seats are supportive and comfortable for middle-aged derrieres, and there’s enough room in the back – this is a four-door sedan – for even older kids or adults. The comfortable seats are separated by a fold-down armrest, which contains two of the few cupholders.
There’s no confusing the Charger with a minivan. The styling looks low and fast, and the test car was painted in write-me-a-thicket red. The cupholders in from are adequate at best, but they won’t hold a mug with a handle from the kitchen. But they do have a soft glow so you can find them at night.
Centered on the dash is a nice, big screen that would be perfect for a navigation system, if the tester had one. What it showed instead was more information than was necessary for the audio and climate control systems. Even with the standard satellite radio (subscription extra), though, it felt like cable TV: hundreds of stations and nothing on.
Watch out for the front doors. The hinges are especially springy, and more than once, the doors swung closed on legs that were still emerging from the car.
The trunk has lots of space, but the high rear deck can block rearward vision.
Also, you have to pay extra ($1,185) for the protection group, which includes side-curtain and seat-mounted air bags and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with microphone, whatever that’s needed for. Also extra ($2,405) was a package that includes leather seats and trim, power and heated front seats, power windows, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch aluminum wheels and a rear stabilizer bar.
Add a destination charge of $700, plus $950 for a power sunroof, $650 for an audio upgrade and $225 for the red paint job, and the sticker totaled $31,625. That’s a lot of money when compared with offerings from Lexus, Acura or Audi.