2009 Dodge Charger SXT

By JENNY WHITE
Cox Newspapers

Friday, May 29, 2009

When the Dodge Charger returned a few years ago, the auto world was abuzz with the retro design of the Charger and other muscle cars like the long-awaited Camaro and Shelby Mustang.

Though some of the interest has dimmed, the 2009 Dodge Charger still gets a lot of looks and comments.

I had the SXT model, not the distinctive R/T model that my car reviewer colleague had a few months ago. The SXT can pass as a family sedan, whereas the R/T looks and is a muscle car.

It’s a good thing my colleague and I got our respective test vehicles, since I have a family and he has more appreciation for muscle cars than I do.

The SXT impressed me right off the bat with its roomy interior.

The Charger’s large size and long wheelbase provide a cavernous sized cabin with plenty of rear legroom.

Seats were well-bolstered and were great for kids and adults in the back.

Cabin materials were attractive and seemed pretty hardy and well-made.

There were plenty of cubbies and drink holders to make the Charger a viable option for those with kids.

The trunk can hold 16 cubic feet of luggage, which is pretty even with other large sedans in this class.

Now, granted in the R/T or the even more souped up SRT8, no one really cares if there’s room for groceries in the trunk, but for those looking at the R/T model like I test drove, family-oriented needs can be considered.

The Charger R/T has a family-friendly 3.5 liter V6 engine that offers up 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque.

This engine gets a four-speed automatic with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed auto with all-wheel drive.

Fuel economy ratings are 17/25/20 mpg with RWD and 17/23/19 mpg with AWD. My RWD model got about 22 mpg with a mix of city and highway miles.

The R/T and SRT8 have V8 engines and significantly more horses to start your engine.

But if you don’t need or want all that muscle car power, the SXT is a fine ride. Handling is firm and the ride is quite enjoyable.

The Charger is a comfortable, large sedan and you can buy one in several different trim levels, depending on whether you want a budget, no frills sedan, (the SE), a more family-friendly model, like the one I test-drove (the SXT), a fun-to-drive coupe (the R/T), or a muscle car for serious road warriors (SRT8).

Rear-wheel drive is standard, while the SXT and R/T are available with all-wheel drive. Standard equipment on the SE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, keyless entry, cruise control and a four-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.

Upgrading to the SXT gets you a larger V6 engine, 18-inch wheels, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, foglamps, heated mirrors, power-adjustable pedals, a power driver seat and an upgraded six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

The Charger R/T includes all the SXT popular equipment group items as standard and adds the big 5.7-liter V8. The SRT8 adds the bigger Hemi V8, high-performance brakes, a hood scoop, a limited-slip rear differential and different exterior trim.

All in all, the Charger is a great buy for a wide-range of car buyers.

Comparing the Charger SXT to competitors like the Pontiac G6 or the Chrysler 300 has the Charger coming out on top with roominess, option choices and more horsepower. The base price for the SXT model is $25,510 and my test model, great for families, came in at $31,625.