Review: 2013 Dodge Charger AWD R/T

Likes:

Bold and distinctive exterior styling
Outstanding handling, pleasant ride
Powerful, fun-to-punch-it HEMI V8
Intuitive Uconnect with 8.4-inch screen
Advanced all-wheel-drive is available

Dislikes:

HEMI V8 plus a heavy right foot equal poor fuel economy
Some controls are “hidden” in the Uconnect interface
Plain cloth upholstery doesn’t compliment the sporty styling

There’s a hint of retro nostalgia in the modern Dodge Charger, especially an all-black beast like our test vehicle. It makes us immediately think of the ’68 black Charger R/T that the bad guys drove in the movie Bullitt. That vintage black two-door was all engine; its 375-hp 440 could smoke the tires and rocket to 60 mph in a gas-guzzling flash, but beware of corners. Anyone who’s driven a ’60s or ’70s Chrysler muscle car knows that they are powerful and fast – and stylish too – but they generally steered like boats in choppy water and braking performance can give you a fright.

Fast forward to today’s Charger R/T, built as an aggressively sporty sedan with coupe-like styling. Its scalloped sides and hood, full-width taillight shape and Coke-bottle beltline are all successful styling elements from the classic Chargers. The modern interpretation still exudes style and powerful presence, but it can handle corners in a way that defies its generous size and considerable weight. It has a 370-hp HEMI engine and 5-speed automatic transmission that deliver power to the pavement with well-engineered proficiency.

Driving Impressions

From a standstill or when we needed to make a quick pass on the highway, kick-in-the-pants power is always reassuringly underfoot. From past experience, we expected a grin-inducing punch from our Charger AWD R/T’s powerful HEMI V8. But the big surprise from this car is the excellent handling.

Clearly, former Chrysler owner Daimler’s influence is still showing, because there’s a distinctively Germanic feeling in the tight, precise steering and firm, yet compliant, fully independent suspension. We’ve often commented that Mercedes and other premium German brands seem to have an exclusive knack for engineering just the right blend of comfortable ride and good handling. Well, this Dodge has it too.

We drove the Charger hard on winding mountain roads and it responds like a much smaller, lighter car. It corners flatly and sticks precisely where you point it, even at speeds that would make a lesser car’s tires howl. Stab the gas on the next straightaway and the car eagerly lunges forward. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifting offers easy manual gear selection. Power and finesse are what make this sophisticated muscle car especially fun to drive.

Of course, driving a HEMI V8-powered, 4,450-lb AWD sedan aggressively means more frequent visits to the gas station. Despite “fuel saver” technology that allows the engine to deactivate four cylinders while cruising, EPA rates our test car at 15/23 mpg city/highway. During our drive, we averaged 18.1 mpg. Considering the performance, we’re not complaining. The rear-wheel-drive model’s efficiency is slightly better at 16/25 mpg, which Dodge claims is best in class for a V8. Dodge recommends mid-grade fuel for the V8.

The optional new AWD system is completely seamless in its action, although we could monitor which wheels were getting power via a pictogram on the instrument panel. Normal driving leaves the system in rear-drive mode, but any wheel slip immediately engages the front axle without driver input. The system also automatically activates AWD if the driver uses the windshield wipers, turns off the stability control system, uses the paddle shifters, or if the temperature is below 37 degrees.

Exterior Design

While the expressive exterior styling of the Dodge Charger may not appeal to everyone, we like its bold, assertive look that’s so unique among mainstream sedans. Our test car was especially head-turning in black with the AWD Sport Appearance Package that includes an all-black cross-hair grille, rear spoiler and dazzling 19-inch polished aluminum wheels with gloss black painted pockets. These are black wheels done right: they have just enough bright trim to accent the dark painted surfaces.

The Charger’s signature full-width rear taillights, outlined with 164 individual LEDs, pays homage to the wide taillights of the first 1966-67 Charger and the taillight shape of the 1969-70 Charger. It simply looks cool, especially at night. The integrated dual exhaust outlets complete the high-performance look. The overall impression of the car is just a little sinister with a heavy dose of bad-ass.

Interior Features

There was a disconnect between the menacing looking exterior of our Charger AWD R/T and the rather pedestrian black cloth upholstery on the interior. There are several advantages to cloth seats, such as the way the cloth grips your body in fast corners and how it breathes better and stays cooler than leather on hot days, but this sporty car deserves bolder looking seats. That’s easily remedied with some astute choices on the options sheet. Choosing an R/T Plus with sport seats and Radar Red leather upholstery would help give our car the extra “wow” it deserves. Ventilated leather is an option as well.

The back seat gives up a bit of headroom and outward visibility to the sloping roofline, but it was sufficiently roomy and comfortable. For those seeking a more accommodating rear cabin, the chassis-sharing Chrysler 300 may be a better choice.

Chrysler’s user-friendly Uconnect system has an enormous 8.4-inch touchscreen with easy-to-operate audio, navigation, vehicle settings and other controls. Many other carmakers should take a lesson from Uconnect in designing a navigation system that is so easy to operate, with intuitive, clear controls. The screen has a row of icons along the bottom of the screen to select modes, except when the rear camera is engaged. Then the driver is presented with a full screen view of what’s behind the car, along with virtual parking guidelines.

Instruments and dashboard controls are straightforward, with a couple of exceptions. It’s necessary to summon the “Controls” screen on the Uconnect system in order to activate the heated seats or engage the Sport Mode for more performance-oriented transmission response. Not especially difficult, but it requires extra steps.

Our test car was also equipped with a premium audio system called Beats by Dr. Dre. Featuring a 552-watt amplifier, 10 speakers and a subwoofer enclosure in the trunk, the audio quality was powerful and clear, as long as the bass setting was cranked down a bit.

What others are saying about the Charger

Edmunds.com notes that there are few choices for car shoppers seeking full-size sedans with performance credentials, other than the Chrysler 300 and Ford Taurus SHO. But they recommend the Charger for its “superior performance and more distinct personality.” The review explains, “While more typical large sedans are better suited to most buyers, the 2013 Dodge Charger earns its place as the choice for driving enthusiasts.”

Kelley Blue Book reviewers say some may find the Charger’s styling a little too “boy-racer,” but they praise the Charger’s wide model range, options and available powertrains, including AWD, noting that “you’ll find a Charger to fit just about any need.” Editors also like the performance aspect, concluding, “If a snarling V8 and razor-sharp handling seem like they’d conflict with your need for a safe, roomy and affordable family sedan, the 2013 Dodge Charger is ready to prove you wrong.”

Bottom Line

Equipped the right way, the Charger looks like a much more expensive car than it is. A friend guessed that our test car was “around $50K,” but its actual price as tested is a competitive $35,880. That’s a lot of car for the driving enthusiast on a budget.

While we love the power and sound of the Charger R/T’s power HEMI V8 engine, we’ve also had the chance to drive the still-potent V6 which is just a little less powerful, but much less thirsty. If we were filling out an order form for an affordable Charger, we’d specify the Charger SXT Plus with 300-hp V6, 8-speed automatic transmission, Rallye Appearance Group, red or tan leather interior and other carefully chosen options. We’d still have a hot-looking, high-performance American muscle car with loads of equipment for $30-something thousand dollars, along with an EPA fuel economy rating of 19/31 mpg city/highway. For the money and the performance, it’s hard to beat the Charger.

2013 Dodge Charger R/T