Is there a better name for any automobile than Charger? It just sounds fast. Dodge has some of the best names pinned to some of our very favorite cars. 2023 was the swan song year for the popular Charger line, with EVs headed to replace them. We will miss the four-door Charger sedan, but look forward to many more exciting new models from Dodge.

There were so few cars left before Dodge canceled the Charger that pretty much all the survivors are good at what they specialize in. Among the best was the Charger sedan. The Charger was a rear-drive platform with all-wheel drive available on certain configurations. Depending on how you configure your Charger, it could be a roomy and affordable daily driver or a red-hot muscle car.

We loved all of the Charger's many forms. We particularly liked the V8-powered hopped-up versions. We had the honor of driving many of the best Chargers ever built on both the road and racetrack. There was not a bad Charger in the bunch.

Let’s get one thing out of the way before we go too deeply into this story. The Challenger was a 2-door muscle car coupe. The Charger was a four-door sedan. OK, that aside, the two were very similar in all meaningful ways. Both are roomy inside in both rows, and both were available in many different versions. This choice comes down to which body shape you prefer.

One matchup we feel makes sense is the Ford Mustang vs. the Dodge Charger. Ford offers legit high-output V8 engines in the Mustang Coupe. We call the Mustang a pony car, not a muscle car, but we are old school. These two vehicles scratch the same itch. High power in a package that looks and feels cool. If turning is your bag, then consider the Mustang first.

Just replay everything we wrote about the Mustang here, and you will understand the Camaro. Like the Charger, the Camaro is now out of production. During its run, you could buy a Camaro with a supercharger or normally aspirated V8. There were many Camaros that were much better on twisty racetracks than a Charger, but none could really hang with the Charger in a drag race. Chevy guys, feel free to slam your Chromebook closed now.

As this story is written in early 2024, there are still new 2023 Dodge Chargers on sale. And Dodge is selling them at discounted prices. $2K cash on the dash is the starting point for some trims. The entry-level price for a Charger SXT (if any are remaining for purchase new) is around $37K. You get a V6, automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive for that money. Step up to an AWD Charger GT with the weather package and technology package, and the sticker price is a smidge above $42K.

The high-performance trims of the Charger start with the 5.7-liter V8-equipped RT. The Scat Pack adds the 6.4-liter V8. These two are priced around $54K and $60K, respectively. The Hellcats with the Supercharged V8 engines are the Hellcat Widebody Jailbreak at around $90K and the Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak at just under $100K. It would not surprise us if the remaining Hellcats are selling above MSRP.

Over the span of the modern age of the Dodge Charger, we had a chance to drive most of its configurations on both public roads and the Monticello Motor Club’s amazing racetrack. Every time we had a chance to enjoy the Charger, we found ourselves awed by the amazing driving experience and also the value for the dollar.

In wicked winter weather, the GT with AWD and its potent V6 engine was a legitimate crossover alternative. Even on high-performance all-season tires, the Charger was a beast in snow and even over ice. However, you want to hear about the V8 Chargers, right? Let us say it in one word… Amazing.

The very last Charger we tested was a 2023 Charger Scat Pack Swinger, and we drove it on public roads. It was this last drive that convinced us the 6.4-liter engine was more than enough for any situation. With 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, this car could easily break its rear tires free under even moderate acceleration. During one highway merge, we got the Charger a little bit wiggly in the back when we toed the throttle at about 30 MPH! One has to be very careful not to apply full power unless the conditions are just right.

The Charger came many ways, but our last tester had a lowered sport-tuned suspension with all manner of upgrades. Its super-wide, meaty, low-profile tires hung on in turns with a death grip. There were no public road scenarios where more handling capability would ever be needed.

When we tracked various Hellcats, the same was true of the power. Coming out of a turn, we would often either induce excessive oversteer (its rear end would start to come around), or if we left it enabled, the traction control would intervene. The Charger Hellcat, in all its forms, was “overpowered” for any road course. We never did any formal drag racing in the Charger Hellcats we tested, but on a closed course, we did give it the full boot a few times in a straight line. Nothing with rear-wheel drive we have ever tested could launch harder.

The brakes on every Charger we tested were superb. Excellent pedal feel and the braking capability always matched the car’s performance level.

One last note about the Charger. As a Sunday touring car, it was superb. Take the Charger and point it toward lonely mountain roads, and you are about to have a fine day indeed. We hope that any owner will understand that the Charger wasn't just good at one thing but was a very well-rounded car any enthusiast could enjoy on a daily basis or as a dedicated racecar.

The 2023 Dodge Charger did not earn the highest possible safety score from IIHS due to a marginal score on one crash test. Some driver-assist systems are optional. For example, the “Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Plus” and “Lane-Departure Warning Plus” systems, along with auto high beam control, are part of an $895 package. NHTSA scored the 2022 Charger in both RWD and AWD five stars.

The Dodge performance models come with different keys to “de-tune” the engine a bit and set limits for safety. Our take is that this is a big, strong sedan, and its safety will come down to how the driver operates it. Would we put one in the hands of a new driver? Nope. Is it safe in the hands of a mature adult? Absolutely.

In the 2023 J.D. Power and Associated Dependability Study, Dodge scored well above the industry average. Consumer Reports had insufficient data to make a judgment on the Charger.

The Charger is an enthusiast vehicle, and we looked outside the Car Talk team for an expert on Dodge performance vehicles. Patrick Rall is widely considered the top person in this regard. He told Car Talk, “I think a key factor behind the overall success of the modern Charger is its durability.”

The Charger is a wide model line. Based on our testing and research, we would say every Charger is a great car for its intended purpose. If you want a supercharged V8 with over 700 hp just because you think that is cool, go for it. However, based on our extensive road and track time, the Scat Pack with the 6.4-liter Hemi has more engine than the car can put to use in any situation other than a closed-course drag race.

If you use the Dodge build tool online, you will find a lot of packages. They are important in our opinion. For example, the Nav and Travel group adds Apple CarPlay to the SXT. We would budget around $6K over MSRP for these important packages. Also, if you are getting an SXT or GT and live above the Mason-Dixon line, don't drive home in one unless it has AWD. It is a fantastic system with real-world benefits for anyone who will never drive in snow.

Dodge covers the Charger with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is a relatively short warranty compared to other brands. Be aware that modifications to the Charger or damage caused by racing can void its warranty (true of all vehicles, regardless of brand).

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• Powertrain: 5 years / 50k miles
• 5-Year/100,000-Mile Roadside Assistance Service
• Dodge offers extended warranties for its products directly through its dealer network
• If buying used, consider our list of best extended warranty providers

The Dodge Charger is an excellent used car purchase.

Expert on Dodge performance cars, Patrick Rall, offered this insight on used Chargers: “The Charger has always been a popular option in the used car market due to the fact that they are so durable. People buy one new car, drive it for a few years, and sell it to someone else who is excited to get it. Then the original owner buys another new Charger and enjoys that one, often stepping up to the next most powerful trim level.”

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