2019 Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is available in two different trims, SXT ($29,470) and GT ($31,745). The newest addition to the trim lineup is the all-wheel-drive version of the SXT trim. The new trim gets the more powerful version of the V6 engine instead of the standard 292-hp engine. The standard features include a 7-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, voice recognition, satellite radio, cloth upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a rearview camera. 

The AWD model not only updates the drivetrain but also adds an 8.4-inch touch screen, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It also gets other performance enhancements such as performance brakes, a performance steering wheel, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The GT trim is for customers looking for a more performance-oriented machine. It gets a more powerful engine along with other performance features. For $3,770 more it gets a performance suspension, performance front seats, performance brakes, and performance steering wheel. Thus, it is much more fun to drive than the SXT trim. 

Which Trim should you buy?

While the base trim is certainly a value for money proposition, we would recommend most buyers opt for the GT trim. Thanks to the more powerful engine and various performance enhancements, it is more engaging to drive. For $33,240, the GT Trim also adds many functional features such as the Auto-dimming rearview mirror and Dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2019 Dodge Charger offers two powertrain options that are linked to the trims on offer. It is powered by a 3.6L V6 sequential MPI engine that is available in two different states of tune. The engine develops 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque with the SXT trim. With the GT and the SXT trim equipped with an all-wheel drive, it develops 300-horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque. The entry-level SXT trim comes with a rear-wheel drivetrain as standard and can be updated to an all-wheel drive now. 

The V6 engine is tuned to offer punchy straight-line performance under an affordable budget. Thus, the base engine is also quite capable of burning some rubber. The throttle response is not the quickest but the overall driving experience feels energetic thanks to the good grunt under the hood. Also, the 8-Speed automatic transmission can skim through the gears with ease and without a hiccup. However, if you want some serious muscle car grunt, you would have to opt for its Hellcat version. 

In terms of straight-line performance, the Charger ranks at the bottom half of the segment. It can go from zero to 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds with the standard engine, which is respectable but not among the best in its class. If you want the best performance for your money, the Kia Stinger still remains the best option in this respective segment.

How well does the 2019 Dodge Charger handle?

While most muscle cars focus on offering good grunt for quick straight-line performance, the 2019 Dodge Charger is an enjoyable handler as well. It feels quite athletic for a sedan of its size and weight. The steering provides a good feel and feedback to the driver which helps in knowing what road surface you are working with. Chucking it into a corner and speeding out of it is quite engaging and the steering wheel gains good heft as you pick up more speed. 

In terms of the ride, the Charger is surprisingly comfortable. It remains plaintive at high speeds and can soak up most bumps, potholes, and road undulations quite well. Thus, the suspension keeps the passengers away from most aftershocks of dealing with rough road situations. However, there is considerable body roll while taking on sharp corners. The body roll can be reduced by opting for the performance suspension which is available with the GT trim.

2019 Dodge Charger Braking Performance

The Charger gets adequate braking prowess to bring it to a halt from 60 mph in under 110 feet. In our braking tests, the car covered about 107 feet in order to come to a halt from 60 mph. It gets a 12.6 inches brake rotor at the front as well as at the rear. The stock all-season tires also provide excellent grip under wet or dry conditions.

The heaviest sedan here is the Chrysler 300 which also shows in our braking test figures. It covers the longest distance in order to come to a halt from 60 mph. The best braking performance is showcased by the Dodge Charger which gets the biggest brake rotors in its class.

With the base V6 engine, the Charger is able to return about 19 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG combined. Even if you opt for the more powerful engine option there would not be much of a difference in real-world fuel economy figures. However, with the all-wheel-drive version, you can expect a drop of 2-3 MPGs. The efficiency figures are at par with the segment and are among the best in its class.

With 18.5 gallons of fuel tank capacity, the Charger offers an excellent range on a full tank. Thus, while it is not the best sedan in terms of performance, it redeems itself when it comes to efficiency. On the other hand, the Chrysler 300 is one of the best-performing cars here but lacks behind its rivals in terms of fuel economy numbers. 

Once you step inside the cabin of the Dodge Charger, you realize that the car is meant to be more functional than luxurious. The dashboard is quite practically laid out with the instrumentation cowl extending all the way to the AC vents. The center console houses the AC and infotainment controls that feel built to last. All the switchgear used feels premium but an abundance of use of hard plastics brings down the overall experience. The all-around visibility is good but not great due to the sloping roofline.

The front seats provide good support and side bolstering is adequate to keep even larger frame passengers in one place. Where the cabin absolutely nails it is in terms of the space on offer. The rear seats give good room to stretch out and seating 3 people at the rear is not very difficult. Lack of storage spaces can be felt no matter where you are sitting inside the cabin. 

The Charger scores full points when it comes to space. It offers one of the biggest boots in its class with 16.1 cubic feet of space to load your luggage. It can fit about 14-16 carry-on suitcases which are above average for its class. Only the Chrysler 300 offers a bigger boot than the Charger but the difference remains minimal. Key interior features include:

• 8-Way Driver Seat
• 8-Way Passenger Seat
• Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Power Rear Windows
• Voice Recorder
• Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar Adjust
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Proximity Key For Doors And Push Button Start
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter
• Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Illuminated Locking Glove Box
• Driver Foot Rest
• Full Cloth Headliner

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 Dodge Charger gets a 7-inch infotainment screen as standard with the U Connect interface. Updating it to the GT trim equips it with a larger 8.4-inch unit. Both the units feel responsive to touch and they feel quite user-friendly. As standard, the infotainment unit is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Features such as 4G LTE Hotspot are also standard and crisp graphics make it feel quite contemporary. Key features of the infotainment system include:

• 7-inch / 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Voice recognition
• Satellite radio
• Six-speaker stereo
• Two USB ports
• Bluetooth
• Available nine-speaker Alpine stereo

While the 2019 Dodge Charger is not much of a head-turner, it certainly has the typical muscle car looks. It gets an imposing and bold look with a straightforward appeal. The front looks quite angular with a big grille and rectangular headlights. From the sides, it looks more like a regular executive sedan with simple straight lines flowing from front to the rear. At the rear, the elongated tail lamps help to add to the contemporary look. However, overall, the new Charger looks like a car just like any other in the segment. 

The Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300 offer the best road presence in their class. The Kia Stinger on the other hand looks the most contemporary as well as imposing. The Toyota Avalon is the smallest car here in terms of dimensions but it does look quite imposing around other cars. Key Exterior features include:

• Wheels: 20" x 9.0" Black Noise
• Goodyear Brand Tires
• Clearcoat Paint
• Light Tinted Glass
• Speed Sensitive Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets
• Black Grille
• Lip Spoiler
• Trunk Rear Cargo Access
• Perimeter/Approach Lights
• LED Brakelights
• Front Fog Lamps
• Laminated Glass

The Dodge Charger comes loaded with a lot of safety kits and driver assistance features. It comes with optional extras such as adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking. The base trim excludes most of the driver-assistance features and thus does not recommend opting for it. The 2019 Charger has received a full five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), however, it received an average rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Key safety features include:

• Rearview camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist

2019 Dodge Charger vs 2019 Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is another popular choice in the segment which also offers punchy powertrains. It features a user-friendly infotainment system along with a healthy features list. Just like the Charger, its handling characteristics are quite enjoyable and you can have a lot of fun with it. The Charger on the other hand is a much bigger car and thus offers more room on the inside. However, the Avalon is a much more polished product out of the two.

2019 Dodge Charger vs 2019 Kia Stinger

The Kia Stinger is the most performance-oriented car here. It also looks the most distinctive as well as modern. Kia has given it a healthy features list along with an excellent infotainment unit. The new update is even more desirable, thanks to the new set of advanced features that the carmaker now offers. However, in comparison to the Charger, it offers less space on the inside. 

2019 Dodge Charger vs 2019 Chrysler 300 

There is no denying the fact that the Chrysler 300 looks like the most outdated car here. However, it still has a lot going for it. It offers an upscale cabin along with potent engine options. The straight-line acceleration is also impressive and the Chrysler 300 comes with a spacious cabin. However, its mixed crash-test results and poor reliability ratings make it rank near the bottom in its class. The Charger feels much more refined and offers a more practical package.

The Dodge Charger is quite practical as well as an enjoyable car to drive. It handles with athleticism given its size which makes it quite versatile as well. With a roomy cabin and an intuitive infotainment system, it is also quite easy to live with. The performance from the powertrain options is also at par with most of its rivals. However, its low rent cabin quality and poor predicted reliability ratings are its biggest cons that can turn away many customers.