2020 Dodge Charger Review

　　

2020 Dodge Charger Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Automakers have largely given up on making large sedans, especially ones that deliver high levels of performance. But Dodge continues to keep the flame lit with its 2020 Charger. Combining the visceral excitement of a muscle car with the convenience of four doors, the Charger is in a class by itself.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$159/mo  for Charger SXT

　　Charger SXT

　　SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $29,995 MSRPSXT 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $33,595 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,995 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,995 MSRPR/T 4dr Sedan (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $36,495 MSRPScat Pack 4dr Sedan (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $40,495 MSRPScat Pack Widebody 4dr Sedan (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $46,495 MSRPSRT Hellcat Widebody 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $69,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　You can choose the V6-powered Charger in its base form or go all out with the 707-horsepower Hellcat and its supercharged V8, but there are plenty of happy middle-ground options as well. 2020 also brings some new Widebody variants that deliver greater visual swagger as well as improved cornering performance. This year also marks the Charger's 50th anniversary, which Dodge is celebrating with a 717-hp Daytona limited edition.

　　Combined with some more extensive underbody changes last year, the Dodge Charger remains relevant even though it's been almost a decade since it was reintroduced. Certainly, there are more sensible and fuel-efficient choices for a roomy sedan. Toyota's Avalon, in particular, has become surprisingly sporty in recent years. But if you have an appetite for performance but want some sedan-based practicality, the Charger is the only way to go.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Charger? The Charger's front seats provide plenty of bolstering and lumbar support. They'll keep you comfortable on a long road trip and keep you in place when the road gets twisty. The rear seats are also well contoured with similarly supportive padding.

　　On the downside, we could feel just about every bump in the city and on the highway from our Scat Pack test car. Base Chargers will ride a little more softly. There's a fair amount of road and tire noise at highway speeds too. Everything is damped down by a lot of sound insulation, but the Charger is no hushed highway cruiser.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Charger is spacious on the inside, especially in the front. The back seat fits adults well too. There's enough head-, hiproom and shoulder room for at least two adults and one kid in the back. It's much roomier than a two-door muscle car.

　　The Charger's wide roof pillars impede your view. The small rear window and sloping windshield also affect visibility. You can see out of the car while moving forward relatively well, but it's nearly impossible to truly look through a corner on a curvy road. The sloping rear roofline means you'll have a hard time getting into and out of the back seat without grazing your head.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Dodge's Uconnect system is one of the best around. It responds quickly to inputs and catalogs music collections with lightning speed. An optional 19-speaker stereo drives up the price quite a bit (we'd skip that option), but voice controls and navigation are excellent.

　　A collection of driver safety aids, such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane keeping assist, are part of the optional Technology Group. All work pretty well. The adaptive cruise control's following distance is relatively conservative.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The trunk is decently sized, but there's a high liftover height and the space narrows significantly toward the back. Non-performance-oriented competitors in the midsize segment do much better. The door and center console pockets are relatively small, and they're paired with small can-sized cupholders. Rear seat storage is limited too.

　　Car seat anchors are hard to see in all three seating positions. The back seat is wide enough for bulkier child safety seats, and there's generally enough space to fit them behind the front seats, but the Charger's low roof makes it difficult to load a seat and attend to a child.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Charger is definitely not the car you buy for fuel economy. The big 6.4-liter V8 is better than the supercharged Hellcat engine, but only marginally. The EPA estimates 18 mpg combined with the 6.4-liter engine. We averaged 19 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Charger a good value? Most of Dodge's development budget went toward what's under the hood of this car. Build quality is good but not great. Nothing was rattling or squeaking in our test car. But lots of the plastic interior surfaces feel a bit cheap for the price point.

　　As far as the ownership experience goes, expect to spend a lot of money on gas if you've got a V8-powered Charger. Warranty and roadside assistance coverage is average compared to other sedans.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　You'll find fewer brute-force muscle cars on the road these days, and pretty much none are equipped with a big non-turbocharged V8 and four doors. The Charger with its optional engines and many customization options really is in a class of its own.

　　If your idea of fun is blasting tunnels, chirping the tires, and setting off with eye-watering speed, then this car in this configuration will be right up your alley. It's no sports car, but it handles curvy roads well too. Everywhere you drive the Charger (except the gas pump), you'll be smiling.

　　

Which Charger does zzdcar recommend?

For the full muscle-car experience, we suggest stepping up to a V8-powered Charger. The R/T is the entry-level for the eight-cylinder models and comes well appointed with more creature comforts than supporting trims. We'd also add the optional Driver Confidence and Technology packages.

　　

2020 Dodge Charger models

The 2020 Dodge Charger is a five-passenger, four-door sedan available in five main trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on the SXT and GT trims.

　　The SXT starts with a 3.6-liter V6 engine (292 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque, or slightly more with all-wheel drive selected) matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. You get a decent number of standard features, including keyless entry and ignition, a power-adjustable driver's seat and Dodge's Uconnect infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

　　Next up is the GT. It still has the V6 but comes with more features such as bigger wheels, a performance suspension, front sport seats and a 8.4-inch touchscreen. The R/T is equipped similarly to the GT, but it comes with a 5.7-liter V8 engine (370 hp, 395 lb-ft).

　　The Scat Pack adds to the R/T a bigger 6.4-liter V8 engine (485 hp, 475 lb-ft) and Brembo high-performance brakes and a limited-slip rear differential among other performance upgrades.

　　For the above trim levels, a variety of optional packages are available. Highlight features include xenon headlights, an upgraded suspension and tires, a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a Harman Kardon sound system. For added safety, check out the Technology Group package.

　　Finally, the SRT Hellcat Widebody tops the Charger line with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (707 hp, 650 lb-ft) and almost all of the above options. The Widebody upgrade (flared wheel arches, wider wheels and tires, and adaptive suspension dampers) is also offered on the Scat Pack as an option.

　　For 2020, a Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition is limited to 501 units and builds on the Hellcat Widebody's features. You get a slight power increase to 717 hp, premium leather upholstery, and numerous exterior and interior treatments.

　　

2020 Charger Highlights

Type: SedanSRT Hellcat WidebodySedan

　　Trim: SXTGTR/TScat PackScat Pack WidebodySRT Hellcat WidebodySXT

　　

Base MSRP	$29,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$159/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles