2006 Dodge Charger – The Return of the Muscle Car
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The Charger is a modern coupe with retro styling and four-door functionality. Overall, the 2006 Charger is a cut above traditional family sedans in terms of performance capabilities. Dodge claims the car's front-to-rear weight distribution is close to 50/50. Three levels of suspension tuning — topped by a Road/Track Performance Group — are available. Standard tires are 17 inches in diameter, but 18-inch rubber is used on the R/T. Chargers come in base SE and performance-oriented R/T trim levels. An SXT package is also offered. The 2006 Dodge Charger is a fun drive, especially considering its size. Despite the fact that it is a heavy, full size sedan, it handles well. The Dodge Charger is a throwback to the famous two door muscle car of the late 1960's; however, it differentiates itself by being a four door full size sedan. It takes aggressive styling cues from the past and combines it with the standard features and functionality that car buyers are looking for in a car today.
Charger Power
The Charger's base engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 250 hp and 250 pounds-feet of torque. The available 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the R/T models gets 340 hp and 390 pounds-feet of torque. The V-8 can alternate between four- and eight-cylinder modes in order to boost fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. Dodge's five-speed-automatic transmission incorporates an AutoStick feature that allows manual gear selection. Dodge unveiled the high-performance SRT8 offshoot of the Charger at the 2005 New York Auto Show. With higher compression, it goes 0-to-60-mph in about 5 seconds. Brembo brakes, a race-bred suspension and 20-inch aluminum wheels are installed on the SRT8 for 2006. Its ride height is half an inch lower than the regular Charger's. All three engines deliver power smoothly. However, the V6 breathes a bit harder and requires a bit more planning ahead in heavy traffic. The V8s' most advanced feature, a multi-displacement system that conserves fuel by shutting down four cylinders when they're not needed to maintain the car's momentum, is invisible; you would never know it, and that’s a good thing. The 2006 Charger has all the pavement-ripping, super powers of the old muscle cars, but is packaged with modern creature comforts and tempered by startling levels of handling competency.
’06 Charger Design
The Charger is a bold design statement. In many ways, the 2006 Charger isn't much sleeker, or more aerodynamic than the original. The 2006 Charger has a bold crossbar front end and a short deck. There are minimal wheel flares, and a long bodyside crease meets another crease at the rear doors. On the SE and SXT a single exhaust tip exits beneath the right-hand side, while the V8-powered models sport chrome-tipped, muscle car-idiom, dual exhausts. Knocked off from the 1966 Dodge Coronet, and despite its fastback, two-door hardtop styling, that Charger was somewhat blocky, with squared-off front end, superficially sculpted slab sides and equally vertical backside From the side, the demi-fastback roofline and glasshouse look more grafted onto the somewhat fulsome body than a natural extension of the overall styling theme, very much as if the designer were trying to make a sedan look like a coupe. The beltline arcs softly back from a slight droop over the headlights to about midway in the rear side window, then kicks up over the rear quarter panel, visually bulking up the design.
Driving the 2006 Charger
With a Hemi V-8 and Touring suspension, the Charger R/T has a somewhat light feel, which seems a bit out of character. With V-6 power, the Charger qualifies as satisfactory and impressively quiet, substituting a humdrum growl for the Hemi's exhaust note when floored. Response is quick and reasonably precise going around curves, but it doesn't feel entirely confident all of the time. Vigorous Hemi performance is present when passing. The ride is nearly unbelievable on smooth surfaces, and rougher spots are dealt with appropriately. Except for a noisy exhaust sound when the gas pedal hits the floor, the Charger R/T is quiet. Long side windows aid visibility, but the low roof and steep windshield can make it difficult to see some overhead traffic lights. Outside visibility for rear passengers may be obstructed by the C-pillars.
Inside the Dodge Charger
The seats of the Charger are comfortable and the deep-set gauges are easy to read. In the front there is plenty of elbowroom and legroom, and rear legroom is ample. The five-occupant interior features front bucket seats and a rear bench. A 60/40-split, folding rear seat is part of an SXT package. Viper-inspired tunneled gauges feature white faces and satin silver accent rings. The two-tone interior features a darker upper trim color. The dash and instrument cluster is identical to the Magnum's, with the minor exception of surface trims on the center stack and center console, and when ordered on the R/T, the navigation display. From the driver's seat, easily scanned, large, round speedometer and tachometer share the top half of the steering wheel opening, with fuel and coolant temperature gauges down in the left and right corners, respectively. Standard SE equipment includes front-seat lumbar support; a manual tilt and telescoping steering column; a power trunk lid release; remote keyless/illuminated entry; cruise control; and power windows, locks and mirrors.
Conclusions
Dodge brought back a famous model name from its muscle-car past with the 2006 model year. From 1966 to the early 1970s, Charger coupes were among the most potent — and most recognized — muscle machines on the market. Chargers equipped with the legendary Hemi V-8 engine really captured the imagination of countless young drivers.
The revived rear-wheel-drive Charger supposedly represents what the car would be if production had never stopped. But one basic element has changed: The 2006 version is a four-door sedan rather than a coupe. That Charger is related to the Chrysler 300 sedan and Dodge Magnum wagon. Safety features that come standard on all Charger models include antilock brakes, all-speed. The vehicle comes with Dodge's Electronic Stability Program and antilock breaks. Side curtain airbags are options. for further research, read another 2006 Charger review.
