Dodge Charger

With news of Toyota discontinuing its Avalon and no real competition on offer from its fellow domestic brands, the Dodge Charger nearly has the whole full-size sedan segment to itself. Despite that, Dodge continues to offer a wide array of engines, performance and personalization options

Whether you prefer leisurely or lunacy, the Charger's got you covered. And Dodge has also made sure that all buyers, no matter what kind of driving experience they're after, can tailor the Charger to their needs as well as their personality. We're big fans of the Charger and you can read where we think its strengths and weaknesses lie in our Expert Rating below. Other sedans to consider are the punchy and practical Kia Stinger, the sophisticated BMW 5 Series and the ultra-modern Tesla Model 3.

To get the most bang for your buck, we heartily recommend the Scat Pack for its raucous 6.4-liter V8 engine and wide array of customization options. Of those, we'd strongly suggest the Widebody package, not only to give the Charger an even more menacing stance but because it adds an adaptive suspension, high-performance brakes and wider, grippier tires. Other options to consider are the Navigation and Travel and Driver Convenience packages.

The 2022 Charger is available in five major trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat Widebody. All Chargers use an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, though the SXT and GT trims offer all-wheel drive as an option.

The Charger comes with five available engines.

The SXT and GT have a 3.6-liter V6 (292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, or 300 hp and 264 lb-ft for the rear-wheel-drive GT and all-wheel-drive SXT and GT)
The R/T gets a 5.7-liter V8 (370 hp, 395 lb-ft)
Stepping up to the Scat Pack introduces a 6.4-liter V8, also known as the 392 (485 hp, 475 lb-ft)
SRT Hellcats use a supercharged 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine (717 hp, 650 lb-ft)
The top dog, or cat, is the SRT Hellcat Redeye's even more powerful supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (797 hp, 707 lb-ft)

Trim levels include:

SXT Starts you off with:

17-inch wheels
Keyless entry and ignition
7-inch touchscreen infotainment display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Dual-zone climate control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Power-adjustable front seats
Remote start
Cruise control

GT Has a sportier look and gains:

LED foglights
Heated outside mirrors
Sport suspension
Functional hood scoop
20-inch wheels
8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
Upgraded audio system

R/T Includes the looks of the GT with V8 power:

Active exhaust
Unique 20-inch wheels

Scat Pack Ups the power and performance with the 6.4-liter V8 plus:

Specially designed 20-inch wheels
Limited-slip differential
High-performance brakes
More aggressive sport seats
Heated steering wheel and front seats
High-performance suspension
Launch control
Performance drive modes

SRT Hellcat Widebody Has the supercharged V8 and a bunch of additional features including:

Flared fenders
Unique 20-inch wheels
Ultra-high-performance brakes
Adaptive suspension
Ventilated seats
Heated second-row seats
Driver's seat memory settings
Leather-trimmed interior
Power-adjustable steering wheel
High-performance tires

The SRT Hellcat Widebody is also available as the Hellcat Redeye, which has the more powerful engine noted above.

Various option packages (Dodge refers to them as groups) can be had across multiple trim levels and can include technology, luxury, styling and performance features. Significant ones to look for include:

Plus Group (additional convenience and premium-oriented features)
Daytona Edition Group (special styling details and a few extra features)
Technology Group (adds some advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control)
Blacktop Package (blacked-out wheels and exterior trim)
Performance Handling Group (upgraded brakes and suspension)
Driver Convenience Group (more convenience features)
Navigation and Travel Group (upgraded touchscreen with integrated navigation)