The Dodge Charger kicked off the return of the American muscle car when it was reintroduced in 2006. Its success spawned not only the resurrection of its sibling, the Dodge Challenger, but also helped revive the rival Chevy SS (and by extension the Camaro). And while the Chevy SS is the only other modern four-door muscle car and provides far more power, it's priced more than $20,000 higher than the base model Charger and is offered in only one trim level.
How Much?
The 2015 Dodge Charger starts at $27,995 for the entry-level SE with a 292 horsepower V6 and goes up to $39,995 for the top-of-the-line R/T Road & Track trim with a Hemi V8. (The SRT versions are even more expensive—and powerful—with the Hellcat cranking out 707 horsepower.) Our R/T tester had a base price of $32,995. But with Redline Red Tri-Coat Pearl paint ($500), Wheels and Tunes Group ($1,095) and Navigation/Rear Back Camera Group options ($995), and a $995 destination charge, the sticker topped out at $36,580.
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What Does it Come With?
The 2015 Dodge Charger R/T is equipped with a 370-horsepower 5.7L Hemi V8 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also comes with paddle shifters, performance suspension, dual exhausts, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, remote start, power suede and leather seats, and the Uconnect infotainment system, wihich hasan 8.4-inch touch screen with AM/FM/satellite radio, Bluetooth for hands-free phoning and music streaming, a Media Hub with USB, aux-in, and SD card slots, and two more charging USB ports on the back of the center console. The Navigation/Rear Back Camera Group option adds nav with 3D mapping, HD Radio, and a 5-year subscription to SiriusXM Traffic and Weather and Travel Link for finding fuel prices, sports scores, and movie listings. A 10-speaker/552-watt Beats premium audio system comes with the Wheels and Tunes Group, along with 20-inch polished-aluminum rims.
How's the Tech?
The 2015 Dodge R/T has tech features that enhance driving a muscle car, such as a 7-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster that puts info drivers prefer right in their face. And the car's Fuel Saver Technology automatically deactivates four cylinders to so that the V8 sips rather than guzzles gas when cruising on the highway The Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system provides the best of both worlds by offering embedded connectivity for telematics functions as well as in-car Wi-Fi and Yelp for local search. It also delivers streaming music and other cloud-based content using a driver's tethered smartphone.
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How Does it Perform?
The 2015 Charger R/T's V8 Hemi delivers a healthy 370 horsepower, along with a throaty roar through dual exhausts. For such a large car, ride quality is not only smooth on rougher roads, but also well-balanced through tight turns. With its dual 8-inch subwoofers, the Beats premium audio system is a bit bass heavy for our tastes, but this can be somewhat tamed using the tone controls. The Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system is one of the best available, thanks to its large touch screen and intuitive interface. Telematics services are somewhat sparse and include roadside assistance and vehicle health reports, but not automatic crash notification. A companion smartphone app provides typical features like door locking/unlocking, remote starting, and flashing the headlights to find the vehicle in a crowded parking lot, as well as extra conveniences such as text notification when the car's alarm is tripped.
Should I Buy it?
If you want a modern four-door American muscle car, your only two choices are the Dodge Charger and the Chevy SS. You can get into a base Charger for a bit under $30,000, whereas the Chevy SS starts at more than $45,000. While the Chevy SS boasts 425 horses, the 2015 Dodge Charger R/T that we tested has more than adequate power. And it costs over $10,000 less and has better in-dash tech.
2015 Dodge Charger R/T
4.0
Editors' Choice
See It$36,580.00 at Truecar
MSRP $36,580.00
Pros
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Intuitive infotainment interface.
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Embedded and tethered cloud connectivity.
Cons
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No automatic crash notification.
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Bass-heavy Beats premium audio system.
The Bottom Line
The 2015 Dodge Charger R/T is a modern four-door American muscle car that provides old-school performance and cutting-edge connectivity.
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