Looking at all full-size sedans available America is definitely a case of "one of these things is not like the others." latest iteration of Dodge LX-platformed, drive rear-wheel sedan sticks out like a sore covered thumb in beer and barbecue sauce.
freshly facelifted second generation new Charger (it is the seventh generation of global use plate) is exactly what i want in a pony car with four doors: average seems much power and a suspension tuned for more to go straight when cornering
But I will not say its better than the new Maxima. - another full size (ish) a sports sedan which makes claim. In fact, it is certainly not as good as the Maxima.
And I could not care less.
Tester
2015 Dodge Charger SXT V6 AWD w / Rally Paquet
engine DOHC 3.6-liter V6 direct injection (292/300 [Rallye Group] horsepowe r @ 6350 rpm, 260/264 [Rallye Group] lb-ft @ 4800 rpm)
Transmission: Automatic 8-speed with paddle shifters
fuel economy ( Note, MPG) 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined
fuel economy (observed MPG) 21 mpg, approx. 75 percent highway
Options :. Roof RALLY Group, AWD Premium Package, Technology Group, Navigation / Rear Back-Up Camera Group, Redline Tricoat Pearl exterior paint, painted black
As Tested (US): $ 45,570 (leaf)
as Tested (Canada): $ 48,975 (leaf)
While the 2015 Charger is considered by most as a facelift, not a notch on generating head, the last iteration brings with it enough money to completely ignore the 2014 model year, you should find one of the new special cuvee (or used with 10 miles on the clock) hang a local Dodge dealer. Even with a strong reduction, I would be hard pressed to spring for the previous model.
In addition to the design radically differ ent front-end, all chargers now get 8-speed automatic ZF-sourced transmission as standard, regardless of the transmission or engine choice. SE at Hellcat, each receives a 8-speed transmission - unless youre a cop. Inside, materials are improved with the steering wheel upgrade with three branches and 7 inches, IP-mounted display.
This is as close as you can get to a whole new generation. The only thing missing is a new platform. This does not due to arrive until 2018.
Exterior
ditching the slightly squat lighthouses pre-facelift models, the charger now sports a little strong eyeliner in the form of LED strips following the edge of the housing. The new lights, with a grid update and surrounding sheet metal finally give the magazine a refined front fascia
The rear offers up lighting signature Dodge Raceway -. That would still be cool if FCA designers do not stick the same item on the humble Dart (I can forgive them for Durango). One end of the tail that tapers inward from the bottom you look does not give the magazine look the more threatening from behind, at least in the AWD configuration of this tester. Also, if you look closely at the picture above, you can clearly see a misalignment of the panel being. Id love to say that the magazine is a quality product - because it feels and looks like almost everywhere else - but misaligned panels are something that should have b een eliminated ages ago with robots and lasers . This is just sloppy. Damn Canadians.
However, these are not the worst parts of the design of the charger. When you get to the side profile, you are greeted by what looks like a Chinese knock-off Nike-swoosh molded in the sheet. I think the magazine would look much better with a simple body line - or better yet, nothing at all -. To eliminate the distraction of a silhouette that easily throw the nasty shadow in the segment
Another thing you want to notice you staring at her side: wheels and wings to the offset wheel. On AWD models, the charger is shod with 19-inch wheels instead of 20-inchers seen equipped with many other toppings. Unfortunately 19s look almost too small on the charger and the gap of the wing and shifting body in the back seems ... weird
Even with all its weaknesses, it somehow works together -. But only just. He is like a collection of Lego pieces of different sets being used to build something with a minimum of imagination. And it seems angry -. As befits a car that is available with a 707 hp supercharged V8
Interior
At first glance Inside our tester is downright garish. Leather seats and door inserts are colored red faded which does not match with any of the red hue carried by the exterior of the car panels. The leather itself, then it could be of high quality, seems downright che ap because of the color. Fortunately, this particular interior is a Rally Group option and can be replaced by simple black.
However, what is not so good is feeling exacerbated by some cheap leather panels that match a little more flexible than they should. I saw this particular problem with the leather in modern Chrysler products before - especially the well-improved Chrysler 0 -. And he made the seats look like they wear a size too big clothes
Beyond the leather, the seats themselves offer significant support at this level of finish, providing comfort for short getaways the city and long, cross-country drives. As I walked my way down the highway on a late night road I took last week (you will learn later today), there was not one moment where I thought to stop and take a break to stretch. Even the only stop on the disk is drive-thru variety (you better believe it was Tim Hortons) and not stop park-get-out-and-foot.
Aside from the leather of the seat and t he door, the look and feel of the materials are of high quality and it does not seem to be mounting problems. My only complaint - if you can even call it - is all this material and the model used for the dashboard topper seems to attract and hold dust as it is a precious mineral. Wiping the dashboard with a microfiber cloth makes the issue worse than plastic soft-touch handles on the fabric and stands on its fibers.
The controls are well laid with large buttons and knobs for primary HVAC and audio controls such as temperature, fan speed and stereo volume. It even has a knob like the good old days of TV channel 13.
The rear loader offers just enough space for the comfortable limit for adults in full-screen mode. With me planted in the drivers seat and my roommate similar high sitting right behind me, we were not an inch to spare us, but I do not have to sacrifice my driving position either.
Infotainment
I like almost everything about uConnect - except for the name. The infotainment system for Chrysler, with its large navigation icons placed at the bottom of an 8-inch touch screen, is one of the best in the business and beats those found in the new Maxima, Non-Classic Impala beige-a-tron Avalon easily.
The charger also has another high-resolution screen sitting between the speedometer and tachometer, providing vital information for fuel economy, audio, navigation and a host of other pages youre not likely to spend much time with. The commands to navigate through the pages displayed on the IP screen are mounted on the steering wheel and are dead simple to use -. Only four arrow buttons and OK button in the middle
The tester was also equipped with the optional Beats by Dr. Dre audio system 10 speakers. When listening to audio SiriusXM or iPod via USB or Bluetooth, you will hear much difference between this and other "premium" brand competing systems, but if the audio system is the point buy or not to decide the purchase of a loader, you are wrong. That said, my untrained ear did not complain of the quality of air from the speakers of the system.
Training
Considering the ch arger can be had with the iron hammer that is the 6.2-liter V8 Hellcat, the choice of a V6 to power your charger looks like it could not be enough to motivate the big sedan. However, at least with our top-rated model Rallye Group, the V6 with 300 hp was quite capable of throwing myself into my seat. While the Maxima could have more power thanks to its 3.5L V6, the V6 charger sends power to the rear - or front and back, in this case -. The car by a real actual transmission gear
This transmission - automatic ZF eight-speed - is great for fuel economy, but it is not the best when it comes to drivability. If you want a really smooth transmission in your next large sedan, getting Impala. If you want a little kick in the back as you hold the half-throttle down the road, stay with the charger.
One might think that because the V6 Maxima is attached to a CVT that would be the worst sounding option. Yet thanks to pranksters to Bose, the Maxima pipes pleasant engine note in t he cabin. The charger is based on good, old exhaust note to deliver sound throughout his plate. With the Pentastar V6, the sound stage is a bit disappointing when at full trot. The engine itself seems even a little tiny and rattly. Im sure that can be easily remedied with two extra cylinders, though.
player Since the reappearance of the charger during the days of the rein Daimler Dodge go-to for sales of easy fleets slowly improved to become a valid competitor for your marketing dollars to the hard-earned retail.
to make sense, you really need to put in place against the Maxima -. even if Nissan does not think they are competing head-to-head
one hand, Nissan is offering sportier, at least when bites apples to apples available V6 models. While the Maxima hugging a turn and will not get upset by the imperfections of the road during your peak, the charger still provides a significant amount of rear suspension jerks when driving over expansion joints and the like . You can easily feel the back of the car come around these events, albeit slightly, and it is only disturbing until you get used to it and know nothing will happen to you.
In addition , Nissan Maxima brings all the handling prowess to the table through well programmed computer monitoring of all your input so that it can make active adjustments to brakes and other control systems. The charger: a sport button that changes the shift mapping and other simple things easily handled by the ECU. There is absolutely nothing extraordinary is happening here, and it shows in the treatment.
If you are looking for a driver-oriented cockpit, the Maxima wins this round as well, with an inner feeling very similar to the CTS Vsport in the way it encapsulates you. The charger is much more open to the front and allows you to put your hand on the leg of the woman next to you.
But there is no final nail in the coffin in this charger vs Maxima debate. The ride in the feeder is much more luxurious, though perhaps down to the high sidewalled our tire tester. In addition, infotainment and other controls are much easier to learn and use in the charger. It is certainly a k ind get-in-and-go car like each control is exactly where you think it should be ... except the style of truck floor emergency brake
The verdict final:. If you want a "four-door sports car", get the Maxima. If you want a "pony car with four doors" with a comfortable ride and less all the technological gimmickry, go with the charger.
I know I will.
