2017 Dodge Charger Review

When it comes to the 2017 Dodge Charger, let's just go ahead and throw our "sensible car-selection advice" guidebook into the trash can. If you're looking for a spacious, refined, comfortable, state-of-the-art and efficient large sedan, turn your attention to a Toyota Avalon or Buick LaCrosse. By virtually every sensible measure, they are better cars.

However, the Charger is best suited for drivers who really aren't that sensible. It's a car for folks who want a car that looks cool, that makes cool noises and that even comes in cool colors such as  Green Go, Yellow Jacket and Contusion Blue. You want power? The Charger can be fitted with a V8, an even bigger V8 or a V8 with so much power that it could probably qualify for NASCAR duty. And even if you just want a car that looks as if it has one of those monster engines, there's a perfectly agreeable (and more affordable) V6 available.

Of course, it's still wise to keep in mind those sensibility issues we alluded to earlier: The Charger isn't as refined or comfortable as more recently redesigned large sedans such as the Avalon, LaCrosse and Kia Cadenza. Checking out the sharp-handling Chevrolet SS is also a good idea — it's the only rear-wheel-drive muscle sedan that really measures up to the admittedly more flamboyant Charger. Ultimately, though, the Charger is unabashedly a different sort of car for a different sort of people. You don't need a "sensible car-selection advice" guidebook to understand that.

Standard safety features for the Charger include stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front seat side-impact airbags, a driver knee airbag and side curtain airbags. Standard on some Charger models and optional for others are rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. Optional advanced safety features include a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, a lane departure warning and intervention system, and a forward collision warning and mitigation system with automatic braking that's bundled with adaptive cruise control. Dodge Chargers with Uconnect Access offer remote vehicle access (via a smartphone app), emergency assistance and text notifications if the alarm goes off.

In Edmunds brake testing, a Charger R/T Scat Pack came to a stop from 60 mph in 111 feet, which is typical for a performance car with summer tires but nevertheless impressive given the Charger's formidable curb weight. The SRT Hellcat stopped from 60 mph in a remarkable 103 feet.

The government gave the Charger its best possible five-star overall crash test rating, which included four stars for front-impact safety and five stars for side-impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Charger its highest rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front-impact, side-impact and roof strength crash tests. However, it received a rating of Marginal (second worst of four) in the small-overlap front-impact crash test. Its forward collision warning and automatic braking system was awarded a Superior rating.

The 2017 Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan offered in these trim levels: SE, SXT, R/T, Daytona, R/T Scat Pack, Daytona 392, SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat. All are rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is optional on the SE and SXT.

With all the various 2017 Charger models, engines, suspensions and even steering tuning available, it's probably no surprise that driving impressions can vary widely. Inevitably, though, the 2017 Dodge Charger proves that driving a large sedan doesn't have to be boring. The base V6-powered cars are softly tuned and aren't much fun to drive enthusiastically around turns, but the performance-oriented models demonstrate precise steering and very good body control, which helps driver confidence. The latter improves incrementally with each higher level of the available sport-tuned suspensions, although the ride also becomes firmer with each as well.

For power, the 3.6-liter V6 (Charger SE or SXT) is adequate, but it can feel outmatched at times by the sedan's weight. We've also noticed that this engine sounds a bit coarse when you're accelerating hard at higher rpm. Stepping up to the 2017 Charger R/T's 5.7-liter V8 solves both problems. This is classic American muscle-car power at its best, and the engine works brilliantly with the eight-speed automatic transmission to provide effortless performance at any speed.
Moving up to the R/T Scat Pack or the 392 trim brings a larger, gloriously American 6.4-liter V8 that serves up downright beastly acceleration with a soundtrack to match. And then there's the SRT Hellcat, one of the most absurdly powerful cars on the planet. Is 707 hp really needed, especially in light of the 392 engine? Of course not, but there's no other four-door car in this price range that accelerates with that kind of ferocity.

Although the 2017 Dodge Charger is oriented toward performance, its cabin has a much broader appeal thanks to a sleek dashboard design. There are some rather large expanses of plastic and black rubbery trim that may be off-putting, but given the Charger's asking price, interior quality is appropriate. The aesthetics are further enhanced by some retro-inspired touches here and there, including the T-handle shifter for the automatic transmission. We're also fans of the 8.4-inch touchscreen interface, as it has large "virtual" buttons, an intuitive layout and even quicker responses for 2017. Even the smaller 5-inch screen in the base SE model works well.

The Charger has a vast amount of shoulder room, and the front seats are as roomy as you'd expect in a large sedan. In fact those of small stature may actually feel as if they're being swallowed up by the gargantuan chairs. The mix of leather and simulated-suede upholstery in certain Chargers is appealing and improves support during spirited driving.

The backseat provides plenty of room, but rival front-wheel-drive sedans generally offer more headroom, and their legroom isn't compromised by a massive driveshaft tunnel. Compared to other performance-oriented cars, however, the Charger offers a sensational amount of space. The same could be said about the trunk, although at 16.5 cubic feet, it too is unremarkable for a large sedan.