Used 2019 Dodge Charger GT Sedan Review

The 2019 Dodge Charger isn't a sensible car for sensible drivers. Instead, it's for drivers who want a car that looks cool, makes cool noises, goes obscenely fast and comes in colors such as Go Mango, Plum Crazy, TorRed and White Knuckle. If you're looking for something state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient, refined and anonymously styled, the Charger is not your car.

It is practical, though. Four doors, a roomy cabin, and a raft of safety features make the Charger a legitimate choice for family duty. A broad range of standard and optional creature comforts let you tailor the Charger to taste, while the car's Uconnect infotainment interface remains one of the best around. It's even available with all-wheel drive, which helps bolster this performance sedan's usability in inclement weather.

For 2019, Dodge has made a few updates as well. The SRT Hellcat gets a new grille and features to help improve drag-racing performance, including a line lock, a launch assist feature, torque reserve, and after-run chiller. Below that, the SRT R/T Scat Pack gets new styling options and available adaptive suspension dampers. Charger GT and R/T models receive a host of chassis and electronic upgrades, including a performance suspension, a new rear axle ratio and recalibrated steering.

These changes help keep the Charger fresh. The latest generation has seemingly been around forever (since 2011), yet it's still one of our favorite big sedans. It's the only one that blends classic hot-rod performance and style with modern sensibility.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Dodge Charger as one of Edmunds' Best AWD Sedans for this year.

The 2019 Dodge Charger is a five-passenger, four-door sedan available in five main trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat. The SXT and GT trims come with the V6, while the others come with increasingly powerful V8 engines culminating in the 707-horsepower Hellcat. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on the SXT trim.

The SXT starts with a 3.6-liter V6 engine (292 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque) matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. From there, standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 60/40-split folding back seat. Tech features include Dodge's Uconnect infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, dual USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

When you opt for the all-wheel-drive version of the SXT, you also get an uprated version of the 3.6-liter V6 engine (300 hp and 264 lb-ft), 19-inch wheels, LED foglights, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, upgraded cloth upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Uconnect with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, HD radio, a 4G LTE in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, and an upgraded six-speaker sound system.

Next up is the GT. It's equipped similarly to SXT AWD trim but has rear-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, and suspension and styling enhancements. The R/T is equipped similarly to the GT, but it comes with a 5.7-liter V8 engine (370 hp, 395 lb-ft).

The Scat Pack adds to the R/T a bigger 6.4-liter V8 engine (485 hp, 475 lb-ft), Brembo high-performance brakes, a limited-slip rear differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, and power-adjustable front seats.

For the above trim levels, a variety of optional packages are available. Highlight features include xenon headlights, an upgraded suspension and tires, a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a navigation system, a Harman Kardon sound system, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and heated rear seats. For added safety, check out the Technology Group package that includes most of today's important driver assistance features.

Finally, the SRT Hellcat tops the Charger line with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (707 hp, 650 lb-ft), upgraded steering and suspension tuning, and almost all of the above options.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Dodge Charger Daytona 392 (6.4L V8 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2018, the current Charger has received some minor revisions, including new trim level names and feature availability. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Charger, however.