2021 Dodge Charger Review

Name: 2021 Dodge Charger Review
Brand: Dodge

Price Range: $16,999 - $79,900

Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody Sedan Exterior

+483

No other American sedan has the same combination of performance, comfort and muscle-car style as the Charger. Acceleration is quick and the brakes are reassuringly strong, but the vague steering feel and the suspension's sensitivity to midcorner bumps hamper overall handling. Scores for convenience and utility are also middling.Read full review

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2021 Dodge Charger Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Powerful V8 engines available, including the one for the 707-hp Hellcat
Trim levels and graphics packages allow for plenty of personalization
Infotainment is user-friendly and features a large touchscreen

Cons

V8 engines can be thirsty when driven with enthusiasm
Sloping roofline impedes visibility and backseat access
In fit and finish, it lags some competitors

What's new

797-hp Charger Hellcat Redeye joins the lineup
Part of the seventh Charger generation introduced for 2011

Overview

The sensible sedan buyer wants a fuel-efficient engine, but not at the expense of too much power, a comfortable interior and some of the latest advanced driver safety aids. The rabid enthusiast wants the biggest, most powerful engine available in a sedan, a wide-body kit with ridiculously wide wheels, and a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour. For those two buyers, there is the 2021 Dodge Charger.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$167/mo

$200/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

So varied are the Charger's six trim levels that it's hard to believe they're even the same model. Entry-level Chargers are equipped with a V6 engine and offer available all-wheel drive. At the top, there's a 797-horsepower (that is not a typo) supercharged V8 engine and enough audacious colors and graphics packages to satisfy the most extroverted buyers. Between those two extremes are plenty of option packages and even more engine options to tailor this sedan to almost anyone's needs. Read our Expert Rating to see if the Charger's strengths overpower its weaknesses.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the Charger drive? This is a big and heavy car that gets going in a hurry, at least with one of the V8 engines installed. Our Scat Pack test car covered 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. Braking performance is also excellent. In town, the pedal response feels a bit soft at first, but short stopping distances inspire confidence. On our test track, a simulated-panic stop from 60 mph took just 102 feet.

Through high-speed corners, the Charger stays surprisingly flat. Unfortunately, it's not a very engaging experience since you don't feel connected to the car. Notably, midcorner bumps can degrade stability and cause a lot of movement at the rear of the car. The overly sensitive gas pedal is also a problem. Flex your big toe and the Charger bolts off the line. The only remedy is to be super gentle.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the Charger? The Charger's front seats provide plenty of bolstering and lumbar support. They'll keep you comfortable on a long road trip and keep you in place when the road gets twisty. The rear seats are also well contoured with similarly supportive padding.

On the downside, we could feel just about every bump in the city and on the highway from our Scat Pack test car. Base Chargers will ride a little more softly. There's a fair amount of road and tire noise at highway speeds too. Everything is damped down by a lot of sound insulation, but the Charger is no hushed highway cruiser.

Interior

7.0/10

How’s the interior? The Charger is spacious on the inside, especially in the front. The back seat fits adults well too. There's enough head-, hiproom and shoulder room for at least two adults and one kid in the back. It's much roomier than a two-door muscle car.

The Charger's wide roof pillars impede your view. The small rear window and sloping windshield also affect visibility. You can see out of the car while moving forward relatively well, but it's nearly impossible to truly look through a corner on a curvy road. The sloping rear roofline means you'll have a hard time getting into and out of the back seat without grazing your head.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? Dodge's Uconnect system is one of the best around. It responds quickly to inputs and catalogs music collections with lightning speed. An optional 19-speaker stereo drives up the price quite a bit (we'd skip that option), but the voice controls and navigation are excellent.

A collection of driver safety aids, such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane keeping assist, are part of the optional Technology Group. All work pretty well. The adaptive cruise control's following distance is relatively conservative.

Storage

6.5/10

How’s the storage? The trunk is decently sized, but there's a high liftover height and the space narrows significantly toward the back. Non-performance-oriented competitors in the midsize segment do much better. The door and center console pockets are relatively small, and they're paired with small can-size cupholders. Rear seat storage is limited too.

Car seat anchors are hard to see in all three seating positions. The back seat is wide enough for bulkier child safety seats, and there's generally enough space to fit them behind the front seats, but the Charger's low roof makes it difficult to load a seat and attend to a child.

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Charger is definitely not the car you buy for fuel economy. The big 6.4-liter V8 is better than the supercharged Hellcat engine, but only marginally. The EPA estimates 18 mpg combined with the 6.4-liter engine. We averaged 19 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route.

Value

6.5/10

Is the Charger a good value? Most of Dodge's development budget went toward what's under the hood of this car. Build quality is good but not great. Nothing was rattling or squeaking in our test car. But lots of the plastic interior surfaces feel a bit cheap for the price point.

As far as the ownership experience goes, expect to spend a lot of money on gas if you've got a V8-powered Charger. Warranty and roadside assistance coverage is average.

Wildcard

9.0/10

You'll find fewer brute-force muscle cars on the road these days, and pretty much none are equipped with a big non-turbocharged V8 and four doors. The Charger with its optional engines and many customization options really is in a class of its own.

If your idea of fun is blasting tunnels, chirping the tires, and setting off with eye-watering speed, then this car in this configuration will be right up your alley. It's no sports car, but it handles curvy roads well too. Everywhere you drive the Charger (except the gas pump), you'll be smiling.

Which Charger does Edmunds recommend?

The Charger experience is best enjoyed with a V8 engine. But we think the 6.4-liter available in the Scat Pack offers the best bang for your buck, and it opens up the option for the desirable wide-body treatment. To that, we'd add the Navigation and Travel package and the Driver Confidence package. We'd also spring for the Widebody package because it looks so cool.

2021 Dodge Charger models

The 2021 Charger is available in six major trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye. 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:

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 and Redeye
Add even more performance and luxury with:

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

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 be on the lookout for include:

Plus Group
Daytona Edition Group
Technology Group
Blacktop Package
Performance Handling Group
Driver Convenience Group
Navigation and Travel Group

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#12 out of 13 among Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Dodge Charger from 2008-2022.}

$592/yr

vs. $474/yr
for Average Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.07x/yr

vs. 0.97x/yr
for Average Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

16.1%

vs. 13.4%
for Average Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Dodge Charger.

5 (77%)

4 (18%)

3 (0%)

2 (2%)

1 (3%)

4.6

39 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Scatpack Widebody is the perfect blend

Chris Gray, 06/22/2020

2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody 4dr Sedan (6.4L 8cyl 8A)

Picked up my black 2020 charger a few weeks ago and it is fantastic. Great horsepower and handling. Interior is actually much better than what I remember from my previous Dodge vehicles (2012 Charger, 2014 Challenger). Gas Mileage is ok 16-18 mpg, but mostly around town. Have had the whole family in the car for road trips. Got it without the sunroof for additional headroom. Update, has …

Nice quiet and luxury car with sporting touch.

JArroyo, 04/21/2021

2021 Dodge Charger GT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

The interior of this car is so quiet, between 59 and 63 Db, I have the GT plus, and can tell that even when is a sport car it looks more like a luxury car with all the leather it has, the dash is stitched with leather too, like a sport car suspension is firm but a the same time is smooth, and when you take the curves is very exciting, compare with other cars I think is the best price, …

Love This Beast of a Car

Abigail, 06/27/2020

2020 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

This car is awesome! While being the SXT model AWD it is considered 'lesser' with the 3.6L V6 but it is nothing to scoff at when compared to other sedans with 300hp. This thing is heavy (comparable in weight to a SUV Volvo) and the AWD system is good. I drove with confidence in March snow/slush/ice in New Hampshire. Keep in mind how good a car is in the snow depends on various factors …

This is our second charger

James Brown, 07/20/2021

2021 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

We love this car. It had plenty of power and comfort but still has that sports car look. The all wheel drive for us is a must. There is plenty of room and the gas mileage is fantastic. It’s our perfect car.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Dodge Charger, so we've included reviews for other years of the Charger since its last redesign.

See all 39 reviews of the Dodge Charger

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2021 Charger Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

SXT

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,570
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$167/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Charger models:

Blind-Spot Monitoring: Illuminates a light on either of the Charger's side mirrors when a vehicle enters its blind spot.
Forward Collision Warning: Helps prevent collisions by sounding an alert when the Charger detects an imminent collision.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Sounds a warning if a vehicle is approaching the Charger from the side while it's traveling in reverse.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat4 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Marginal
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Dodge Charger Review

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2021 Dodge Charger Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Charger does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Dodge Charger models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Scatpack Widebody is the perfect blend

Nice quiet and luxury car with sporting touch.

Love This Beast of a Car

This is our second charger

2021 Charger Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Dodge Charger SXT 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}