WASHINGTON — There are plenty of choices if you need a larger family sedan, but the Dodge Charger lineup goes from mild to wild. I drove “wild” last year: The 707 hp Dodge Charger Hellcat is a supercharged beast. This time, it’s the 300 hp AWD V6 SXT model, which may not be as fast but is an easy year-round sedan.
I might be slightly ruined, having driven the Hellcat first, but after driving in snow and rain, it was good to have this all-wheel-drive model. The V6 performs well in most situations, but feels a bit taxed when loaded with people and it’s a little noisy on hard acceleration. You can only have AWD with the V6; the powerful V8 engine is rear-wheel drive.
The fuel economy is a bit better in the V6, and I managed 21.5 mpg of regular fuel with a good amount of stop-and-go. The 8-speed automatic is a smooth operator and in the correct gear when needed. The handling is good for a larger sedan, and it seems pretty light on its feet thanks to the smaller, lighter V6 when compared with the larger engine versions of the Charger. One thing that’s a bit of a miss: The view out of the rear of the car isn’t the best.
This $37,770 Charger SXT Plus might not be as cool-looking as the Hellcat, but it still stands out. with a more aggressive look than most sedans on the road. The front end has that serious, almost mean look to it with a blacked-out grill. There are large, 19-inch wheels.
Dual exhaust and a rear spoiler add a more sporty flair to this milder version of the Dodge Charger. The roofline slopes downward in the back — another touch that’s more muscle car and less family sedan. With the Maximum Metallic paint color, I noticed other cars would clear the way for me, perhaps thinking it was an undercover police car.
The interior of the Dodge Charger is so much better than just a few years ago. The materials are finer, and the AWD Plus Group package can take the credit for that. The leather sport seats are a handsome two-tone and they’re heated. The front seats are also ventilated, and the steering wheel is also heated for better winter living. You do have to manage through several menus to get to the seat heat/ventilation controls.
The rear seats are also heated and have good comfort, but that sloping roof line does cut down headroom for taller passengers. This is a family-friendly sedan with three latch systems, but your fingers will pay the price if you use the middle one.
The Uconnect system for the NAV, radio and phone operation works well and is easy to use. The screen is a larger, 8.4-inch display so the rearview camera and NAV is easy to read. Even connecting a phone is quick and simple to connect, and the voice recognition works better than most.
The 2016 Dodge Charger has a flavor for just about any buyer looking for a large American sedan. With six cylinders and AWD, the SXT will satisfy those looking for a handsome, year-round sedan that’s more fun to drive than the usual.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
