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The Dodge Charger is a brutal force compared to its rivals and offers great comfort, speed, class, and power to its owners
What’s new for the 2022 Dodge Charger?
For 2022, Dodge has added a premium alarm to some models and started a new program called the Jailbreak package. It allows SRT Hellcat Redeye Buyers to get a total of 807-horsepower along with other performance treats.
2022 Dodge Charger – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2022 Dodge Charger on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Great engine choices
Impressive handling dynamics
Spacious interior
Aging technology
No hybrid option
Average interior quality
2021 Charger Specs
- 292 horsepower from base engine
- 260 ft-lb of torque from base engine
- 7 available trims
- 16.5 cu-ft. of cargo capacity
- Excellent infotainment screen
- NHTSA 5-star crash test score
- Standard warranty coverage
2022 Dodge Charger Powertrain
Any buyer of the Dodge Charger should be content with whatever engine lies under the hood. Even the base V6 is punchy and delivers good power when called upon with 292-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox is one of the best we’ve tested outside of real dual-clutch units. The 370-horsepower, 395 lb-ft of torque V8 is perhaps the only one of the bunch that we might avoid. It’s not as refined as the 6.4-liter 485-horsepower engine but that’s not to say that it’s not a solid choice. It’s just the least of a bunch of good options really.
The Scat Pack V8 is sublime and probably the best value in the bunch. It never leaves you feeling like you need more power and sounds amazing. Above it, the Hellcat trims offer sincerely exceptional levels of power that can be intoxicating. All trim levels benefit from good driving dynamics and a well-balanced suspension. The more performance-focused Scat Pack and Hellcat trims feature adjustable suspensions that are even more capable.
2022 Dodge Charger Fuel Economy & MPG
If there’s a big weakness of the Charger, it’s the fact that none of them are particularly fuel-efficient. The base V6 does the best with an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined when equipped with rear-wheel drive. It only gets worse from there so we’d love to see Dodge offer a hybrid option.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Few sedans on sale in America are as spacious as the inside of a Dodge Charger. The long wheelbase lends itself well to this purpose and we really like it. The seating is comfortable in every corner of the car and we have always loved their adjustability. Just like our review last year, the climate control is still powerful and effective which only adds to the enjoyment of the Charger during use.
Ride quality is fine. It’s not luxury smooth and it’s not sports car rough, but there are times that it could be a little more forgiving. Dodge does a nice job of allowing in the noises you want to hear, like the engine and the exhaust, without allowing road noise to drown the other out. At the same time, we’d love to see the materials inside of the Charger feel a bit more upscale and high quality. We get it though, it’s old-school muscle car in its own way. Cargo space is above average thanks to a cavernous trunk and folding rear seats.
Entertainment & Technology
We’ve always liked Dodge’s Uconnect system and it’s fantastic in the Charger too. We really love the SRT Performance pages that allow some trims to have specific settings customized to one’s liking. Want a cushy suspension, a loud exhaust, and medium-input steering? No problem. Voice controls and navigation are both very good as well.
The audio system in the car is a bit hit and miss to us. The Alpine 6-speaker unit is underwhelming so Dodge offers a 19-speaker premium unit but it’s not standard on any trim. We’d love to see a middle ground. While the driver assistance technology is also an option only, it’s fairly inexpensive ($1,895) and works very well in practice.
Safety Features
We’d love to see a lot more standard safety technology in the Charger. All of its rivals offer it and it can potentially be life-saving. Nevertheless, we appreciate the five-star crash test rating it received from the NHTSA. It did not garner any awards from the IIHS.
2022 Dodge Charger Trims & Pricing
SXT – $32,500
The Dodge Charger SXT starts out with 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, remote start, and cruise control. A 7-inch infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard. Under the hood is a 292-horsepower V6 mated to the same eight-speed automatic that all Chargers use. Buyers can opt for all-wheel-drive as well which sees a boost in horsepower to a total of 300 for both the SXT and the GT. Every Charger comes with rear parking sensors and automatic headlights but no other advanced safety or driver assistance aids are standard. A $1,895 package offers adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane-departure warning and more.
GT – $35,275
The GT gets 20-inch wheels, a larger 8.4-inch infotainment system, LED fog lights, a functional hood scoop, sports suspension, and heated wing mirrors. None of the trim levels above this are available with all-wheel drive.
R/T – $40,895
Go for the R/T and you’ll get a 370-horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque V8, rear-wheel-drive, a 160-mph speedometer, and all of the styling and interior details from the GT.
SCAT PACK – $46,620
Perhaps the best bang for the buck is the Scat Pack which gets a 485-horsepower, 475 lb-ft of torque V8 along with special 20-inch wheels, paddle-shifters, a limited-slip differential, Brembo 4-caliper brakes, line-lock launch control, a high-performance suspension, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and performance driving modes.
SCAT PACK WIDEBODY – $52,315
Adding the Widebody treatment provides super wide 305-section tires, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and six-piston Brembo brakes up front.
SRT HELLCAT WIDEBODY – $77,00
As the name might suggest, the Hellcat is quite mighty with its 717-horsepower supercharged V8. They also get unique 20-inch wheels, heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, an SRT leather steering wheel with red LED lights, a 200-mph speedometer, premium interior upholstery and trim, an adaptive suspension, and high-performance tires. Every Hellcat also comes with a free SRT Track Experience to help owners learn to control the power safely on and off of the racetrack.
SRT HELLCAT WIDEBODY REDEYE – $85,695
This version of the Hellcat uses the same engine but makes 797-horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. It also gets a 220-mph speedometer, and Hellcat logo Laguna leather upholstery. Buyers can opt for the Jailbreak package which cranks power up even further to 807-horsepower.
Warranties
Dodge offers a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty in harmony with a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Other brands offer complimentary maintenance or longer coverage.
What we think
2022 Dodge Charger – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2022 Dodge Charger on Carsforsale.com
No car is perfect and the Dodge Charger isn’t either but for those who love performance-oriented sedans, it’s impossible to beat with anything else built in America right now save for the more expensive Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Even many options from Japan and Europe struggle to keep up. The Charger and its Hellcat engines are going away so get them while they’re still around.
Nice article.