The 2018 Dodge Charger is hitting showroom floors and the streets fully packed with 100 percent pure American muscle under the hood. But, besides what lies under the hood, Dodge has packed a ton of great features into the new Charger that will leave drivers wanting to hop behind the wheel and take it on the road for more.
The 2018 Dodge Charger has earned an ALG Residual Value Award for the fourth consecutive year in a row. This award is given to vehicles that sit uniquely in the market in quality, desirability, and long-term reliability. The desirability of the 2018 Dodge Charger is obvious with it being the only four-door muscle car in the country and being backed by Dodge’s excellent quality and reliability standards.
New Features for 2018
A few name changes for trim packages in the 2018 Dodge Changes have taken place. The old SXT V6 all-wheel drive is now called the Charger GT AWD in the 2018 lineup. As well, the SXT Plus was added to the trim package lineup to include the hood scoop and 20-inch wheels of the Super Track pack.
For 2018 model year, Dodge has added a backup camera and rear parking assist as standards in all vehicles in the lineup. A 7.0-inch touchscreen information station is now standard on all Chargers and allows drivers to connect their Apple or Android smartphone to the car.
Trim Packages
Charger SXT ($28,495 MSRP starting price)
The base Charger comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear wheel drive. Extra add-ons include the blacktop appearance, Super Track, Beats premium audio, and interior appearance packages.
Charger GT AWD ($32,495 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. Add-on packages include the blacktop appearance, Beats premium audio, driver confidence, navigation, interior appearance, and leather interior packages.
Charger R/T ($34,995 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and rear wheel drive. Add-on packages include all that’s offered for the Charger GT AWD plus the Super Track package.
Charger GT Plus AWD ($35,495 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, eight-speed transmission, and all-wheel drive. Additional add-on packages include GT Performance, technology, navigation, sun and sound, and interior appearance packages.
Charger Daytona ($38,995 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine, rear wheel drive, and eight-speed automatic transmission. Add-on packages include the technology, driver confidence, navigation, Harman Kardon Audio, and interior appearance packages.
Charger R/T Scat Pack ($39,995 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 motor, eight-speed transmission, and rear wheel drive. Add-on packages include the dynamics, Beats premium audio, technology, driver confidence, and interior appearance packages.
Charger Daytona 392 ($44,995 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear wheel drive. Add-ons include the technology, driver confidence, Harman Kardon Audio, and interior appearance packages.
Charger SRT 392 ($51,145 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a 6.4-liter HEMI SRT V8 engine, eight-speed transmission, and rear wheel drive. Add-on packages include the technology and Harman Kardon Audio packages.
Charger SRT Hellcat ($67,995 MSRP starting price)
Comes standard with a Dodge Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI SRT Hellcat V8 engine, eight-speed transmission, and rear wheel drive. Add-on packages include the power convenience and Harman Kardon Audio packages.
Specifications
The many trim packages available for the 2018 Dodge Charger lineup come with four engine options available to consumers. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine from Dodge gets up to 300 maximum horsepower with 264 pound-foot of torque. It gets up to 30 mpg on the highway, making it ideal for drivers looking for power coupled with fuel efficiency. The next available motor in the 2018 Charger lineup is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that packs 370 horsepower and 395 pound-foot of torque. This motor can achieve 25 mpg on the highway. The third available engine is the 392 HEMI V8 engine that pushes a whopping 485 horsepower and 475 pound-foot of torque. And last, the granddaddy of all motors on the 2018 Chargers is the Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI SRT Hellcat V8 engine that brings a huge 707 horsepower and 650 pound-foot of torque to the table.
While packing a ton of power, the 2018 Dodge Charger received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Receiving the highest rating from the organization is a great feat for the Charger. Dodge takes safety seriously in the 2018 Charger with features like lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traction control and a solid steel safety frame outlining the entire cabin of the car.
How it Stacks up Against the Competition
Competition to the Charger includes vehicle like the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus.
Based on the large car category, the 2018 Dodge Charger stands well above its competition when it comes to vehicle performance. No other large car offers drivers the options of the large and powerful V8 engines and the great handling experience of the Charger.
For drivers that aren’t interested in high-performance under the hood, the competition offers more upscale interiors and entertainment options. As well, with the sports car like design of the 2018 Charger, drivers have a much lower visibility than in other cars in its class.
Pros/Cons
The 2018 Dodge Charger has a lot of features that set the car apart from its competition.
First, the Charger is available in so many different trim packages. This variety gives consumers the option to purchase a Charger that suits their needs and budget. Fans of the Dodge Charger are of course pleased with the pure power that the vehicle possesses thanks to the available V8 motors. In summation, the 2018 Dodge Charger does a great job of combining a family friendly car with muscle and attitude to back it up.
Where the 2018 Dodge Charger falls short with some is mentioned above with the lack of premium options on the interior and the lower visibility.
Another knock on the 2018 Dodge Charger is in the packages that have the 3.6-liter V6 motor. Where fans of the car have become accustomed to the loud voice of the V8 motor, the V6 option doesn’t have the muscle-clad voice like its big brother. And for people driving a 2018 Charger, they want the car to be heard along with being seen on the road.