Design

The 2006 Dodge Charger's throwback name is complemented by several styling elements that suggest the muscle car era of the 1960s. The long hood, short rear decklid, sloped roofline, and rounded quarter panels with a kicked-up beltline all invoke images of the original Charger muscle cars. But unlike Ford's Mustang, which faithfully recreates the bodylines of the 60s, Dodge's Charger appears novel in design.

For starters, the Charger has four doors, and this attribute has caused some dismay among die-hard coupe fans. But Dodge did not intend to build a fully retrospective vehicle – instead it going for a modern interpretation of the classic muscle car. And, despite the sedan proportions, the Charger’s taut roofline has been sketched to create a more coupe-like look.

Appropriately, the new Charger is recognizable as a Dodge model, thanks to the bold cross-hair grille design. The Charger is a full-sized sedan, complete with a 120-inch spread between the tires. Large-car dimensions provide ample cargo capacity, an attribute appealing to many of today’s consumers. Few competing models can boast a larger trunk than the Charger, which swallows 16.2 cu.-ft. of luggage.

Inside, silver accent rings highlight well-placed white-faced gauges. Bright touches also appear on the steering wheel, center console, shifter bezel, and doors. Despite the fastback-inspired roofline, the Charger delivers 40.2 in. of rear legroom, beating most other sedans on the market, but with just 36.2 in. of rear headroom the Dodge falls a bit short thanks to its rakish roofline.