The Dodge Charger R/T Is Still Worth Your Attention

"TheSixSpeed" (the-six-speed) 11/26/2019 at 22:00 • Filed to: dodge charger, Dodge, Charger, Review

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You all know about the Demon, the Hellcat Redeye, the Scat Packs... but have you thought about the good ol’ R/T? It may be the lowliest V8 among the Charger lineup, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your consideration.

(Full Disclosure: Dodge wanted me to drive this car so bad that I rented it from Avis for 2 days so I could write this review. Yeah. I don’t get press cars.)

What is it?

In case you’ve been living under a rock, this is the Dodge Charger R/T, a V8 rear wheel drive sedan based on FCA’s LX platform; a platform that’s old enough to vote. This particular R/T comes with the Super Track Pak, which gets you things like sport suspension, sport steering, stickier rubber and dodge’s performance pages, which allows you to look at things like lateral G’s, coolant and intake temperatures, as well as being able to engage launch control and change throttle and steering response.

What’s it like to drive?

Simply put: This car is possibly the closest you’re going to get to a modern day muscle car besides the Challenger. That is both a compliment and an insult. It is fast, it is loud, and it is cool. But it’s also heavy as hell, sketchy in corners, and abysmal on gas. And you can’t help but love it.

Powering this chonky sedan is a 5.7L Hemi V8 making 375 horsepower and 395 pound feet of torque. It’s got a classic pushrod design with port AND direct fuel injection. All of that gets this thing to 60 in 5 seconds flat.

However, despite the healthy amount of power, this Charger is only barely faster than a V6 Camaro. Why? Well it’s quite simple friend:

Weight.

This Charger weighs approximately 4200 pounds in this R/T trim. That’s quite a lot more than a comparable Camaro at 3500 pounds. And trust me, you feel it. Corners should be taken with caution.

Is it a good daily?

Yes! But also no.

On the plus side of things, it’s got generous interior space, with good headroom and legroom to spare. It’s the only muscle car you can buy with 4 doors, and that means you can actually take your friends places without them complaining about having to climb into the back.

Rear legroom is good for the class and headroom is adequate. So you r tall friends might have to get friendly with the rear headliner if you decide to take them with you.

Th e trunk is also great for carrying loads of things. With the best cargo capacity of any muscle car on the market today, it makes it one of the best fun cars for families. Take a look:

A TV wall mount, for scale.

The only downside: Gas mileage. Despite having a wonderful 8 speed transmission and cylinder deactivation, I was only able to eke out 17 mpg. And with only an 18 gallon tank, you’re going to be filling up fairly often. Luckily, this engine is rated for 89, an advantage over it’s premium guzzling brethren.

Okay, fine. It looks pretty good. What’s it cost?

To get behind the wheel of a Charger like this, you can expect to pay around $36,000 to start. However, depreciation is a bitch, so you can find a used model for under 30,000 pretty easily.

For the price, this Charger is a pretty good bargain, especially on the used market. If you’re looking to save some cash while also still having a V8 rumble, it’s hard to go wrong with the Charger R/T.

wafflesnfalafel > TheSixSpeed 11/26/2019 at 23:09

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The seats are a bit on the cheap side , too soft for longer distances , the fake hood scoop screws up the aero and causes the hood to flex at higher speeds and the transmission hunts  a bit even around town. But the steering is actually quite a bit better than I anticipated - tight and accurate and the suspension set up leans taught which is a pleasant surprise. I do like the updated styling package even in that white.

ttyymmnn > TheSixSpeed 11/26/2019 at 23:58

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Pennybacker Bridge! Nice location.

N 2 of 2 > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 00:25

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this car is not chonky. it is a regular sized car. 

TheSixSpeed > N 2 of 2 11/27/2019 at 00:34

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When a regular sized car weighs as much as a pickup truck it is in fact one chonky boi.

TheSixSpeed > ttyymmnn 11/27/2019 at 00:34

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Thank you!

TheSixSpeed > wafflesnfalafel 11/27/2019 at 00:37

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I can agree on the seats but I honestly found the transmission to be quite nice. This was a 2019 model, so maybe the programming on the transmission has changed vs the one you drove perhaps? And yes! It does look quite good. However I could do without the yellow splitter guards. 

BigBlock440 > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 08:06

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based on FCA’s LX platform; a platform that’s old enough to vote.

Vote for what, the middle school class president?

BigBlock440 > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 08:09

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KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 11:03

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I want this but I am still not sure if I want to keep getting abysmal fuel efficiency year after year. Already paying out the nose for Premium and only 17MPg in my G

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BigBlock440 11/27/2019 at 12:32

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^ 2,246lbs

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > BigBlock440 11/27/2019 at 14:56

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That’s from back when they weren’t bothering with extras.

Or safety.

TysMagic > BigBlock440 11/27/2019 at 15:03

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bruh, don’t judge just bc his balls haven’t dropped. He’s in high school now 

TheSixSpeed > BigBlock440 11/27/2019 at 15:15

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Alright alright, if you want to be technical it’d be correct to say parts of the LX platform are old enough to vote. Such as the W211 E-class 5-link rear suspension, the E class rear differential and the S class front suspension. And all of this can be traced back to W210.

But yeah you’re right. This platform is merely old enough to be in middle school.

Which is still pretty old as far as platforms go. 

TheSixSpeed > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 11/27/2019 at 15:20

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If you’re willing to deal with the endless comments of wHy DiDnT u GeT tHe V8?? The V6 really is quite nice, and is nicely fuel efficient by comparison. 

Yellow raven > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 15:40

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Overall it’s a great car. Get the leather seats, heated seats, etc. And I can get 23-27mpg mpg on  a trip. And mine is awd. Too bad they don’t offer that with the Hemi anymore!!

Jimmy Wallace > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 17:51

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I have a 2015 R/T Scat Pak Charger, it has a 392 HEMI or 6.4 liter, it has 485 hp! And, will get from 0-60 a hell of a lot quicker than 5 seconds! According to Road and Track magazine, it is the fastest 4 door sedan made in North America (Canada) top speed of 207 mph!

Gavin s > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 18:19

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Thats not a pickup truck . How does it weigh that much ? It must be a small truck

BigR > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 19:11

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I have the Police Car Dodge Magnum with the 5.7 high output. It says truck on the title. No joke. And it is one chunky monkey. But. There is not a Camaro made that this “truck” cannot have for breakfast. It has the nearly “ one of” computer control packs for the engine and transmission. The TCM went into safe mode and had to be replaced recently. There was one in Miami Florida. Period. I forsee that might be an issue. I will still feed it a Camaro often and perhaps an occasional overconfident Mustang.

orange57 > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 20:05

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Not going to lie, I had one for a week as a rental on travel for work. But I averaged 26mpg, lots of straight highway. And I have wanted one ever since now. Fell in love with it. Putting my pennies away to save up.

TheSixSpeed > BigR 11/27/2019 at 20:21

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Got any pictures of this bad boy?

TheSixSpeed > orange57 11/27/2019 at 20:23

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It may be old, heavy, and as subtle as a train horn in the city, but damn it if it doesn’t give you goosebumps. Absolutely fantastic. 

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 20:29

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I have driven both the R/T and the V6 versions and the Chrysler 300 V6 AWD version. I would never buy the V6.

Tutt > TheSixSpeed 11/27/2019 at 21:10

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I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU GOT 17 MPG I HAD RENTED TWO RT CHARGERS FROM BUDGET RENT CAR IN 2018 AND HAD 36K MILES ON IT A ND THE OTHER T HIS YEAR AND THIS ONE   HAD 5K MILES ON IT AND THEY BOTH GOT ME 40MPG PLUS ON THE HIGHWAY at 80 mph WITH 8 SPEED. TRANS AND CRUISE CONTROL ON . AND BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF IT I GOT 25 MPG AROUND TOWN . WITH PREMIUM FUEL

CRider > TysMagic 11/28/2019 at 00:09

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I don’t know what you consider “balls” but imo the LX Charger has them- at least in certain configurations .

CRider > TheSixSpeed 11/28/2019 at 00:15

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Assuming the V6 gets 26 MPG and the V8 gets 23 MPG (and has fuel that costs 10 cents more per gallon) you’re  paying less than $3 00 more per year in fuel costs at 12k miles a year to have the V8. The V8 with cylinder deactivation is pretty fuel efficient. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > TheSixSpeed 11/28/2019 at 01:02

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I’m surprised how long the Charger has lasted. Nobody in the class can match the sound and muscle of the Hemi V8 models (especially the Scat Pack), but you have to really be looking for that visceral appeal at the cost of fairly dated exterior style, meh interior quality (though much improved since 2015), reliability (ok, not terrible) and even rear seat space (FWD full-sizers don’t have a transaxle taking up space).

That said, I can’t help but guilty-pleasure-want a Scat Pack sometimes.

jncastillo87 > TheSixSpeed 11/28/2019 at 12:03

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I own a 2018 R/T. It is my daily driver and I love the car . I’m 6'5 and I have tons of room which is one reason I like it so much ... I also have kids so it’s great to haul them . I come from a long line of performance cars and I gotta say even though this thing is heavy the torque is great . Also on a recent trip from Houston to Nashville I averaged 29 mpg. At times on the highway we were getting close to 40 on the spot . Now around town it’s just ok. With my mixed driving I avg 20.5 and I drive the car pretty hard. I have also had zero issues with car and it has 50k miles. I will buy another one when this one is done but it will be a 392. For the money, power , room and price it's almost impossible.to match it . Btw this is my first dodge . 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > orange57 11/28/2019 at 12:14

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Looks perfect with those wheels.  Not too shouty but just enough aggression to hint at being a muscle car.

Stephen Rivers > TheSixSpeed 11/28/2019 at 18:19

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Really great stuff dude. Inspiring to a guy trying to get better at his writing as well

TheSixSpeed > Stephen Rivers 11/28/2019 at 22:20

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Thank you!

TysMagic > CRider 12/03/2019 at 09:00

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*returns to oppo a weekish later* this was an age joke, calm down 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheSixSpeed 12/03/2019 at 19:57

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I know why they don’t, but FCA could get my new car money if they offered these with a clutch pedal 

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > TheSixSpeed 12/04/2019 at 11:01

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I’ve never driven the R/T but had a C harger Scat Pack a few years ago to review, and that 6.4 is all the boogie you’d ever want in a sedan. And its sound made me giddy ; I’d go through a tunnel and drop down two gears and punch it just to hear the exhaust reverberating off the walls.