2013 Dodge Charger

Vehicle Overview

There aren't many full-size family sedans like the Charger. It's a rear-wheel-drive muscle car with an available V-8 engine. The Charger was redesigned for 2011 with more aggressive exterior styling, a revised interior and a new base V-6. There were more changes last year including a newly available eight-speed automatic and the return of the SRT8 model with a 470-horespower, 6.4-liter V-8. The Charger competes with the Ford Taurus.

(Skip to details on the: Charger SRT8)

New for 2013

An available cold-air induction system and sport exhaust increases the V-6's output to 300 hp on select models. The V-6's standard output is 292 hp. A Pitch Black painted roof is optional, and the 3-D map and route-guidance graphics for the optional Garmin-based navigation system have been improved.

Exterior

The Charger always has been an aggressive-looking car. It all starts in front with a grille that has a lot of tension in its design and contributes to the furrowed look of the headlights. Hood and door scallops provide visual interest and add to the sedan's muscle-car feel. One of the Charger's signature elements is its rear-end styling. It incorporates full-width illumination when the headlights are on and helps make the Charger as distinctive from the rear as it is from the front. Additional exterior features include:

• Standard 17-inch aluminum wheels; 18-, 19- or 20-inch rims optional

• Standard halogen headlights; high-intensity-discharge headlights optional

• Standard dual chrome exhaust tips

• Standard LED taillights

• Standard acoustic windshield and front side glass for reduced noise

• Optional fog lights

• Optional heated side mirrors

• Optional power sunroof

• Optional rain-sensing windshield wipers

• Optional rear spoiler

Interior

The Charger has a tall dashboard and an available 8.4-inch touch-screen system. As part of the car's redesign, the roof's leading edge was shifted rearward a little, making it easier to see stoplights when you're first in line. The Charger has a relatively large backseat that's accommodating for adult passengers and features a 60/40-split folding backrest. However, the sloping roofline means taller passengers' views out the side windows are limited. Additional interior features include:

• Standard cloth upholstery; leather optional
• Standard dual-zone manual air conditioning; optional dual-zone automatic air conditioning
• Standard cruise control; adaptive cruise control optional
• Standard 4.3-inch touch-screen CD stereo with USB and MP3 ports
• Optional 8.4-inch touch-screen system with SD card reader
• Optional Garmin-based navigation system
• Optional Beats by Dr. Dre premium audio
• Optional heated and cooled cupholders
• Optional front and rear heated seats
• Optional ventilated front seats
• Optional heated steering wheel
• Optional Bluetooth connectivity

Under the Hood

The base engine is a 3.6-liter V-6 that's rated at 292 hp or 300 hp, depending on the model. The optional 370-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 features cylinder deactivation to save fuel under light loads. Mechanical features include:

• Both engines run on regular gas

• Standard five-speed automatic transmission; eight-speed automatic available for V-6 models

• Rear-wheel drive standard; all-wheel drive optional

• Three suspensions available: Touring, Performance and Super Track Pak

• R/T Road & Track Package includes a 3.06 rear axle ratio and performance calibration for the engine and transmission

Safety

Safety features include:

• Standard antilock brakes
• Standard side-impact airbags for the front seats
• Standard side curtain airbags
• Standard driver-side knee airbag
• Standard electronic stability system
• Optional power-adjustable pedals with memory
• Optional blind spot warning system with rear cross-path detection
• Optional collision warning system
• Optional rear parking sensors
• Optional backup camera

Charger SRT8

Dodge's power-monster muscle sedan, the Charger SRT8, is powered by a 470-hp, 6.4-liter V-8 that teams to a five-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. The Charger SRT8 can rocket to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and has a top speed of 175 mph, according to Dodge. Brembo-brand brakes bring this big sedan to a halt.

Charger SRT8 exterior styling features include side skirts, a menacing black grille and split-five-spoke 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with black-painted accents.The Charger SRT8's adaptive suspension now features three modes and a launch control feature is now standard.

Super Bee models are back, too, featuring special badging like a helmeted bee icon on the crosshair grille. Additional Super Bee exterior cues include special graphics and a deck lid spoiler. Inside, there are cloth sport seats with silver striping and stitching as well as embroidered Super Bee logos. There's another logo on the dashboard and one in the instrument panel at startup. A full-color information center with modes for zero-to-60-mph, one-eighth-mile and quarter-mile acceleration; 60-to-zero-mph braking distance; and g-force readings is available, as is an 8.4-inch touch-screen multimedia system that incorporates Chrysler's Uconnect hands-free system and Garmin-based navigation. There's also an optional Harman Kardon premium stereo. Back to top.