The Sacramento Bee's view

When you’re talking Dodge Charger, you’re talking about an icon from America’s muscle car era of the 1960s.

So, when you roll out an all-new Charger for the 2006 model year — which Chrysler Group has done — it behooves you to get it right.

Don’t believe me? Talk to the people who came up with “New Coke” back in 1985.

I test-drove two of the three Charger offerings now available – the mid-level SXT with a 3.5-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 and the top-line R/T with 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 340 horsepower.

The Hemi-equipped R/T version is what I’d call a worthy, contemporary Charger. By comparison, the SXT, with a 250-horsepower V-6, was not quite the real deal – especially for someone who remembers smoking the tires in a ’67 Charger.

That’s not to trash the SXT. For a comparatively affordable $25,000 and change, you get a full-size sedan propelled by an engine that delivers a satisfying rumble. But for purists who remember the muscular Chargers of years past and want some of that performance in the new car, the Hemi-equipped R/T is the way to go.

The Hemi engine likewise emits a ferocious rumble that turns heads within a 100-yard radius. But with nearly 400 foot-pounds of torque in hand, the Hemi’s performance level is oh-so-stronger than the V-6.

Accelerations with the R/T are brisk and get your heart pounding, but with 4,100 pounds of car to drive, it’s not the same rush you get in, say, a Porsche 911. Even at freeway cruising speed, the 200-inch-long Charger feels weighty.

The big size is a plus for passengers, three of whom can easily fit and stretch their legs in the Charger’s back seat.

Otherwise, the interiors of both the SXT and R/T were plain Jane. Very few frills are on the dash. If you blacked out the windshield and windows and were asked to guess which Chrysler product you were sitting in, it might take several guesses to correctly come up with “Charger.”

One notable interior feature is the steering wheel, an attractively styled four-spoker that has the look and feel of those found in purpose-built race cars.

I just wish the steering wheel had a little more feel to it. It was slightly mushy in both the SXT and R/T. Hopefully, a more precise feel will be engineered into future models. With 4,100 pounds on the fly on twisting mountain roads, that feeling of control is crucial.

Other gripes? Wellllll …

One wonders if the lords of Chrysler encouraged Charger’s designers to be conservative, as opposed to letting it all hang out. The new Charger’s look is sort of the Pontiac GTO all over again … It looks pretty nice but doesn’t blow you away.

The Charger has an understated fastback design in a big package. I suppose I’m a prisoner of my past, when a muscle-car-era Charger could be instantly identified in profile or head-on from a half-mile away. That look was distinctive.

Today’s Charger is sporty, but I actually had a neighbor walk up to the tested R/T and ask, “Hey, is that the new Mustang?”

Ouch!

Naturally, it’s unfair to compare Classic Charger with New Charger. A couple generations back, Charger stood out at a time when there were fewer models on the market and fewer still that delivered rubber-burning power with a roar.

Today’s Charger must compete amid a blizzard of horsepower-laden sedans, in a market where 300 horsepower engines are as common as coffee cups. No easy task.

I tip my hat to Chrysler for resurrecting the Charger, especially with the delightful Hemi engine. It shows consideration for longtime Mopar enthusiasts looking for a blast from the past. For those looking for more blast, stay tuned for the SRT8 version of Charger with a 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 and 425 horsepower. Those will start showing up in numbers this fall.

My take on the new Charger is that this car will likely be loved by that family man who was once a semi-wild youth prone to do a burnout on his way out of the high school parking lot. Lots of room for the family in the new Charger, but you can still nail the gas for that occasional rush. And price-wise – $22,320 for the base model to $29,320 for the R/T – Charger stacks up well against other luxury and performance sedans in terms of standard features.

No doubt, some younger buyers will be tempted by a Hemi-equipped Charger’s performance, but that might be a tougher sell for Chrysler. Youthful buyers are more likely to be looking at high-horsepower coupes.

But if you want some American muscle in a modern four-door transporter, Dodge has something for you.

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Dodge Charger at a glance

Make/model: 2006 Dodge Charger R/T.

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door, rear-drive, full-size sports sedan.

Base price: $29,320 (as tested, $32,450).

Engine: 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 340 horsepower at 5,000 revolutions per minute and 390 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

EPA fuel economy: 17 miles per gallon city; 25 mpg highway.

Transmission: Five-speed automatic with overdrive and clutchless manual shifting feature.

Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion.

Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel discs with anti-lock and special braking-enhancement features.

Suspension: Independent with high upper A arm on front; independent multi-link on rear (coil springs, stabilizer bars and gas-charged shocks front and rear).

Interior volume: 120.2 cubic feet.

Cargo volume: 16.2 cubic feet.

Fuel tank: 19 gallons.

Curb weight: 4,100 pounds.

Track: 63 inches on front; 63.1 inches on rear.

Ground clearance: 5.1 inches.

Height: 58.2 inches.

Length: 200.1 inches.

Wheelbase: 120 inches.

Width: 74.5 inches.

Tires: P235/55R18 all-season performance radials.

Final assembly point: Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

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About the writer: The Bee’s Mark Glover can be reached at (916) 321-1184 or mglover@sacbee.com.