Dodge Charger

Overview

The 2014 Dodge Charger is a four-door sedan manufactured by British manufacturer Dodge. The car was first seen in 1964 as a two-door model and, later on, it was transformed into a subcompact car and full-size sedan. As for the current version that was introduced back in 2006 Dodge Charger was introduced as a four-door sedan. The car seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from the Charger introduced back in 1960 and 1970s.

As for now, Dodge Charger is available in six different trims, namely SE, SXT, SXT Plus, R/T, R/T Plus and R/T Road and Truck. The first four trims are powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol mill that effortlessly generates 292 hp of maximum power along with the peak torque of 352 Nm. The R/T Plus and R/T Road and Truck variant carries a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine that generates 370 hp of power and 535 Nm of torque.

On the exterior front, Dodge Charger reminds one of the old retro cars with long front and rear bonnet. Bold contour lines run throughout its body giving it a masculine appeal and making it aerodynamically fit. On to the side are present body coloured door handles and prominent wheel arches that house 17–20-inch aluminum wheels. At the rear end are present racetrack inspired tailgate covering taillamps with 164 LEDs.

The interior looks comforting and is stuffed with advanced technologies, aimed at making the ride joyful and power packed. The cabin is covered with soft-touch material and Nappa leather can be found wrapped around the seats. The steering wheel is heated and multi-functional; also, it is equipped with the tilt and telescopic function. Centre console in the base variant is equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen while other trims are equipped with an 8.4-inch touchscreen.

Safety and security front is stuffed with features like Hydraulic assist brake booster, Electronic Control with Brake Assist, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, rain brake support and ready alert braking system.

Mileage and Fuel economy

Dodge Charger is available in two distinct engine options, a 3.6-litre, and a 5.6-litre mill petrol mill. The 3.6-litre mill is further offered with a 5-speed and 8-speed automatic AutoStick  transmission. The one mated with the 5-speed AT gearbox showcases a city and highway mileage of 18 and 27 mpg respectively. On the other hand, the one coupled with the 8-speed AT can deliver a city and highway fuel economy of 19 mpg and 31 mpg respectively. Coming to the 5.7-litre mill, it displays a little less fuel economy of 15 mpg in city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Power

The 2014 Charger is a performance porn, driven by the brave hearts. The car is offered in two engine options – a 3.6-litre and a 5.7-litre mill. The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine with Variable Valve Timing generates 292 hp of power and 352 Nm of torque. If your speed need is not met by the 3.6-litre engine, then we would suggest the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol engine that delivers 370 hp of power and 535 Nm of torque.

Acceleration & Pickup

All the six trims in this series are perkier in terms of acceleration and pickup, thanks to the sophisticated five and eight-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick. The 2014 Dodge Charger R/T  can hit the 100 kph mark from a mere zero in six seconds and it can cover a 400-meter distance in under 14 seconds.

Exterior

Dodge Charger looks like a bad boy toy, it has a rugged bold appeal to itself and for that reason, the car's latest version was seen zooming around in Hollywood epic Fast and Furious. To some, it reminds of the old school retro cars the one with those long bonnets. In all, 2014 Charger is a masculine car with some bold creases both increasing its appeal and aerodynamic quotient. Its front profile gets an attractive bright grille that is closely followed by automatic halogen headlamps.  On to the side are present prominent wheel arches housing 17/20-inch polished aluminum wheels, and body-coloured door handles. On the rear end, one car features racetrack inspired taillamps with 164 LEDs and the R/T variants are fitted with the rear spoiler. Apart from the base trim, rest all are stuffed with fog lamps and the Charger R/T Road and Truck looks distinct from the rest because of its all black front grille. In all the car holds a lot of muscle and it's never bad to have a strong personality. Dual trapezoidal chrome exhaust pipe comes standard with all six Dodge Charger, giving homage to the performance heritage build in the past. The car is available in eleven colour shades ranging from Billet Silver to Header Orange.

Exterior Measurements

Coming to the dimension section, 2014 Dodge Charger measures 5080 mm in length, 1905 mm in width and 1483 mm in height. As for the ground clearance, it ranks a bit low at 12.7 cm and its wheelbase measures 3053 mm. Thus, making Charger a spacious car to sit in and enjoy the comfort offered by this high speeder.

Interior

Dodge Charger is a bliss from inside, the more rugged the car looks from outside the more comforting it is from inside. This fast performer offers ample amount of comfort to the driver where he can sit relaxed and concentrate on hitting the roads ahead hard. Its seats are covered with Nappa leather that looks both plush and premium. Also, the entire cabin space is covered by soft touch material making the whole driving experience, even more, classier. The ambient lighting is the best thing present setting the mode right and motivating to further to break all the speed barriers. The dashboard looks simple though it is fitted with all the useful equipment. Starting with the drivers arena, we see a straightforward instrument binnacle, and three spoke multi-functional steering wheel. The center console comes with a touchscreen display unit, followed by many utility buttons.

Interior Comfort

This model series is currently available in six trim levels but all come with the same set of comfort facilities. It has an advanced dual zone automatic air conditioner with humidity control that adjusts the cabin temperature accordingly giving the occupants most pleasing experience. It also has a lockable storage compartment with light, glovebox unit and sunglass holder. Apart from these, there are advanced features like eight-way power driver's seats with 4-way lumbar support, 3-spoke leather wrapped multifunctional heated steering wheel, power windows with one-touch operation, an ashtray, cigarette lighter and 12V accessory power socket. Its dashboard comes with an advanced driver information system featuring a high-resolution screen, which displays vehicle speed, auto-check-control, radio frequency, outside temperature, trip computer, lap timer and door open indicator. In addition to these, this sports car also has power steering, central locking, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, automatic dimming of the interior mirror and windscreen cleaning system.

Interior Measurements

It is a four seater performance car with ample leg and shoulder space inside. It has a total front head space of 98 cm  along with a decent shoulder room of 151.1 cm, which is quite good. However,  at the back the headroom and shoulder room measures 93 cm and 147.1 cm respectively. On the other hand, it has a decent boot compartment along with a large fuel tank.

Engine and Performance

The 2014 Dodge Charger is currently available with two engine options for the buyers to choose from. The entry level trim SE along with SXT and SXT Plus has a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol motor that has VVT technology. It comprises of four cylinders and 16-valves. This power plant has the ability to churn out a maximum power of 292hp at 6,350 rpm along with a commanding torque output of 260 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. While the remaining versions have been powered with a 5.7-litre, V8 petrol mill with variable valve timing and fuel saver technology. However, it can unleash a maximum power of 370 hp at 5,250 rpm in combination with a mammoth torque output of 395 lb-ft at just 4200rpm. The car maker has paired both these power-plants with a W5A580 five-speed and 8-speed  automatic transmission.

Stereo and Accessories

Apart from being fast, the 2014 Dodge Charger is good on the entertainment front too. The base variant is fitted with a 4.2-inch full colour customizable digital cluster display that gives complete information to the driver. The center console of SE trim gets a Uconnect 4.3 System with a 4.3-inch touchscreen that includes CD, DVD, and MP3 player. Additional features include a remote USB port and audio jack for mobile devices. The music comes here comes out from the six-speaker sound system. Rest all trims are  powered with a Uconnect 8.4 system that comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen with CD, DVD, MP3, hard disc drive, USB, and audio jack. Also are present Uconnect Voice Command and Bluetooth Streaming Audio function. With its advanced HomeLink Universal Transceiver, you can connect your home lighting, home security and garage functionality.

Wheels

The entry level version is available with a set of stylish 17-inch cast aluminum alloy wheels. The R/T Plus and R/T Heritage trim have been blessed with a set of stylish 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels. It is only the R/T trim that is available in 18-inch wheels.

Braking and Handling

The car maker has fitted the front wheels with a set of disc brake featuring 8-piston brake calipers.  The rear ones are also equipped with high-performance disc brakes, which are loaded with 4-piston calipers. This mechanism is assisted by the anti-lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution and hydraulic brake assist system. Furthermore, it also has anti-slip regulation, electronic differential lock, and electronic stabilization control, which reduces the loss of traction and improves the agility of this sports car. This vehicle is also bestowed with an Ind front and 5-Link rear suspension, which helps to keep the vehicle stable on roads.

Safety and Security

2014 Dodge Charger ranks high on the safety front, the car is equipped with a number of high-end features like Hydraulic assist brake booster, Electronic Control with Brake Assist, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, rain brake support and ready alert braking. Apart from this, you'll also find security features like security alarm, and sentry key theft deterrent system. Day to day safety includes speed-sensitive power door locks, active front head restraints, and tire pressure monitoring system.

Pros

• Performance is a big thumbs-up
• Well-equipped cabin
• Safety Front is strong

Cons

• Fuel Eater
• Base variant ranks low on advancements