| Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2011 |
| Make | Dodge |
| Model | Charger R/T |
| Style | 4dr sedan (5.7L 8cyl 5A) |
| Base MSRP | $30,995 |
| Options on test vehicle | Quick Order Package 29R R/T Road/Track ($3,000 -- includes standard equipment; 20-by-8-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels; 245/45R20 black sidewall Firestone all-season performance tires; security alarm;180-amp alternator; 3.06 rear axle ratio; black grille with black honeycomb; driver and passenger lower LED lamps; front overhead LED lighting; heated and cooled front console cupholder; heated second-row seats; high-speed engine controller; leather-trimmed bucket seats; leather trim seats; power front driver and passenger seats; four-way power driver and passenger lumbar support; R/T heritage badge); Driver Confidence Group ($995 -- includes auto adjust-in-reverse exterior mirrors; driver side exterior mirror auto-dim; blind spot and cross-path detection; center high mount stop lamp; exterior mirrors courtesy lamp; rear Parksense assist system; Parkview rear back-up camera; power-folding multifunction mirrors; power heated fold-away mirrors; rain-sensitive windshield wipers; Smartbeam headlamps); Power Sunroof ($950); Adaptive Cruise Control Group ($925); Navigation/Rear Back-Up Camera Group ($650 -- includes 1-year Sirius Travel Link service; center high mounted stop lamps; Garmin navigation system; Parkview rear back-up camera; UConnect touch 8.4N CD/DVD/MP3/NAV); Sound Group ($650 -- includes 506-watt amplifier, nine amplified speakers with subwoofer); Driver Convenience Group ($575-Automatic adjust-in-reverse exterior mirrors; auto-dim exterior driver mirror; power-adjustable pedals with memory; power heated memory mirrors with manual folding; power tilt-and-telescoping steering column; radio, driver seat and exterior mirrors memory); Toxic Orange Pearlcoat Paint ($295). |
| As-tested MSRP | $39,035 |
| Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
| Drive type | Rear-wheel Drive |
| Engine type | Naturally aspirated port-injected V8, gasoline with cylinder deactivation |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 5,654/345 |
| Block/head material | Cast-iron/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | Pushrod, four valves per cylinder, variable exhaust-valve timing |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 10.5 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 370 @ 5,250 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 395 @ 4,200 |
| Fuel type | 87-octane acceptable + 89-octane for best performance |
| Transmission type | Five-speed automatic with console shifter and manual mode |
| Transmission and axle ratios (x:1) | 1st = 3.59; 2nd = 2.19; 3rd = 1.41; 4th = 1.00; 5th = 0.83; Final drive = 3.06 |
| Chassis | |
|---|---|
| Suspension, front | Independent double-wishbones, coil springs, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent multilink, coil springs, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Hydraulic-assist, speed-proportional, rack-and-pinion power steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 14.4 |
| Tire brand | Firestone |
| Tire model | Firehawk GTV |
| Tire type | Asymmetrical all-season, performance (32 psi cold front; 32 psi cold rear) |
| Tire size, front | 245/45R20 99V M+S |
| Tire size, rear | 245/45R20 99V M+V |
| Wheel size | 20-by-8 inches |
| Wheel material | Cast aluminum |
| Brakes, front | 13.6-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with two-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 12.6-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Track Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 2.2 |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 3.6 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 5.4 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 7.9 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 13.7 @ 102.8 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 5.1 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 28 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 114 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 64.1 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.81 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 45.1 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 73.3 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 64.2 |
| Test Driver Ratings & Comments | |
|---|---|
| Acceleration comments | Lots of wheelspin with ESC on or off when just going straight from brake to throttle. This thing has some motor. Best run used power braking, then full throttle, resulting in minor amount of wheelspin. Considerably quicker than the last Charger R/T we tested. Five-speed auto has manual shifting via console, but it won't hold a gear and auto-upshifts at 5,500 rpm and doesn't match-rev manual downshifts either. |
| Braking comments | Exceptionally firm pedal and great stability. Tires feel like they have some grip; could feel them clawing at the road for traction. Stopping distances were respectably short for such a heavy car. Experienced some minor pedal fade and a slightly longer distance on the sixth stop. |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Lots of understeer, but good reaction to throttle adjustments. There's a lot of weight being leaned over here. Slalom: Quicker steering and a more planted feel than previous Charger. Considering how big and heavy the car is, it acquitted itself nicely. ESC cannot be fully defeated, limiting the car from exploring its true potential. Was less intrusive in the "off" position, though. Tires offer reasonable grip. Tranny would auto-upshift (in manual mode) from 2nd to 3rd right before the final cone. |
| Testing Conditions | |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 52.3 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 50.9 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 3.7 crosswind |
| Fuel Consumption | |
|---|---|
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 16 city/25 highway/19 combined |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 14.5 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 19.1 |
| Dimensions & Capacities | |
|---|---|
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 4,253 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 4,315 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 53/47 |
| Length (in.) | 199.9 |
| Width (in.) | 75.0 |
| Height (in.) | 58.4 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 120.2 |
| Track, front (in.) | 63.4 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 63.8 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 37.7 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 41.8 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 40.1 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 38.6 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 36.6 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 59.5 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 57.9 |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 15.4 |
| Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Safety | |
|---|---|
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Standard |
| Head airbags | Standard |
| Antilock brakes | Standard |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, rain assist |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Standard |
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