Used 2014 Dodge Charger

Is the 2014 Dodge Charger a family sedan or hot rod? Could be both. It offers the room, ride comfort and safety features a family requires, with the style and performance the enthusiast driver wants. The roofline looks lifted from a coupe and the sculpturing on the sides and eye-catching taillight treatment note a linkage to earlier Chargers from the 1960s. But this modern Charger has features and capabilities that would leave owners of those earlier versions open-mouthed with envy, with V6 engines that far outperform those ancestral V8s, the efficiency of an 8-speed automatic transmission and all the expected electronic conveniences. Add in the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD) and the inspiring Hemi V8 engine choices, and both the family and the enthusiast can be happy.

You don’t need the Hemi V8 to get the 2014 Charger sedan moving in a big hurry. The base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 makes 292 horsepower, and the uprated version is 300. The V6 Charger is, after all, standard issue for huge numbers of police departments and they wouldn’t make that pick if it wouldn’t catch bad guys. Add the 8-speed automatic and you have not only performance, but thoroughly commendable fuel economy. The Charger deals with corners with a sophisticated fully-independent suspension: control arms in front and a multilink arrangement in the rear, with coil springs and assertive anti-roll bars all around. Steering is a precise and responsive rack-and-pinion setup. Brakes are 4-wheel discs, and the Performance Brake Package brings large vented rotors front and rear, and twin-piston calipers in the front. Even if you never use it, the Charger is engineered and built for some serious driving.

A glance at the modest window sticker will not prepare you for the niceness of the interior. There are soft-touch surfaces, quality materials, attractive colors, appealing instrumentation, and it’s all done with an appreciable level of fit and finish. The well-bolstered front seats and thick-rimmed steering wheel hold you in place and give a nice place to hold on, and the back seat is just fine for two adults, although the sloping roofline might cut headroom for taller folks. Several well-thought-out options include touch-screen navigation and worthwhile sound systems.

You won’t have trouble finding the 2014 Dodge Charger sedan in the parking lot – there’s more than just a little resemblance to at least the spirit of the 2-door Charger of the 1960s. The front is unmistakably bold and identifiable, the sides feature deep sculpturing and the full-width taillight treatment, with 164 LEDs forming a sort of “racetrack of lights” will not go unnoticed. Wheel choices range from 17-inch all the way to optional 20-inchers. This is not a car for shy people.

GREAT ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE
A selection of powerful and responsive engines, a sophisticated suspension, great steering, big and strong brakes, all well-blended into a very competent package. Four-door sedan or not, he 2014 Charger can get down the road and around the corners, and doesn’t cost much in the bargain.

SUPER TRACK PAK
This optional R/T package turns the Charger into a track-ready player, adding P245/45R20 Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires, 20-inch wheels, high-performance monotube shock absorbers, larger front and rear stabilizer bars, performance brake linings, performance steering and 3-mode electronic stability control (ESC).

Standard equipment for the 2014 Dodge Charger SE includes a 3.6-liter V6, 5-speed automatic transmission, cruise control, keyless Enter-N-Go, remote start, 6-speaker audio with 4.3-inch touch-screen, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, USB with iPod control and auxiliary audio input jacks, 6-way power driver’s seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel and 17-inch wheels. The SXT adds an 8-speed automatic transmission, foglights, 8.4-inch UConnect touch-screen with a 276-watt Alpine audio, automatic temperature control, steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio functions, and 12-way power front seats with power lumbar support. The R/T trims add 18- or 19-inch wheels, a 370-horsepower Hemi V8 and other go-quick goodies.

The 2014 Dodge Charger SE Blacktop package includes blacked-out trim, a performance suspension, rear spoiler, Pitch-Black 20-inch wheels, UConnect audio with 8.4-inch touch-screen, the Beats audio system and a 300-horsepower V6. Hard-core enthusiasts will want the R/T’s Road/Track package with the performance-oriented 3.06:1 axle ratio, supportive front seats with suede inserts and blackout honeycomb grille. The SXT and SXT Plus Redline Package includes 20-inch Black Chrome wheels and performance-tuned suspension. Other options include a power sunroof, Adaptive Cruise Control, Garmin navigation, leather seating, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, AWD, and a variety of wheel choices.

The Dodge Charger sedan offers no shortage of engine choices. Base is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 292 horsepower, and it’s no slouch. An uprated 3.6 brings 300 horsepower and more than enough performance for any reasonable street use. Both the V6 engines are EPA-rated for 31 mpg on the highway. If 300 horsepower isn’t quite enough, the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 makes 370 horsepower and will move the Charger from rest to 60 mph in under six seconds. Want even more? The 6.4-liter Hemi in the SRT8 will give you 470 horsepower, which should get the job done. Depending upon the engine choice, the transmission will be either a 5-speed automatic or the 8-speed automatic that really enhances fuel economy.

3.6-liter V6 (SE, SXT)
292 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 mpg (5-speed automatic), 13/19 mpg (5-speed automatic, E-85), 19/31 mpg (8-speed automatic), 14/23 mpg (8-speed automatic, E-85), 18/27 mpg (AWD), 14/20 mpg (AWD, E-85)

3.6-liter V6 (SXT with Rallye and Blackout package)
300 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
264 lb-ft or torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/31 mpg (rear-wheel drive), 18/27 mpg (AWD)

5.7-liter Hemi V8
370 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
395 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/25 mpg (rear-wheel drive), 15/23 mpg (AWD)

6.4-liter Hemi V8
470 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
470 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/23 mpg