What type of car is a Dodge Charger?
The Dodge Charger is a full-size, four-door sedan built by Dodge, widely known for its high-performance variants like the Hellcat. In everyday terms, it functions as a practical family-oriented sedan that can deliver extreme straight-line speed in its sportier trims.
Overview
The Charger is classified as a full-size sedan and typically seats five. It has a long-running lineage dating back to the 1960s and, in its current generation, shares the Chrysler LX platform with the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Challenger-inspired models. Throughout its modern life, the Charger has blended everyday practicality with a performance edge, earning a reputation as a four-door muscle car.
Platform and Drivetrain
Platform
The Charger is built on the Chrysler LX platform, a rear- or all-wheel-drive capable architecture that underpins several large sedans and coupes from Dodge and Chrysler. Its footprint is larger than typical midsize sedans, contributing to generous interior space and a sizable trunk, which reinforces its full-size classification.
Drivetrain options
Historically, the Charger has been rear-wheel drive as the standard setup, with all-wheel drive offered on select trims in many years to improve year-round usability. The high-performance SRT/HELLCAT variants typically emphasize rear-wheel drive to maximize traction under power. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across most trims, with manual transmissions no longer offered on modern Chargers.
Performance Variants
The Charger is famous for its broad range of powertrains and sport-oriented editions, stretching from practical everyday performance to extreme horsepower. The following engine options illustrate the power spectrum available across trims.
- 3.6L Pentastar V6: roughly 300 horsepower (varies by model year) with strong mid-range torque.
- 5.7L Hemi V8: about 370 horsepower, delivering classic V8 punch for a big sedan.
- 6.4L Hemi V8 (Scat Pack): around 485 horsepower, tuned for track-ready performance.
- 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 (Hellcat): 707 horsepower, the iconic top-end option focused on peak straight-line speed.
- 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 (Redeye): approximately 797 horsepower, the extreme high-performance variant with enhanced output.
In short, the Charger offers a wide power spectrum across trims, from efficient daily driving to extreme performance for enthusiasts.
Notable Charger Variants
Over the years, the Charger’s lineup has included a range of trims that cater to different driving preferences, from comfort-focused to track-ready. The following are some of the most recognizable modern variants.
- SXT: entry-level variant with the V6 engine and contemporary comfort features
- GT: performance-oriented V6 with available all-wheel drive
- R/T: equipped with the 5.7L Hemi V8 for stronger acceleration
- Scat Pack: 6.4L Hemi V8 delivering higher horsepower for more aggressive performance
- Hellcat: 707-horsepower supercharged V8 for extreme performance
- Redeye: top-tier, higher-output variant of the Hellcat lineage with approximately 797 horsepower
These trims illustrate how the Charger evolved from a practical large sedan into a flagship performance model within a four-door body.
Current Status and Outlook
As of the mid-2020s, the Dodge Charger remains in the Dodge lineup as a modern, full-size four-door sedan with a broad powertrain range. The model continues to appeal to buyers seeking a practical family car that can also deliver extraordinary performance on demand. In tandem with Dodge’s broader electrification strategy, the Charger sits at a crossroads between legacy internal-combustion performance and the brand’s future mobility plans, with ongoing updates to powertrains and technology reflecting that shift.
Summary
The Dodge Charger is a full-size, four-door sedan known for its versatility and performance. It spans a spectrum from comfortable, everyday driving with a V6 to extreme, track-ready horsepower in the Hellcat and Redeye variants, all built on the LX platform and retaining the Charger’s distinctive muscle-car heritage within a practical sedan form.
