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2005 Dodge Magnum RT Road Trip

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Khatir Soltani

Also ideal for this state would be the car's optional all-wheel drive, something I would only want and probably would never need

Dodge's sport wagon is well damped over uneven pavement or when transitioning side to side, and wet weather is never a problem due to standard traction and stability control, as well as optional AWD. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
despite regular trips to the ski hill just outside of my West Coast city, mostly due to the rear-drive sedan boasting standard stability and traction control.

The Magnum's suspension architecture is made up of an independent short/long arm (SLA) setup in front and 5-link independent configuration in the rear. No matter the road surface Dodge's sport wagon is well damped over uneven pavement or when transitioning side to side, not being able to hide its weight completely but not becoming unsettled either.

Bringing the RT to a halt are standard four-wheel discs replete with four-channel ABS. They worked perfectly in Salt Lake, as they did during a previous week I spent with the RT in my home town, as they did in and

It's amazing just how much stuff I could stuff into the cargo hold, and how easy it is to get in there. Look closely, and you can see that one of the black bags at the bottom center is branded with Dodge and Magnum logos. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
around Palm Springs last year when I first tried it out.

Yeah, I've spent a fair bit of time in the Magnum RT so far, as I have with its two V6 powered versions. But more impressive to me than the car's performance is just how much stuff I can stuff into the cargo hold, and how amazingly easy it is to get it in there. What do I mean? Dodge has engineered the roofline cut of the liftgate much farther back than on any rival, so therefore I could stand right in front of it when popping it open without being in the way. This is ideal when trying to load things aboard when someone has parked to close to your car. You can just place the chest of drawers on the hood of your thoughtless neighbor's car, before sliding it into the back of the Magnum. Handy! Any other wagon and the liftgate wouldn't be operable at all.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada