Similarly to how the brand's Magnum sport tourer and Chrysler 300 caused a stir on the street when introduced in California, the
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| The Charger brought new meaning to rubbernecking, especially among guys. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
Charger brought new meaning to rubbernecking, especially among guys. Its tough-as-nails grille and headlight combo, canted forward slightly to give the car a quick-when-standing-still profile, grabs attention, enhanced by aggressive rear fender haunches that wrap around the meaty standard 17-inch wheel and 215/65 tire package (two different 18-inch wheels are optional along with 225/60 or 235/50 performance tires), accentuated by a tall decklid that flips up at its tail to form a Kamm-like finality, make the Charger one of the most dramatic sedans on the road.
That sense of masculine style is carried into the cabin, a place that will have anyone familiar with the brand's muscular Magnum feeling right at home. Base cars get an austere albeit attractive woven cloth covering the seats, designed with no pattern to interrupt the Charger's purposeful layout, which is a theme I particularly like.
Interior surfaces are split into two shades, gray on the bottom half of the door panels and dash plus charcoal on the upper halves, creating an airy ambience despite the slit-like side windows. I love the Viper-inspired tunneled gauges boasting electroluminescent-enhanced white faces and silver-toned rims, but I can't say I'm a big fan of the left-side wiper stalk, which forces the left hand off of the steering wheel in order to
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| The quality of the Charger's stalks and switchgear is top-grade, as are much of the interior plastic surfaces, or at least those that come readily to hand. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
make adjustments by rotating its end. I like a more conventional right side stalk, that allows a quick flip up or down when needed with both hands still on the wheel. The quality of the Charger's stalks and switchgear, mind you, is top-grade, as are much of the interior plastic surfaces, or at least those that come readily to hand. Further down the door panels, under the steering column and on the lower half of the console, a little cost cutting is apparent. Still, it's not too often that I go crawling around on the floor of my car, so the point is rather moot. Most, except those getting out of top-line German and Japanese luxury models will find nothing to turn their noses up at.
