Also well assembled, attractive and functional is the Charger's business office, which closely mimics the interior architecture of its 300 and Magnum
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| The dual-zone climate control system is one of the most straightforward HVAC systems to be found. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
cousins. As with the Magnum, a gauge cluster composed of four separate white-faced dials, set deeply into individual bezels, pays homage to the pre-energy crisis days of the '60s and early '70s. The grouping is easy to read and positioned directly in the driver's line of sight for quick reference. A brushed aluminum facing adds an upscale theme to the prominent centre stack, housing the audio unit and dual-zone climate control system, which by the way is one of the most straightforward HVAC systems to be found.
Seating surfaces in my tester were upholstered in leather. The front buckets were heated and provided plenty of adjustment including lumbar. What astonished me, though, wasn't the dramatic improvement in domestic seating comfort, but rather the immense leg and headroom the Charger provides up front, without penalizing those in the rear where legroom is also plentiful but headroom in is only adequate at best. Also unfortunate is that the distinctively tapered rear side glass tends to restrict outward vision from the back seat, especially for children. Despite these minor quibbles, and some plastic trim that could be more appealing, Dodge has done a fine job of assembling a high quality, nicely equipped interior at a very reasonable entry price, but the Charger's value doesn't stop there.
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| Unlike the golden oldies, today's HEMI is connected to a sophisticated five-speed AutoStick. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
My HEMI-powered R/T tester galloped with the strength of 340 horses supplied by a 5.7-litre (348 cubic inch) V8. Like the early Chargers, its massive power is delivered to the rear wheels. Unlike the golden oldies though, today's HEMI is connected to a sophisticated five-speed autobox featuring DaimlerChrysler's AutoStick manual-mode shift capability. The additional cogs take better advantage of the torque generated by the new V8, which hits a staggering 390 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm. Also better is the new HEMI's improved fuel economy and reduced emissions output thanks to DaimlerChrysler's Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which deactivates four of the eight cylinders during phases of low power demand such as when cruising.
