2006 Dodge Charger SXT Road Test

Even without driving the 300 back to back with the Charger, there's a fundamental difference to be felt. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

Likewise, kudos must go to Stuttgart for the three-pointed star's role in initially orchestrating the suspension and steering. While it's important to stress that all three LX cars have the same fundamental large car architecture, which includes identical wheelbase, track, front and rear suspension and steering components, each vehicle has been tuned to deliver a slightly different feel, allowing customers to distinguish one vehicle from the next when behind the wheel. Dodge has tuned the Charger like the Magnum, tweaking it for a slightly sportier personality without compromising overall ride comfort. The main revision sees unique setting for the '9-Land' hydraulic power steering, which changes assist, designed to increase feel while turning into a corner. '9-Land' can also be used to describe the distance of the Charger's turning circle, which, at 11.9 metres (39 ft), means U-turns more often than not become three-point turns.

Even without driving the 300 back to back with the Charger, there's a fundamental difference to be felt. Dodge's tweaks eliminate the fuzziness and glueyness of the 300's steering, particularly when the car is tracking straight forward, boosting your ability to place the Charger on the road with pin-point accuracy. One thing that has yet to change is the steering system's odd weight while at dead centre; however, as you follow through a corner, effort decreases. The feeling of increasing lightness surprises, but once used to it the Charger is easy to pilot, following through with enthusiasm that even the best full-size front wheel drive sedans cannot match. Though the steering lightens at a snail's pace,

The Charger SXT comes standard with all-speed traction control and ESP stability control. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

allowing one to hustle the two-ton beast about in parking lots, it's not the kind of vehicle you'd want to use to take a driver's license test.

Should you want all-wheel drive, you'll have to head over to the 300 or the Magnum; the Charger is only available in a single rear-wheel drive configuration. But being available in RWD only isn't a bad thing, especially for a large car. Like the other LXs, the Charger is beautifully balanced with a 54:46 weight distribution, figures you normally hear the Europeans or fine sports carmakers boasting about. Nevertheless, the Charger SXT comes standard with all-speed traction control and ESP stability control allowing it to cut through white winters and slippery streets.