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| 2006 Dodge Charger SXT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
The Charger is arguably the best-looking of the LX-platform triplets. The 300 looks classy and is quite striking, but the Charger looks mean and athletic, with its lumpy rear flanks and bully face. The front fascia doesn't quite look like the Dodge's corporate face, which is not a bad thing. The Magnum is more in line, as is the Dakota, Durango and the 2006 facelifted Ram. I didn't find the Charger very attractive when I first saw pictures of it about a year and a half ago, but it's much more appealing in person. Pictures just don't do this car justice. Everywhere I go, I get stares. People gawk as I pass them on the highway, and when I stop at my daughter's day-care to pick her up, the kids run to line up their runny noses in the windows and check out the car. Yup, I am quite the attraction in the small town I call home, that is until I give the Charger back to DaimlerChrysler.
This car is huge. You sit inside and hear an echo when you speak. Needless to say, the interior has plenty of headroom, legroom and shoulder room for everybody, including someone sitting in the middle of the rear bench seat. Even the steering wheel is big. The SXT doesn't have the leather seating that is offered in the more upscale trim levels, but I
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| 2006 Dodge Charger SXT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
prefer the cloth ones. They seem to offer better support because you're not sliding around in them. The seats are firm, but I always felt comfortable even after two-hour drives. The A-pillars hamper visibility a bit, being large but quite upright, which can hide a car at an intersection. One thing that really, really bugged me is the power door locks that activate automatically when you shift to 'D'; when you reach your destination and get out of the car, the driver's door unlocks by itself, but not the other ones. You'll have to take out the keyfob again or remember to unlock all the doors before getting out.
The top of the dashboard is made from rubbery plastic, and looks good. And it doesn't shine, so it doesn't look cheap. The bottom portion of the dash and door panels is made of hard beige plastic. Overall, despite being an example of simplicity and efficiency, it isn't particularly exciting. At least there's no fake wood. An ergonomic flaw, in my opinion, is the turn-signal stalk that is located too low on the left side of the steering wheel.
As for the trunk, it's obviously very spacious. The opening is wide, and there are no hinges that protrude into luggage space.
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| 2006 Dodge Charger SXT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
This Charger SXT goes for $31,525, split neatly between the $27,635 base SE and the $37,745 R/T. Although not exactly fully-equipped, you do get a good level of standard features along with the alloy wheels and 3.5-litre engine. You can order an SE and pay an extra $1,000 for the bigger V6 and 5-speed automatic, but it just won't look as nice with hubcaps. Similarly-equipped competitors for 2006 include the Ford Five Hundred SEL at $31,999, the Chevy Impala LTZ at $29,480 and the Grand Prix GT at $29,840. However, they are all front-wheel drive.
