Top Questions About the Dodge Charger:
1. Is Dodge discontinuing the Charger?
Dodge discontinued the long-running seventh-generation Charger in 2023, but the eighth-generation Charger was revealed in 2024 ahead of the 2025 model year. The latest Charger is a complete reinveintion of the model with a twin-turbo inline-six engine and an zer-emission electric version will also be abailable. However, its styling is highly reminiscent of the classic 1960s originals.
2. Are Dodge Chargers good or bad cars?
The Dodge Charger is generally considered a good car, especially for those who appreciate its classic muscle car styling and powerful engines, ranging from the more economical V6 to the high-performance V8s in the SRT models (at leats up to the seventh generation). The Charger is also praised for its spacious interior, comfortable ride, and modern infotainment system. However, it may not appeal to everyone, as its size, weight, and fuel consumption are higher than those of more modern, fuel-efficient sedans.
3. Will there be a 2025 Dodge Charger?
Yes, there will. As we mentioned, an all-new Charger is on the cards for 2025, featuring a twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 420 or 550 horsepower and a standard all-wheel drive system. An electric version known as the Charger Daytona will also be available.
4. Is Dodge replacing the Charger?
Yes, Dodge is replacing the Charger in 2025 with an all-new model. Its styling will hark back to the '60s original with a blunt nose and muscular wings, while the electric Daytona Scat Pack version will produce an incredible 670 horsepower.
The Dodge Charger is an iconic American model that has appeared in several different forms throughout its lifetime. It was originally considered a muscle car but it's also been sold as a full-size sedan, a luxury coupe, and even a subcompact hatchback. Here's a look at the various generations of the Dodge Charger.
2025 - Present Dodge Charger (8th Generation)
The next-generation Dodge Charger lives on as a love story to two ends of the spectrum. Its styling aligns with its recent past, featuring a handsome, modern interior and a sleek, muscular exterior that enthusiasts have come to love from a modern-day muscle car. Its front end appears to be an evolution of the recently discontinued Dodge Challenger, while its rear looks more like the Charger of the previous generation.
The flip side of the coin comes from the powerplants that propel the Charger forward. The beloved Hemi V8 engine is no longer available in the new cars. Instead, a twin-turbo inline six engine with 420 or 550 horsepower is available. Both feature standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission called the Sixpack models.
A third version of the car, the Charger Daytona, features an all-electric powertrain. Charger Daytona R/T models are the less powerful electric versions with 496 horsepower (still no slouch), while Daytona Scat Pack models offers up to an incredible 670 horsepower.
Two- and four-door body styles are available to cover the Charger and Challenger models' historic demographics. Standard features include a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, UConnect 5, wireless device connectivity, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist.
2011 - 2024 Dodge Charger (LD 7th Generation)
The seventh-generation Charger debuted for the 2011 model year, based on the previous Charger platform it shared with the two-door Dodge Challenger and the four-door Chrysler 300.
Its interior was more refined than the outgoing model's, while its exterior styling was sharpened to look meaner and more modern. Other additions included soft-touch interior materials, tuned suspension, and a standard 4.3-inch infotainment screen.
The base 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine replaced the previous 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter V6 units. It made 292 horsepower, which was more than the two previously available V6 engines. The 370-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine remained, provided the muscle fitting of the Charger nameplate. Both engines were mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive was standard.
The 2011, Chargers were offered in SE and R/T trims. The latter came with the burlier V8, an upgraded 8.4-inch infotainment screen, tuned suspension, xenon headlights, Bluetooth, heated front seats, and an all-wheel drive (AWD) option returned.
SXT, SRT8, and SRT8 Super Bee models joined the lineup for the 2012 model year. Dodge also switched out the five-speed auto for a new eight-speed automatic transmission on V6-powered cars. Only minor changes such as upgraded adaptive dampers and the addition of launch control for SRT8 models came in 2013, while 2014 models remained essentially unchanged.
A styling refresh for the 2015 model year made the Charger sleeker and more refined, but looks were only part of the updated package. The eight-speed automatic transmission, previously available on V6 Chargers, was made standard on each model, while the AWD option was limited to V6-powered cars.
The SE and SXT trim levels carried over, but several Dodge Charger R/T variants were added to the lineup, including the standard R/T, R/T Road & Track, and R/T Scat Pack. In addition, a 485-horsepower SRT 392 model and the iconic 707-horsepower SRT Hellcat model joined the lineup. The SRT 392 mode used a 6.4-liter V8, and the Hellcat was fitted with a slightly smaller supercharged 6.2-liter V8.
A new Super Track Pak brought some performance upgrades to the SXT trim in 2016, and the UConnect infotainment system was upgraded in 2017 to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability as well as enhancements to its functionality. Changes in 2018 included dropping the SE trim, sliding the SXT down to the bottom of the trim level ladder, and inserting the GT trim as the sole AWD V6 option.
Another mid-cycle refresh in 2019 brought even sharper styling to the Charger lineup, though it was only a mild change compared to that in 2015. Available trim levels were slimmed to just five: SXT, GT, R/T, Scat Pack, and SRT Hellcat. Widebody variants were added to the Scat Pack and Hellcat trims in 2020.
In 2021, Dodge introduced a significantly upgraded version of the Hellcat called the SRT Hellcat Redeye. It featured a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, 797 horsepower, 707 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 203 MPH. It also came with other high-performance additions, including an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and track-tuned suspension with an aluminum rear differential for sharper handling. It also had an after-run chiller for efficient cool-down.
A Jailbreak package was made available for the Hellcat Redeye for 2022, boosting output even further to 807 horsepower.
The seventh-generation Charger's final year was the last time it would use only an internal combustion engine. Consequently, Dodge made the Jailbreak package available with standard Hellcat models and introduced several 2023 Last Call models to celebrate the Charger's rich muscle car heritage.
2006 - 2010 Dodge Charger (LX 6th Generation)
The sixth-generation Charger debuted for the 2006 model year as a four-door sedan, a departure from earlier generations, which were coupes and last seen almost 20 years earlier. This new LX platform was considered a half-sedan and half-muscle car, and its design undoubtedly took cues from the muscular look of earlier generations.
It featured rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and offered two V6s and two Hemi V8s. Transmission choices included a four- and five-speed automatic. The 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 was in the base trims, while a 5.7-liter V8 Hemi engine put out 340 horsepower through 2008. In 2009, this went up slightly to 368. A 6.1-liter V8 on the Charger SRT8 model put out 425 horsepower.
1982 - 1987 Dodge Charger (L-Body 5th Generation)
After taking a short production break, the fifth-generation Charger came back to dealerships looking nothing like any Charger before it. It had transformed into a three-door subcompact hatchback with front-wheel drive.
Only four-cylinder engines were offered throughout its run, including two turbo versions. A four-speed manual transmission was standard, and a five-speed manual and a three-speed automatic were options.
The wheelbase was shortened to less than 100 inches, which made it about 20 inches shorter than most previous Chargers. The inline four-cylinder engines put out anywhere from 62 horsepower on the low end to 84 on the high end.
Eventually, a performance-oriented Shelby Charger was introduced, offering a high-compression engine with 107 horsepower. But this Charger couldn't hold a candle to its predecessors, and faced an uphill battle with 1980s sports coupes, hobbled by its Chrysler K-Car origins.
1975 - 1978 Dodge Charger (B-Body 4th Generation)
The Charger morphed into a luxury car for the fourth generation, and its body was reshaped to look the part. Gone were the beefy muscle car lines, replaced with the sharp, stately lines of a sedan.
Its length increased by a whopping 10 inches, but the two-door coupe body style and transmission options remained the same.
V8 engines were the only options. The standard engine was the two-barrel small block V8 with an optional high-performance four-barrel that featured 225 horsepower.
1971 - 1974 Dodge Charger (B-Body 3rd Generation)
The third-generation Dodge Charger was distinctive due to its split grille and rounded body. Options for the 1971 model included a rear spoiler and a scoop on the hood.
As with the previous generation, a range of V8 powertrains was offered in addition to a lone inline-six engine option. Three-speed automatic and manual transmissions and a four-speed manual were available. The wheelbase decreased by two inches, and so did the length.
The 1972 model replaced the 383 cubic-inch engine with a four-barrel 400 cubic-inch unit that had lower compression. A 440 cubic-inch engine remained available but had lower compression, and horsepower plummeted to 280. The muscle car era more or less came to an end in 1974 for the Charger, and all performance options were discontinued.
1968 - 1970 Dodge Charger (B-Body 2nd Generation)
The second generation, Charger, was still built on the B-body platform and abandoned the sophisticated look of the first generation in its design. Both the rear and front clips were curved in what was known as the "Coke bottle" profile. Its wheelbase remained the same, but the car's length increased by about five inches.
Again, most V8s were available in this generation, but a six-cylinder was offered for the first time in the 1969 and 1970 models. The 1969 Charger featured two 383 cubic-inch V8 engines in the two-barrel and four-barrel configurations. The former put out 290 horsepower, and the latter topped out at 330 horsepower.
This second-generation Charger benefited greatly from being featured in popular media of the day. A 1969 Charger was featured in The Dukes of Hazzard TV show, while a 1968 Charger R/T 440 was featured in the famous street chase in the movie Bullitt. This generation also featured the Dodge Charger Daytona, a limited edition iteration developed for NASCAR.
1966 - 1967 Dodge Charger (B-Body 1st Generation)
The first-generation Dodge Charger debuted as a two-door fastback for the 1966 model year, and it was a large, heavy car that didn't immediately have the muscle car image. It did, however, introduce the Charger's swivelling headlights, which came to define the early models.
The only engine available was a V8, which came in various sizes and could be paired with a three or four-speed manual transmission and there was also a three-speed automatic. The 7.0-liter 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower was the largest engine available to buyers.
The Charger also featured a distinctive interior with rear bucket seats, which could be folded down to provide more space, accessible from the rear hatch. Other Charger-exclusive interior items for this generation included courtesy lights and instrument panels lit with electroluminescence instead of bulbs.
