Her and His Reviews
February 2012
2012 Dodge Charger SXT Plus AWD
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| MSRP:$35,820 | MSRP:$35,820 |
| Performance | |
| The engine is 3.6 liter, 292 horsepower V-6. It is powerful and brisk, absolute pickup and smoothness in sound and motion. An 8-speed automatic with innovative e-shifter transmission. | 3.6 liter, 292 horsepower V-6. Engine really moves this car quickly, and the deep sounds coming from the exhaust are exhilarating to say the least. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 18 city and 27 highway; one of the best in this class. | 18 city and 27 highway, with the all new, smooth and precise eight speed automatic with "E shifter." This and the all new V-6 really dramatically transform the Dodge Charger. |
| The Car | |
|
The 2012 Charger drove like a Lexus, absolutely, no kidding. Chrysler has done a transformative job with the vehicle and puts this traditional 'muscle' car' in a sphere of its own. It was an unconditional pleasure to drive the Charger - in the city, in the snow, on the turnpike. I even had the chance to extemporaneously interview 3 police officers who each were driving the Charger - and they said how much they enjoy driving such a reliable and quick vehicle. Nonetheless, me thinks the amenities and accessories on the inside of their Charger are a tad bit different than mine!
This vehicle rivals family cars it never has before, with ample space for the kids in tow, as the roomy inside is welcoming. The layout of the interior is a delight with luxurious touch points including the nappa red leather seats. The 8-way power driver's seats with lumbar adjust promises a comfortable ride. Love this stitching and of course, the adjustable heated seats. Powertilt steering wheel for personalized driving ease. Plenty of organization and room for cups, bottles, and tea/coffee mugs. Use the sunroof in the warmer climate days. No shortage of cargo room in the cavernous trunk. |
I really can't say enough for how wonderful this car is. It's built solidly, has its own distinct All-American personality, has a strong sense of heritage, is almost insanely economical considering its size, and is a vast, vast improvement over anything Chrysler has done over the last few decades. I absolutely did not want to give it back! |
| Safety | |
| The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Charger a top choice out of five stars in various crash test. The blind spot monitoring system and forward collision warnings worked flawlessly - real plus safety features. Multi airbags/curtain, traction control, stability control, all wheel drive and lane change warning system included. | The usual airbags, traction control, stability control, all wheel drive, lane change warning system, etc. |
| Technology | |
| The dash is laid out cleanly, starting with the 8.4" touch screen display , Uconnect voice commands through Bluetooth, remote USB, 6 premium speakers and satellite radio allowed for an auto-jam-fest. |
Standard equipment is generous, eight way power seat, heated front seats, rear arm rest with cup holder, satellite radio, UConnect voice command with Bluetooth, stability control and traction control, hill start assist and a 19.1 gallon gasoline tank. There's also rain brake support and "ready alert braking," too. With options, our tester priced out at $35,820, including options like a technology group package with blind sport with rear cross path detection, approach lamps, rain sensitive windshield washers, auto adjust in reverse exterior mirrors, power adjustable pedals with memory, power tilt/telescoping steering column, heated steering wheel, adaptive speed control, sunroof, and a host of other features. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| This year's Charger takes some of the design elements from the 60's and interfaces them newly into a 2012! The grill is as sturdy, strong and sexy a boilerplate as any on the market. Exceptional job with this vehicle all the way around. | Way cool! It looks tough, menacing, and all-American. Really hits the spot |
| Warranty | |
|
5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty 3 year, 36,000 mile basic limited warranty with 24 hour towing assistance - restrictions applies, ask Dealer. |
5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty 3 year, 36,000 mile basic limited warranty with 24 hour towing assistance - restrictions apply, ask Dealer. |
