2006 Dodge Charger Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review
The Dodge Charger nameplate is back for the 2006 model year in the form of a full-size sedan, but can it live up to its legendary legacy?
The last time we saw a Dodge Charger was in the late 1980s, and by that point, the car had evolved into a boxy subcompact hatchback. The new Charger is completely different and much more muscular than when we last saw it. Though the Charger is a full-size car, Dodge has managed to make it look somewhat sporty with long lines, smooth curves, and a retro-future style that works well on the large sedan.
Inside, there’s room to spare, and the Charger’s sparsely populated cabin adds to the feeling of openness and space. Dodge has added some retro-inspired touches to the Charger’s cockpit, with a four-spoke steering wheel and separate gauges in the instrument cluster. There’s a good deal of plastic in the expansive centre stack, but the controls are easy to read and sensibly laid out, and leather seats are available. Rear-seat passengers are treated to acres of room but not much else, as the Charger is lacking in the accessory department back there. A fold-down armrest and window controls are the only accents in an otherwise blank back seat.
It’s hard to ignore a Hemi. Even though the Charger is a large car, both the 5.7-litre V8 in the Dodge Charger R/T and the 6.1-litre V8 in the Charger SRT8 are more than powerful enough to scorch the tires, mounted on 18-inch alloy wheels and 20-inch forged wheels respectively. The SRT8 can make the run from zero to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, which is a time that rivals many very expensive sports cars (zero-to-100-km/h times are not available).
Even the more pedestrian versions of the car feel quick, thanks to the Chrysler-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine. It produces power specs of 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. The V6 powertrain is quiet and refined but can provide a healthy punch when pushed. All versions of the Charger come with an automatic transmission and a rear-wheel drive (RWD) drivetrain.
Fuel economy is respectable, despite the Charger’s healthy proportions. Models equipped with the 3.5-litre engine are rated at 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 8.1 on the highway. The 5.7-litre engine features cylinder deactivation tech that “turns off” four of the eight cylinders in certain situations to conserve fuel, which helps it achieve a rating of 13.9 L/100 km in city driving and 8.8 on the highway. The SRT8, with its 6.1-litre V8, does not have that feature, and it suffers abysmal fuel economy numbers as a result. The most muscular Charger is rated at 16.5 L/100 km city and 10.9 highway.
The Charger is a big car; there’s no way around that fact. But Dodge has made use of all that real estate to keep everyone comfortable in the car’s cabin. More than a metre of legroom, 983 mm of front headroom, and over 140 centimetres of hip room for the front seats is more than enough for the tallest and largest passengers, and though the seat adjustments are manual in the lower trim levels, there is still a high enough level of movement to accommodate most people. Dodge made good use of all that real estate with plenty of small-item storage and large spaces in the centre console, glove box, and door panels.
Because of its size, the Charger may not be the best choice for people living in tight urban areas, and its 3,048-millimetre wheelbase makes tight turns difficult. That said, people who want cargo space but absolutely have to have a car over a utility vehicle will be well served by the Charger’s cavernous 459 litres of storage.
A bare-bones Charger will set you back $27,965 before tax and destination charges. That’s not that much money for a car that can carry the entire family. Full-size sedans are becoming increasingly scarce in a fuel-economy-obsessed world, so competing vehicles like the Ford Five Hundred and the Buick LaCrosse lack the attitude that the Charger has, although at least the Ford is priced similarly. A fully loaded Dodge Charger SRT8 costs just over $45,000, and it gets you a whole lot of muscle car for the money.
Note: Images show a US model.
User reviews for 2006 Dodge Charger
Write a reviewWhat users have asked
2006 Dodge Charger Pricing
Trims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.6 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-only · Storage: door pockets
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.87
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: full-size
Suspension
Front Arm Type: short and long arm (SLA) · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.6 · Rear brake width: 0.87 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.82
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather/suede
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Arm Type: short and long arm (SLA) · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: polished aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brake width: 1.26 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 13.8 · Rear brake width: 1.1 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: seatback
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.06
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather · Upholstery accents: faux suede
Suspension
Front Arm Type: short and long arm (SLA) · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: polished aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent