Our thoughts on the 2008 Dodge Charger R/T AWD are pretty unanimous. We are big fans of the 340-horsepower Hemi V-8 under the hood but the fun starts to diminish when the road begins to curve. As for interior refinement, our test car was loaded up with all of the bells and whistles anyone could want, but the build quality and materials used just aren’t as nice as something we could get from Europe or Japan.

Click through the jump to read our staff’s impressions of the Charger and click the images below to launch a gallery.

Laura K. Cowan
Chief Copy Editor

I have to start by saying that I’m not terribly fond of Winnebago-sized sedans, no matter how retro-cool they may be. I don’t enjoy worrying about where both sides of my car are in my lane. That said, the Charger looks pretty sleek, at least from the outside. The aggressive headlights look like show-car carryover, and the not-quite-gray exterior paint really suited our tester’s seriously fun persona.

I appreciated all the extras our car had: the power sunroof, satellite radio, and dual-zone climate control. Of course, beyond these little luxuries, no Dodge can escape that good old bare-bones Chrysler interior. Same square air vents, same upright dark gray dash, stock steering wheel, stock nav-screen, stock audio controls. The HVAC controls look like carryover from Mercedes-Benz parts sharing, but they’re nothing special either. You would think that Chrysler could really do this interior, having executed it so many times over, but I noticed that the turn signal stalk on the steering wheel was set far too low for comfort, and the bottoms of the cupholders had an unnecessary bump that made it impossible for my coffee mug to stand upright.

What’s up, Chrysler? The leather is nice, the seats are comfortable, there’s loads of power any time you want it, but with so-so handling and a nearly $40K price tag, why buy this car over something else?

Seyth Miersma
News Writer

Our Charger AWD is certainly not exempt from a lot of the same problems that seem to plague the rest of the Chrysler group. Even though the spec level of our nearly $40,000 car is very high, there are interior bits that look cheap and feel flimsy. The steering suffers from a multitude of problems, being generally vague, way too light at high speeds, and controlled by a wheel that is, frankly, gigantic. Additionally, the all-wheel-drive system may offer a higher level of grip than the rear-drive car, but it’s still not terribly confidence-inspiring.

Those (admittedly substantial) issues out of the way, I have to say that I really love driving the Charger. The 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 makes the car rocket-ship fast in a straight line, growling away happily in front of you for as long as you have the nerve to keep the accelerator to the floor. The AutoStick transmission may not be the perfect answer for a performance car, but it responds quickly to downshifts, and adds a level of involvement that Charger owners should appreciate at least once in a while.

Taking the car for a short blast on a country road (a straight one) this morning, I found the combination of third gear and a heavy left foot to be properly life-affirming. Three cheers for muscle cars.

Steven J. Ewing
Production Assistant

I’m having a hard time digesting this $40,000 Charger R/T. There is a good amount of passenger room, a lot of usable trunk space, and the Hemi V-8 really knows how to pump out the power (not to mention the gnarly exhaust note that always makes me feel like a 1970s gearhead). After that, though, my praise for the big Dodge ends.

I’ve spent time in the Charger SRT8, and honestly, it’s really the only variant of the Charger I would even consider. Our test car’s all-wheel drive wasn’t really noticeable when taking the Charger into any bends, and I would much prefer the standard rear-wheel-drive setup. The steering is much too vague for a car and, like Seyth mentioned, the steering wheel itself is really gigantic. The rest of the interior generally feels cheap to the touch, and while the leather seats are nice, they don’t provide enough support. I had to adjust the seat time and time again just to find a comfortable position.

I don’t think the Charger is all bad news, but still, $40K can buy you a lot of car; I know I could get a more reliable vehicle with a much better interior for that price. Yes, I would have to sacrifice some power and some interior volume, but I would still rather have something like a BMW 3-series, Acura TL, or Subaru Legacy.

Adam Morath
Associate Art Director

The Dodge Charger R/T AWD aims to offer both performance and practicality in one package, yet falls short of delivering the best of either category. True to its muscle-car heritage, the Charger is great on straights, but proves a dismal handler. Subtle steering inputs provide no feedback, while maneuvering with even the slightest of sporting aspirations will often result in an uncomfortable sway, and the back end kicking out. It left me wondering what, if anything, the all-wheel-drive system brings to the table.

2008 DODGE CHARGER R/T AWD

Engine: V-8, 5.7 liters, 16v
Output: 340 hp/390 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Weight: 4268 lb
Fuel economy, city/hwy: 15/22 mpg

Base price: $32,855

Customer preferred package: $1475
Protection group: $1185
Power sunroof: $950
MyGIG multimedia system: $890
Rear seat entertainment: $1595

Destination: $675
Price as tested: $39,625