Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Dodge Charger SXT Rallye AWD

[Autos_Editor]

Going big, American style.
Read More...

[Danno001]

Nice cruising car, large for it's mission.
Eye watering price.
FCA reliability?
= pass on this one.

To throw in a comparison CUV AWD, at 198 inches long, the Kia Sorento is 10" shorter.
At similar pricing, I'll take the Kia over the Charger all day long.

[drive67]

Nice cruising car, large for it's mission.
Eye watering price.
FCA reliability?
= pass on this one.

To throw in a comparison CUV AWD, at 198 inches long, the Kia Sorento is 10" shorter.
At similar pricing, I'll take the Kia over the Charger all day long.

Would never compare it to a Kia Sorento totally different vehicle. Dodge Charger SXT Rallye AWD is more of a bigger softer Golf R or STI.
 Styling is much better than the Kia where you will turn heads driving it. Reliability is better than average on the charger.
Down side for the charger is no manual transmission in North America.

[Threader]

Quote "Once you’ve selected AWD you get a $700 discount on the Premium Group package that includes brake assist, ventilated front seats, rear-seat armrest, illuminated rear cup holders, auto-dimming mirror, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, GPS, power front seats, heated rear seats, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, radio/driver seat/mirror memory settings, automatic highbeam, FWD collision with active braking, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, UConnect 8.4-inch, 10-spaker Beats by Dre audio plus a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. That package is $5,995 on RWD models and $5,295 here."

Since when are heated mirrors not a standard feature in Canada? My CVP Grand Caravan has it.

Quote from Autos.ca

"Features on the SE Canada Value Package include 16-inch steel wheels, dual-zone temperature control, driver’s knee airbag, four-wheel disc brakes, power windows, keyless entry, heated mirrors, second-row bench seat with in-floor storage tubs, third-row Stow ‘n Go seating, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, black door handles, CD/MP3 stereo with four speakers, and tinted glass."

http://www.autos.ca/dodge/buyers-guide-2012-dodge-grand-caravan/

So a more expensive Dodge sedan has to pay extra for heated mirrors.

[greengs]

Quote "Once you’ve selected AWD you get a $700 discount on the Premium Group package that includes brake assist, ventilated front seats, rear-seat armrest, illuminated rear cup holders, auto-dimming mirror, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, GPS, power front seats, heated rear seats, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, radio/driver seat/mirror memory settings, automatic highbeam, FWD collision with active braking, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, UConnect 8.4-inch, 10-spaker Beats by Dre audio plus a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. That package is $5,995 on RWD models and $5,295 here."

Since when are heated mirrors not a standard feature in Canada? My CVP Grand Caravan has it.

I know for sure that a 2015 Toyota Tacoma doesn't have heated mirrors, not even as an option.

[valuator]

Quote "Once you’ve selected AWD you get a $700 discount on the Premium Group package that includes brake assist, ventilated front seats, rear-seat armrest, illuminated rear cup holders, auto-dimming mirror, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, GPS, power front seats, heated rear seats, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, radio/driver seat/mirror memory settings, automatic highbeam, FWD collision with active braking, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, UConnect 8.4-inch, 10-spaker Beats by Dre audio plus a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. That package is $5,995 on RWD models and $5,295 here."

Since when are heated mirrors not a standard feature in Canada? My CVP Grand Caravan has it.

I know for sure that a 2015 Toyota Tacoma doesn't have heated mirrors, not even as an option.

Pretty sure our 2015 Outback doesn't have heated mirrors.  My wife was complaining about this the other day.  I never thought to check this before we bought it, I guess I just assumed they would be heated on a $35k vehicle.

[Threader]

Pretty sure our 2015 Outback doesn't have heated mirrors.  My wife was complaining about this the other day.  I never thought to check this before we bought it, I guess I just assumed they would be heated on a $35k vehicle.

2015 Outback 2.5i Manual base model

Door mirrors: Power-adjustable, foldable and heated (body colour)

http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebSiteID=282&WebPageID=19456&Range=Outback&ModelYear=2015&CarID=803

[Danno001]

To throw in a comparison CUV AWD, at 198 inches long, the Kia Sorento is 10" shorter.
At similar pricing, I'll take the Kia over the Charger all day long.

What?

Comparisons only bring value when they are meaningful.  If you prefer an orange (or in this case a lemon), you are not in the market for an apple.

Meaningful to me, that's all that counts..right?

[Fobroader]

Nice cruising car, large for it's mission.
Eye watering price.
FCA reliability?
= pass on this one.

To throw in a comparison CUV AWD, at 198 inches long, the Kia Sorento is 10" shorter.
At similar pricing, I'll take the Kia over the Charger all day long.

Yeah because I'm sure the amount of people cross shopping a Sorento and a Charger is huge......what does this statement even mean??

[tooscoops]

why does the maxima and impala get so much comparison? those are fwd only cars with less space correct? that is the kind of goofy comparison that we do in the forums, not a legit comparo in the article...

the heated mirrors will be on pretty much every charger. only the se doesn't have it standard, and it is in nearly every optional package even on that model which will likely be selected. sometimes, especially on these cars where ordering is convoluted, the packages list all things included, even if it is redundant.

and lastly... have a similar used one on my lot. 32500 for a 2015 with 23km. i honestly have looked at it myself as my next car to replace the patriot... pretty sexy beast in which for my driving, i averaged 9.1l/100 when i tested my route the other day in the snow. as i have always said with pretty much all fca/daimlerchrysler/chrysler/dodge cars... great buys used... the lx (or whatever we call them now) line though is an obvious used purchase over new. just a choice between 300 or charger... i used to go 300, but this is a nice package.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

"What advantages doe this have over, say, a train, which I could also afford?" 

[Fobroader]

"What advantages doe this have over, say, a train, which I could also afford?" 

 

[JRM]

I really like this car.  It's much better looking than the bloated Impala with it's over styled interior.  The Charger just looks solid and sporty inside and out by comparison.  That being said the VW Passat Execline V6 is smaller and much lighter with lower fuel consumption.  And it's base price is less while including most, if not all, except all wheel drive, the features included in the Charger's several options, including the Premium Group, itself costing an additional $5,295.  And it has nearly as much passenger and cargo space.   I just don't see the extra value for the several thousands more in price.

[OliverD]

The way the Charger and the 300 are marketed and sold in Canada is perplexing. Obviously, these cars work well in the U.S. because they tend to like larger sedans and they can make do with RWD in a large part of the country. So right off the bat, that limits the appeal of these cars in Canada.

But then FCA sells these to fleets in pretty big numbers, presumably with good discounts. Why else would the fleets buy them? But when it comes to actual retails customer, incentives are limited and the pricing is quite high - further limiting their appeal and meaning few people buy them. Compound that with the myriad trim levels, options, and drivetrains available, and dealers don't even bother stocking them. Very strange.

Sidenote: I see FCA has taken a note from the Porsche playbook when they priced that black painted roof at $1395.

[SaskSpecV]

why does the maxima and impala get so much comparison? those are fwd only cars with less space correct? that is the kind of goofy comparison that we do in the forums, not a legit comparo in the article...

It's a completely legit comparison.  They are all large family (non-premium) sedans, and likely/exclusively powered by a V6 engine.  They all have similar price ranges - $35 - 50K.  All are slightly bigger than their respective midsize sedans, which are likely/exclusively powered by a 4-banger.  (And BTW, the Impala has marginally more passenger room than the Charger, and a much bigger trunk).

Yes, the Charger differentiates itself by its RWD platform, and by offering AWD OR (not and) a V8.  But saying that the Impala, Maxima, Avalon, Genesis, etc. are not viable competitors for the Charger would be like saying that the Legacy isn't a viable competitor for a Camry because one is AWD-only and the other is FWD-only.

[ArticSteve]

The way the Charger and the 300 are marketed and sold in Canada is perplexing. Obviously, these cars work well in the U.S. because they tend to like larger sedans and they can make do with RWD in a large part of the country. So right off the bat, that limits the appeal of these cars in Canada.

But then FCA sells these to fleets in pretty big numbers, presumably with good discounts. Why else would the fleets buy them? But when it comes to actual retails customer, incentives are limited and the pricing is quite high - further limiting their appeal and meaning few people buy them. Compound that with the myriad trim levels, options, and drivetrains available, and dealers don't even bother stocking them. Very strange.

Sidenote: I see FCA has taken a note from the Porsche playbook when they priced that black painted roof at $1395.

^^^

This particular platform is designed for USA export.  As long as gas stays low in the US it has legs.  In Canada it's totally DOA.  However, the assembly jobs are the real story.

[PJ]

To throw in a comparison CUV AWD, at 198 inches long, the Kia Sorento is 10" shorter.
At similar pricing, I'll take the Kia over the Charger all day long.

What?

Comparisons only bring value when they are meaningful.  If you prefer an orange (or in this case a lemon), you are not in the market for an apple.

Meaningful to me, that's all that counts..right?

Yes, that certainly counts.  But only because everyone's preferences count for something.  The comparison is idiosyncratic.

It's a very valid (and common) comparison actually.  I know a lot of people who have debated between similarly priced sedans and CUV's in recent years.   Most have gone from sedans to CUVs, a few the other way.

You just have to at it from the point of view of people that are shopping.

[tooscoops]

that's fair. thanks for the note. but when doing things like trying to bash the fuel economy of the charger, rather than emphasize that the exhaust note of the maxima is nicer, maybe mention something like, "obviously with awd, we expect the fuel numbers to favour the fwd maxima". i'm ok with the comparison, but not much was made of the fact that it's segment (nearly) exclusive features of big v8's and (separately) awd. i feel like so many other reviews glorify the car being shown whether rightly or not, this one was trying to offer alternatives from the get go even with a decent review. (i'm sure it's just my bias selling these things!)

rwd starting point is tricky when comparing... like you had said, fwd and awd can be compared... but rwd and fwd rarely would be cross-shopped... so fca is at a disadvantage from the get go in canada when it will take the upgraded awd option to even make someone look at the charger when comparing say the maxima at the base level.

i'll need to take a look at the impala... a much larger trunk and more rear seat space is hard to fathom after being in a charger!

[tooscoops]

and to the cuv sedan thing... it's not as common a cross shop as you might think. it is usually an upsell from the sedan, not a cross shop. customers might tell themselves they were cross-shopping, but it is usually a price point, then they see the payments, then for minimally more, get into a higher level cuv with awd.

something like the charger though is a minimally shopped car. if you want one, you shop at different dealers to get a charger... you don't compare it to other cars or any other segment. the style, stance, persona are not matched by anything that ticks off the same value points save maybe the genesis... BUT.... not many people are actually looking for the things the charger offers! at least not in canada at the prices available.

[Spec5]

$48k all in for the Charger in this article. I'd take an SHO or Genesis Sedan all day every day over this thing. Nice as it is.