CarMax Releases List of Ten Features Car Buyers...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 Dodge Charger Review

May 30, 2008

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

front end tilts forward as if it's leaning into the wind
Automotive

kangaroo hips'... and a grille that doesn't so earnestly mimic Jay Leno's chin
Car and Driver

muscular styling
Edmunds

Styling cues are borrowed particularly from the '68 Charger
Motor Trend

Baby boomers with fond memories of the quintessential "muscle cars" of the late 1960s and early 1970s may find some real nostalgic appeal in the 2008 Dodge Charger.

Cars.com notes that with the Charger, Dodge tries to blend “modern coupe styling with four-door functionality.” The Charger, they add, “has a bold crossbar front end and a short deck. There are minimal wheel flares, and a long bodyside crease meets another crease at the rear doors.”

Like its ancestor of 40 years ago, the 2008 Dodge Charger has a raised rear (the "kangaroo hips" mentioned by Car and Driver) and a spoiler (available with the Daytona Package, according to ForbesAutos). It really does bear a family resemblance, recalling what Automotive refers to as the "pre-aero-age styling of its muscle car era namesake." Edmunds says it has “attitude.”

Most sources examined by TheCarConnection.com acknowledge the styling influence of the vintage 1970 Charger. According to Car and Driver--which pretty much pans the 2008 Dodge Charger—2008’s version bears almost no resemblance at all. Kelley Blue Book nonetheless considers the 2008 Dodge Charger unique--"unlike so many of today's derivative designs...[it] shows almost no resemblance to any other car on the road."

Inside, Edmunds thinks the 2008 Charger’s “interior is more attractive.” Motor Trend suggests that the 2008 Dodge Charger’s "interior provides the feeling of a sophisticated fighter plane cockpit," right down to the instrument cluster and shifter knob that "resembles a fighter pilot's joystick."

TheCarConnection.com has experienced many different flavors of the Charger. The 2008 Dodge Charger keeps its effortlessly cool shape, a reincarnation of muscle-car hotness that plays well in four-door form. In the Charger, Dodge’s dash materials have been upgraded, and the center console has been redesigned. This addresses an area the experts at TheCarConnection.com have contended needed work since the car's introduction. The cup holders have LED lighting, and the seats wear new cloth. Also, the poorly located cruise control stalk has been repositioned to the four o'clock place behind the steering wheel.

Conclusion

The 2008 Dodge Charger isn’t a direct descendant of the original muscle car by the same name—but it’s a sharp-looking sedan nonetheless.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:front end tilts forward as if it's leaning into the windAutomotivekangaroo hips'... and a grille that doesn't so earnestly mimic Jay Leno's chinCar and Drivermuscular stylingEdmundsStyling cues are borrowed particularly from the '68 ChargerMotor Trend Baby boomers with fond memories of the quintessential "muscle cars" of the late 1960s and early 1970s may find some real nostalgic appeal in the 2008 Dodge Charger. Cars.com notes that with the Charger, Dodge tries to blend “modern coupe styling with four-door functionality.” The Charger, they add, “has a bold crossbar front end and a short deck. There are minimal wheel flares, and a long bodyside crease meets another crease at the rear doors.” Like its ancestor of 40 years ago, the 2008 Dodge Charger has a raised rear (the "kangaroo hips" mentioned by Car and Driver) and a spoiler (available with the Daytona Package, according to ForbesAutos). It really does bear a family resemblance, recalling what Automotive refers to as the "pre-aero-age styling of its muscle car era namesake." Edmunds says it has “attitude.” Most sources examined by TheCarConnection.com acknowledge the styling influence of the vintage 1970 Charger. According to Car and Driver--which pretty much pans the 2008 Dodge Charger—2008’s version bears almost no resemblance at all. Kelley Blue Book nonetheless considers the 2008 Dodge Charger unique--"unlike so many of today's derivative designs...[it] shows almost no resemblance to any other car on the road." Inside, Edmunds thinks the 2008 Charger’s “interior is more attractive.” Motor Trend suggests that the 2008 Dodge Charger’s "interior provides the feeling of a sophisticated fighter plane cockpit," right down to the instrument cluster and shifter knob that "resembles a fighter pilot's joystick." TheCarConnection.com has experienced many different flavors of the Charger. The 2008 Dodge Charger keeps its effortlessly cool shape, a reincarnation of muscle-car hotness that plays well in four-door form. In the Charger, Dodge’s dash materials have been upgraded, and the center console has been redesigned. This addresses an area the experts at TheCarConnection.com have contended needed work since the car's introduction. The cup holders have LED lighting, and the seats wear new cloth. Also, the poorly located cruise control stalk has been repositioned to the four o'clock place behind the steering wheel. ConclusionThe 2008 Dodge Charger isn’t a direct descendant of the original muscle car by the same name—but it’s a sharp-looking sedan nonetheless.  2008 DODGE CHARGER STYLING | [8 out of 10] Automotive: "front end tilts forward as if it's leaning into the wind" Car and Driver: "'kangaroo hips'... and a grille that doesn't so earnestly mimic Jay Leno's chin" Edmunds: "muscular styling" Motor Trend: "Styling cues are borrowed ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

About 30 years ago, just about every major manufacturer on the planet (except Mercedes-Benz and BMW) converted nearly every passenger car they had to a front-wheel-drive platform. More recently, Chrysler was among the first builders to rediscover the marketing (and performance) benefits of going rear-wheel drive with its 300, Dodge Magnum wagon, and Dodge Charger. We're glad it did, but that leaves the Charger facing off against several cars that aren't exact competitors. The following cars haven't an ounce of "performance" in their composition. Take the Ford Taurus--it's front-wheel drive and available only with a V-6. Same for the Toyota Avalon and the all-new Chevrolet Malibu. A V-8 can be had in the Buick Lucerne, but Buick's idea of performance is far less brash than Dodge's.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Dodge Charger

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Dodge Charger

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Dodge Charger near you

See the Dodge Charger in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy