Used Dodge Charger Quick Facts
- The seventh-generation (2011-2023) Dodge Charger makes the most sense as the best to buy used.
- While there have been many Charger designs over the years, the models most used car buyers shop are the sedans dating back to 2006.
- Along with its legendary Hemi V8, the Dodge Charger has an electric vehicle (EV) option.
- The high-performance Charger Hellcat models can outrun some pricey European sports sedans.
For most of its existence, the Dodge Charger has been about maximum performance at an affordable price. Early Charger models were always 2-door coupes, which was great if it was just you and one other person. However, bringing the family along for the fun required squeezing into a tight backseat. With the advent of the 2006 Dodge Charger, two more doors were added to the formula, changing how Americans viewed the family sedan. With a host of powerful Hemi V8 engines introduced over the years, the Charger has proven that an American sedan can go head-to-head with more expensive foreign brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz but with a uniquely American feel. Even the V6 cars are more than adequate performers, making them a viable alternative to more mainstream sedans like the Honda Accord or Ford Taurus. Read on to learn about the best model years to buy and generations.
- Which Is the Best Model-Year Used Dodge Charger?
- Dodge Charger by Generation: Which Should You Buy?
- Is the Dodge Charger a Good Car?
- How Fast Is the Dodge Charger?
- What Dodge Charger Model Years Offer a Hemi V8?
- Does the Dodge Charger Have All-Wheel Drive?
- What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Dodge Charger?
- What Are the Years to Avoid for the Dodge Charger?
Which Is the Best Model-Year Used Dodge Charger?
While sixth-generation (2006-2010) Dodge Charger cars are plentiful in the used car market, it’s the seventh-generation (2011-2023) models that make the most sense as the best cars to buy used. These cars span a long period, making many improvements along the way. Even a 5-year-old Charger will have modern features like a touchscreen radio, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. Opting for one of the V6 trims gets you a powerful car with decent fuel economy. Opt for an R/T, SRT, or Hellcat, and you’ll have a blisteringly fast 4-door that will make you the envy of every red-blooded American kid (and adult) in the neighborhood.
Dodge Charger by Generation: Which Should You Buy?
There have been many Charger designs over the years, and the models most used car buyers shop are the sedans dating back to 2006. This was the first year for the 4-door Dodge Charger, a change that allowed aging muscle car lovers with growing families to have their cake and eat it, too. In all, eight generations keep car buyers in awe of the Charger.
Eighth Generation: 2024-Current
The all-new Dodge Charger presents a distillation of muscle car design through a modern muscular exterior that focuses on function, avoids excess, and subtly acknowledges inspiration from its predecessors’ clean, timeless lines.
The 2024 Charger only recently arrived on the scene, so you may not find many on the used market. Offered in coupe form for starters, the electric-powered Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack trims provide plenty of juice for quick acceleration, come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), and have a range of about 300 miles (depending on trim and options). There’s even a built-in speaker to mimic the sound of a rumbling V8. The latest Charger’s electric powertrain is a departure from traditional muscle cars, but it does offer the power and handling worthy of the Charger name. For now, we’ll just leave it at that.
See 2024 to current Dodge Charger models for sale near you.
Seventh Generation: 2011-2023
We suspect the vast majority of people shopping for a used Dodge Charger are looking for the ones powered by a massive, tire-spinning V8 engine, adorned in bold colors, and styled to shun aerodynamic boredom. The last of these beasts come from the seventh generation and, in truth, are the best years to buy used. After about 2015, the Charger’s quality improved dramatically, although overall, the Charger holds only an average reliability and resale history. The most affordable Charger trims are the SXT, GT, and SE. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 serving up nearly 300 horsepower, the base Charger is easily capable of rapid acceleration, and its fuel economy is more than acceptable, at least on the highway. The Charger R/T introduces the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 370 hp, while more notorious trims like the Scat Pack Wide Body, SRT Hellcat, and Hellcat Red Eye employ more powerful V8 engines with output ranging from 485 to 797 hp. The V6 and R/T models are the only ones that offer the option of all-wheel drive.
Dodge is also quite generous regarding standard and optional features, offering all manner of upgrades, from performance front seats to a high-end audio system. This generation introduces advanced driver assists, such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. There are also several high-performance packages intended for track use, an upgrade unique to this four-door family sedan.
See 2011 to 2023 Dodge Charger models for sale near you.
Model-Year Changes
2022: Dodge adds the Jailbreak Package with additional power and a new alarm system.
2021: The SRT Hellcat Redeye debuts, touting 797 hp. The GT trim adds all-wheel drive.
2020: Dodge introduces a widebody package for certain trims. Hellcat and Scat Pack trims gain improved steering, suspension, and shocks.
2019: The SXT adds all-wheel drive, while launch assist joins the Hellcat and R/T Scat Pack.
2018: The 300-hp GT trim joins the lineup, and new standard features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rear backup camera, and rear parking sensors. The SE trim gets dropped from the lineup.
2017: New trims include the Daytona and Daytona 392. A new Uconnect system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen becomes standard.
2016: Besides some new packages, the Charger sees no significant changes.
2015: The Charger gets a significant makeover, with sleeker sheet metal, a new interior, and a new supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Hellcat.
2014: An available cold-air induction package bumps the V6 output to 300 hp.
2013: No significant changes.
2012: The Charger gets a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
2011: The Charger is all-new, with an improved ride, an updated V6 engine, and a more sophisticated interior.
Sixth Generation: 2006-2010 Dodge Charger
The sixth-generation Charger introduces the 4-door concept to the nameplate. You can still find many of these cars running around, although they will likely have high mileage and may not be in the best shape. This generation was more problematic than the one that followed, with many issues regarding the transmission, ABS brakes, electrical glitches, and window regulators. As for features, the sixth-gen Charger is surprisingly robust, offering impressive options for the time, such as high-end audio, navigation, leather upholstery, and a plethora of customization upgrades.
Trims during this generation include the V6-powered SE and SXT and the Hemi V8-armed R/T and SRT8.
See 2006 to 2010 Dodge Charger models for sale near you.
Model-Year Changes
2010: Supplemental side curtain airbags are made standard.
2009: All-wheel-drive models gain a new transfer case and a disconnecting front axle.
2008: A few changes to packages and interior design.
2007: The SXT and R/T gain the option of all-wheel drive.
2006: The Dodge Charger debuts, touting four doors, a strong Hemi V8, and standout styling.
The Dodge Charger Early Years: Generations 1 Through 5 (1966-1987)
1982-1987
The fifth-generation Dodge Charger has its name affixed to a front-drive compact car based on the Dodge Omni. The sporty hatchback uses a normally aspirated or turbocharged 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Later in the run, a Shelby Charger arrives with more power and unique paint and body trim.
1975-1978
There’s not much to see here. The Charger name, a new grille, and revised taillights are grafted onto the Chrysler Cordoba platform, creating a slightly sportier 2-door ’70s luxury coupe. Power comes from three V8 engines (318, 360, and 400), but even the largest barely hits the 200-hp mark.
1971-1974
This generation Charger is larger than the previous one and, later in the model run, saw its power severely curtailed thanks to new emissions and fuel-economy requirements. 1971-72 performance trims included the R/T and Super Bee, which offered a 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8. Other engine options include the 318-, 340-, 360-, 383-, 400-, and 440-cubic-inch V8s.
1968-1970
The second-gen Charger is probably the most well-known, thanks to its role as the General Lee on the TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard.” It also starred in “Bullitt,” “Blade,” and the “Fast & Furious” movies. Hidden headlights, Coke-bottle side styling, and dual door scallops bolster the car’s aggressive good looks. Engine options range from a 145-hp inline-6 to two fire-breathing Hemi V8s. The most unique Charger from this era was the Charger Daytona, which featured a rounded fiberglass nose cone and a massive rear wing (pictured above).
1966-1967
The original Charger only had a 2-year run, but it stands out as a unique study in automotive design. The fastback coupe features an extended rear window, hidden headlights, and four V8 engine choices, including a 425-hp 7.0-liter Hemi. Inside, the Charger offered seating for four, with a full-length center console dividing the front and rear bucket seats.
See classic Dodge Charger models for sale near you.
Is the Dodge Charger a Good Car?
The Charger is a fun car. It’s an exciting car. And, in its last decade as a gas-powered sedan, it is a pretty good car. Sixth-generation cars are plagued with issues surrounding transmission, electronics, and engine computers, which can be rather costly to repair. We like the 2015 and newer Charger models for several reasons: enhanced safety, better tech, improved engines, and better quality. We also think the seventh-generation Charger is the most expressive and desirable for muscle car collectors.
How Fast Is the Dodge Charger?
With its V6 engine, expect a sixth or seventh-generation Charger to hit 60 mph in about six seconds. The 5.7-liter Hemi knocks about two seconds off that time, while the supercharged Hemi in the Hellcat can make the run in under four seconds. The R/T EV can bolt to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the Scat Pack drops that figure to a jaw-dropping 3.3 seconds.
What Dodge Charger Model Years Offer a Hemi V8?
The Hemi V8 shows up in the first, second, and third generation Charger models, then takes a nap until 2006, when it returns as a 5.7-liter V8 and a 6.1-liter V8 in the Charger SRT8. The Hemi family later expands to include a 6.4-liter V8 and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye trims.
Does the Dodge Charger Have All-Wheel Drive?
The Charger offers all-wheel drive, but its availability varies from model to model over the years. Most late-model V6 Charger cars offer all-wheel drive, as do some years for the V8-powered R/T. All other Charger trims are powered by their rear wheels. The Charger EV comes standard with all-wheel drive.
What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Dodge Charger?
The gas-powered Charger is most reliable from 2019 through 2023. From 2015 to 2018, Charger cars also have a fairly good track record but still have some issues with abrupt transmission shifting, cruise control malfunction, and electrical gremlins under the hood and in the cabin.
What Are the Years to Avoid for the Dodge Charger?
The sixth-generation cars and the first few years of the seventh generation are probably the least desirable. Issues with electronics, engine sensors, engine management computers, and finicky transmission can add up to a repair bill costing more than the car.
