Muscle car makes a statement
2017 Dodge Charger Daytona combines modern-day marvels with powerful engines
T2017 Dodge Charger Daytona is a popular full-size, fourdoor sedan that competes in a heavily populated segment.
Charger Daytona arrives in Hemi R/T trim, and with an aggressive front end design, successfully blends the legendary Daytona package with its racing past genes. The result is a modern day, high-tech, muscle car statement.
Reintroduced in 2006, the 2017 Chargers offer a special American style of performance and comfort in a nicely put together package. If you want a two-door coupe, you will be shopping sibling Challenger, which also offers similar options and Hemi engines.
Historically, the Dodge Chargers from the mid-1960s and early 1970s were great-looking boulevard cruisers, available with “mild to wild” engine offerings. For those who demanded the fastest Charger, a 440-wedge or 426 Hemi would thunder the quarter-mile with the best of them, although handling back then was a nonentity.
Further, when Chrysler decided to go full bore into NASCAR racing, it introduced the special swopped front end and high rear wing 1969 Dodge Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird, both available for purchase at any MOPAR dealership. MOPAR is slang for any Chrysler built vehicle but actually defined as “Motor Parts” for you MOPAR purists.
Regardless of trim, Chargers of old were handling nightmares compared with our nimble 2017 Charger Daytona. Ditto for the brakes as back in the 1960s four-wheel drum brakes were the norm although front disc brakes were an option. These new Chargers offer all the modern-day marvels including excellent fuel mileage and almost twice as powerful engines.
Like the Chargers of old, consumers nowadays still have mild to wild engine options to choose from if a Charger Daytona is not in your future.
The base Charger SE ($27,995) comes with a 292-horse, 3.6-liter V-6, while a mid-line R/T (which starts at $29,995) features a powerful 370-horsepower, 5.7 Hemi V-8. For those that still demand the most, a 485-horsepower, 6.4-liter (392 inch) Hemi propels the higher dollar SRT models and start at $39,995.
If you still need more go power, the ultimate is a 707-horse Hellcat Hemi Charger, which starts at $67,645. The Charger Daytona is available in two stages of dress, including our 5.7 Hemi version or the more powerful 6.4-liter Hemi.
The Hemi 2017 Dodge Chargers come standard in rear drive — AWD is available on six-cylinder models — connected to a fine shifting eightspeed Torqueflite automatic. Fuel mileage is quite good for a muscle car, with 16 city and 25 highway the expected EPA estimates.
Our Charger Daytona came with a bevy of standard features, including remote start, brake assist, hill start assist, high-intensity headlamps, all the airbags, heated seats, stereo system with Sirius/xm Satellite, all the
Entry price: Price powers, climate control and much more.
The $5,100 Charger Preferred Package 29S is the nomenclature for the Daytona upgrade that adds all of the special Daytona touches from a tuned and very throaty exhaust to excellent flat black decals on front and rear.
There’s also a functional hood scoop, MOPAR cold-air intake system, leather stitched seats, Super Trak-pak suspension, 20-inch Goodyear tires on alloys, and a nice rear spoiler that does not resemble those near 24-inch high rear wings from the original ’69 Charger Daytona.
The Charger 29S option adds enhanced safety items like Parksense rear assist, special bright alloy pedals, 552watt Beats Premium stereo and 12 other enhancements your Dodge dealer will gladly explain.
A $1,495 Technology Group adds rear blind spot and cross path detection, adaptive cruise, stability control, forward collision, lane detection and more. I recommended this option for obvious safety reasons. A $1,095 Navigation and Travel Option adds an enhanced Parkview rear backup camera and Siriusxm traffic plus and GPS navigation. (I would pass on this option).
The final option is a $550 Driver Confidence Group with exterior mirror upgrades, projector headlamps and enhanced blind spot detection that does not seem necessary as a blind spot detection group comes with the Technology Group.
Handling is surprisingly good thanks to the 20-inch Goodyear rubber and fully independent performance suspension.
It might be listed as a large sedan, but Charger R/T sure handles well, and zero to 60 arrives in just 5 seconds flat.
The Charger interior is well-designed, has beautiful gauges and easy-to-operate features. There’s also more than enough room front and rear for five-passengers. The rear seat is a 60/40 split, allowing access to the roomy trunk. As for the government safety rating, all Dodge Chargers come with Five Star ratings.
The exhaust tone? Sounds just like the powerful 440-inch V-8 wedge or 426 Hemi from back in 1969. This is another way of saying it’s loud and very impressive.
As for reactions, we took the Charger Daytona to Watkins Glen for the NASCAR weekend, and it attracted literally hundreds of onlookers. I’ll admit the spectators were of a performance-minded demographic, but their interest in the car was intense. When told what the retail price was, there was even more interest.
Important numbers include a curb weight of 4,270 pounds, 20.2-inch wheelbase, 18.5-gallon fuel tank and 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
I have to admit I really enjoyed my week with the Charger Daytona. It is still an excellent consumer opportunity to relive past American cruisers when high horsepower and lots of room were commonplace on the boulevards.
There may no longer be a Charger two-door, but the styling and mechanical prowess is so good you almost forget it has two extra doors.