Dodge Charger is one fine ride

Few full-size sedans offer so much swagger and performance.

Say “Dodge Charger” to most motorists, and no doubt they’ll think of a police cruiser staked out in the weeds alongside a freeway. The car’s use by law enforcement is appropriate; subtly is not in its DNA.

The Charger debuted in 1966 as a two-door version of the midsized Coronet sedan. It was soon transformed into a burly muscle car, but those glory days were short-lived. Escalating fuel prices and insurance rates emasculated powerful mid-sized coupes and, by 1983, the Charger was a wimpy, two-door compact powered by a four-cylinder engine.

Thankfully, any notions of four-cylinder Chargers have dissipated in a haze of tire smoke.

For 2016, the Charger is offered in six ascending trim levels: SE, SXT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat. That may seem hard to remember, but actually, it’s not.

The SE is a rental car special, the one dealers will advertise at a low, low price. The SXT is the one you’ll want, as it has a longer options list, including some important creature comforts. Both come with a 292-horsepower, V-6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. All the other trims come with V-8 engines. As you’d expect, the more you pay, the more charge in your Charger.

So, if you’d like a more powerful V-6 Charger, opt for the SXT and order the Rallye Group appearance package (starting at $595), which boosts horsepower to 300 and adds performance tires, steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters, a different front fascia and a rear spoiler.

Stepping up to the R/T trim nets a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine rated at 370 horsepower and 395 poundfeet of torque. It’s good for a 0-60 mph run of less than 6 seconds.

Next is the R/T Scat Pack, which sports a power-bulge aluminum hood with a NACA duct, wider tires, specific exterior trim and, most importantly, a larger 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 rated at 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque that produces mid-4-second 0-60 mph times. Performance upgrades include red Brembo four-piston front brakes and high-performance suspension.

If that’s not enough, the SRT 392 gilds the lily with larger tires, huge, 15.4-inch front brakes, Brembo six-piston calipers with two-piece slotted and vented rotors, and SRTtuned high-performance adaptive damping suspension.

The big cat is the SRT Hellcat, with its 707-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi.

Sure, not everyone has the wallet for an all-wheel drive Charger, but that’s what makes this car so alluring. Yes, it has the image of a bold, brash bruiser, but it’s the car’s refined nature and comfortable cabin that make it so rewarding. So while you can get a crazy, hairy-chested Charger, you can also opt for one like the test car, an all-wheel-drive SXT. While it lacked a bit of the more brutal tendencies the more expensive trims offer, its price is in line with smaller high-end midsized cars, and this is a full-size car.

But it doesn’t handle like one. Turn the wheel, and the car reacts with cat-like reflexes and ridiculous amounts of grip. Cornering behavior is exemplary, with little body lean and a firm-yet-absorbent ride. The steering is nicely

CONTRIBUTED BY JAY BERNARD / DODGE Dodge pitches the 2016 Charger as a four-door muscle car, and it’s offered in six ascending trim levels.