Do car owner stereotypes matter when you're renting?
No. No, they do not.
I suppose the worry of being mislabeled as someone who's just waiting to be reckless in traffic isn't really relevant, when you know you're returning the thing in a week anyway. It didn't help that this particular Charger still had the splitter shipping guards on, an organic trend that isn't exactly helping the image these cars have.
Even the manufacturer has gone so far as to say people need to take them off (even if dealers aren't), because they're ruining aerodynamics, and are actually damaging the paint people think they're protecting.
The actual issue for me, though, was that I was under the impression these cars weren't all that good.
The internet is full of complaints of how it's still based on the "ancient" W211 Mercedes E-class platform, and that it, as a result, doesn't drive very well. On top of that is Chrysler's own justified, multi-decade stereotype of producing the absolute worst interior plastics known to man.
The first thing the Italians did when they took Chrysler over was address the atrocious cabin situation. Within a year, the insides of every single car in the lineup were re-designed to at least some extent. Gone were the nasty, sharp, visibly cheap plastics – in their place now lived visualy updated materials, which were also pleasant in a tactile sense.
At this point, I had already sampled enough post-Fiat Chrysler interiors to know there was substance to all this. So, what if people were wrong about the chassis as well? The W211 wasn't exactly known as a poorly-engineered automobile, after all...
"At least it looks good," I said to myself, as I approached it for the first time. And it genuinely does, thanks to the
The first big surprise was the interior. I had known Fiat already worked their magic, but I didn't expect leather and alcantara memory sport seats, a Nappa leather steering wheel, stitched (fake) leather doorcards and dashboard, or rear heated seats. Albeit, you can get a Charger without all this if you forgo the Plus Group, but you don't wanna do that. The materials it brings everywhere above the 'lower door line' are all – given the price of entry at least – well above satisfactory.
The second surprise was the driving experience.
True to its Stuttgart roots, the car had already shrunk around me on the initial drive home – placing it exactly where I wanted was effortless. I found out it's true to its owner stereotype as well: taking a somewhat quick right-hand turn resulted in the back end stepping out like it's done this before. Evidently, you get the Hemi because you want it, not because you need it.
Mix in the telepathic industry-standard ZF eight-speed, and it's clear how the Pentastar manages to not waste any of its 300 horsepower. It sounds good, too.
Perhaps this was all because a truly 'bad car' doesn't really exist in this age. A nice road trip should suss out any concealed foibles, then – especially considering it was going to cover pretty much every reasonable use case: threading through a city core, long highway drives, and fun back roads.
Well, I can tell you its suspension and seats sure know how to work together.
You can take the 2+ hour drive between Vancouver and Seattle in total comfort, and then carve up Mount St. Helens with enough bolstering, nimbleness, and handling composure to want to do it all over again. It deals well with Seattle's notoriously potholed streets, and is a resonable size to easily park anywhere in its downtown.
Visibility is good, passing power is plentiful, yet fuel economy is reasonable – the trip computer showed 12.9L/100km, despite all my efforts to have as much fun with the car as possible.
This current generation of uConnect just...works. The (wired, as it should be) Apple Carplay connection is easy to establish, and it even ports all your saved Google Maps points of interest onto the infotainment display. The car's own interface is logically laid out and easy to navigate, the screen is a reasonable size, and there are still plenty of buttons and knobs.
It's not "all smiles und sunshine," though. The sunroof takes up a lot of space: there's just enough headroom for the tall among us, but a sunroof delete (if you could get it) would be the better move. The sightline the hood bulge creates takes some getting used to, and the paddle shifters are physically too short. There's also no good reason at all for only the front door handles to have keyless access.
Plus, all that fake leather could be better quality. Don't get me wrong, it's noticeably better than what some more expensive cars offer...but it's still not the most convincing cowhide imitation out there.
Regardless, I came away thinking Dodge made a genuinely good car. Is this because my expectations were so low, or because despite being two generations old, the W211 platform is just that good?
Don't worry about it.
* * * * * * * * *
Stereotypes can cut both ways. Sometimes, they exist for a reason. Other times, they should be ignored, lest you unduly dismiss something worthwhile. The Charger, with some choice options, is definitely an example of the latter. It did everything I asked of it without complaint, and well enough for me to want to do it all again. Surprisingly nimble, powerful, comfortable, and spacious, it's the only way left to get a brand new W211 with a warranty...
Turns out these cars are popular for a reason. If it had a manual (Hemi or otherwise), I might have already placed an order.
And as soon as it would arrive, I'd take the splitter guards off.
-Uroš M.
2019 Dodge Charger GT
[four-door full-size sedan; rear wheel drive, front engine]
[four-door full-size sedan; rear wheel drive, front engine]
V6 24-valve, DOHC
GASOLINE
[forward gears]
AUTOMATIC
w/ manual mode
[top speed] 240 km/h
[L / 100 km]
highway
7.8
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