I can’t think of any other car that I’ve driven in the past 5 years that put a smile on my face as big as the 2023 Dodge Charger R/T did.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a horrible car. It’s too big for it’s own good. Build quality is questionable, and it just can’t get around a corner with any amount of grace.

That said, it’s as obnoxiously loud as it is fast. Even when driving it normally, it sounds like you’re breaking every law in the books. It was designed and built for hooligans. For those who don’t like like being told what to do. It’s the automotive definition of ‘rowdy’, and it’s an absolute blast – despite it’s glaring flaws.

Scott driving a 2023 dodge charger r/t
I forgot what I was talking about at this very moment, but it probably had something to do with the fact that I don’t have enough tattoos to fully enjoy this car

My full review of the 2023 Dodge Charger R/T

Full disclosure. I’m a fairly boring guy who (at the time of this writing) daily drives a 2010 Honda Fit. Although I have a 2012 5.0 Mustang as my “fun” car, a full-size sedan such as the Charger is very much outside of my wheelhouse. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t have a blast driving it though.

First impressions

Never in my life have I felt like I knew a car in and out even before driving it. This generation of the Dodge Charger was first unveiled in 2006, and updated in 2011. It’s an extremely popular vehicle, and I’ve seen a million of them (give or take) over the years. The sound that these things make has left a impression on me as well.

2023 Dodge Charger R/T Avis rental car
Walking up to a Charger R/T for the first time while holding the key fob made me feel like a total badass. I can’t even believe that Avis trusted me with this much car. Perhaps they thought I was short on testosterone or something?

It has a presence. Sure, it’s a large (dare I say “fat”) four-door sedan. However, I have never seen a vehicle of this size look so muscular and mean. From the flared fenders and wide wheels to the aggressive front lip, this thing looks like it means business – even while standing still.

2023 dodge charger RT rear three-quarter view
“Ooh, dat ass!” She thicc.
2023 dodge charger R/T front three-quarter view
You know it’s a good car when you start saying pervy things out loud. Let’s get out of here before I get arrested…

Driving impressions

The 2023 charger RT is not for the timid. It’s extremely large and difficult to park in tight spaces. Backing up requires your full concentration. It’s not the kind of car you can whip around corners without looking like a total a**hole.

It’s also extremely fun to drive in a straight line. Ripping away from stop lights, even at quarter throttle, is a little rambunctious. And a whole heck of a lot of fun.

Sitting behind the wheel of a 2023 dodge charger R/T
It took less than 60 seconds to come to the conclusion that there are pros and cons to crawling around parking garages at 5 mph in this thing. Pro: it sounds so nasty! Con: it’s a pain in the a** to squeeze into (and around) tight spaces.

It leans in the corners and squats on acceleration. Every movement is dramatic and exaggerated. I personally hate daily driving cars such as this, yet the Charger R/T makes it somewhat tolerable and curiously addictive. It’s fantastic for cruising on the freeway, and even better cruising through town ripping away from every stoplight.

Cruising around in a 2023 dodge charger R/T at night
“Yeeee-hawwwwwww!”
POV Driving a 2023 dodge charger R/T
Honestly, it drives exactly how I would expect a large four-door sedan to drive. It’s smooth, tracks dead straight, and doesn’t require much effort to cruise down the freeway at or slightly above the speed limit.
2023 dodge charger R/T paddle shifters
Ripping through the 8-speed transmission manually (via the paddle shifters) was fun at first, but I left it in automatic mode most of the time. Mostly because I didn’t want people to think of me as a total douche (at least more than they already do).
Road testing a 2023 dodge charger R/T

Style and design

There’s simply no way of describing a 5,300 lb four-door sedan as “elegant.” The 2023 Charger R/T is a porker – measuring 198.4 inches in length, 75 inches in width, and 57.8 inches in height. Let’s see what I can do here…

2023 dodge charger R/T in gray
Still, after all these years, it’s a darn good looking car. The scoop-like indentation on the front doors and the low roofline are my two favorite design elements.
2023 dodge charger R/T front three-quarter view
Some angles are better than others. From down here, all I can think is that this thing is desperately in need of wider tires and wheels (and maybe a wash).
2023 dodge charger R/T front splitter protector
If you do end up purchasing a Charger of your own, be sure to take the yellow edge guards off of the front splitter. Otherwise everyone will think that you are driving a rental car. How embarrassing.
Stock 2023 dodge charger R/T
Lots of cuts and scoops in the bodywork of this bad boy. I like the spoiler too. It’s just too bad that everyone knows that I’m a poser driving a rental car.
2023 dodge charger R/T design details
Here’s a closer look at the side scoop. I’m not afraid to admit that I am slightly aroused by this.
2023 dodge charger R/T exterior details

The engine

The 2023 Charger R/T features a 5.7 L HEMI V8 pumping out 370 horsepower at 395 lb/ft of torque. That’s a lot of motor – even for a car weighing 5,300 lbs.

2023 dodge charger R/T 5.7 L V8 engine
Yeah, that thing got a HEMI. Pay no attention to the fact that it looks so poorly maintained. #rentalcarlife

While I wouldn’t necessarily call the Charger “fast”, it’s quick enough to get yourself into trouble if you’re not paying attention. It’s also fast enough to know that you’re gonna whip any poser that pulls up to you at a stoplight in a Pentastar V6-equipped 2023 Challenger SXT.

You do need to make sure that the front wheels are pointed straight before letting ‘er rip though. Driving into a tree (or innocent bystanders) makes you the poser by default.

HEMI badge 2023 dodge charger R/T 5.7 L V8 engine
I do realize that exhaust tuning is the primary factor when it comes to engine sound, but I’m going on record as saying that this 345 cubic inch 5.7 L V8 is the best sounding engine in a mass produced vehicle that I’ve ever heard.

This engine is pulls evenly all throughout the powerband. Not only does it have gobs of torque available down low in the RPM range, it’ll pull very hard all the way to redline. The best part? It’ll sound like you’re going balls out at any speed. Even when you’re navigating a rental car parking lot at 5mph.

Fact: this thing sounds even better than the 2016 Hertz Shelby GT-H Mustang. Prior to this review, I considered it to be the best sounding production car of recent times.

2023 dodge charger R/T hood open
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this engine is the fact that it’s not even large enough to fill the engine bay. Not that I condone such a thing, but there’s plenty a room for smuggling contraband if one were so inclined.

Handling

You’re reading the wrong review if handling and suspension dynamics are important to you. The 2023 Charger is about as old school as it gets when it comes to precision driving. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a lot of fun.

2023 dodge charger R/T 20 inch wheels
This car is so big that it makes the 20 inch wheels (on 245/45ZR20 tires) look puny. The benefit of this, of course, is that it makes smoky burnouts and donuts super easy.

The R/T package does include upgraded suspension components consisting of beefier sway bars and sport tuned coilovers. Good news: this stuff does make a difference (at least compared to the base model). Bad news: it’s still going to be soft (and a little sloppy) in tight canyon driving.

Scott driving a 2023 dodge charger R/T
Ok, yeah, it can’t go around corners worth a damn, but it sure sounds good trying.
2023 dodge charger R/T looking over dashboard and steering wheel
It’s not terrible! Compared to the 2022 Chevy Malibu that I recently drove, this thing corners like a sports car(ish). It also goes over bumps like a sports car, so this isn’t what you want if what you want is a comfy land yacht.

Interior

There’s no hiding the fact that this was a car designed in the early 2000s. Sure, there have been a few updates to the interior over the years, and the 2023 version looks somewhat modern. It’s when you start comparing it to other cars (such as the 2021 BMW 330i) where it starts showing it’s age.

2023 dodge charger R/T interior
The interior certainly isn’t going to win any design awards, but it’s not terrible. As long as you think of this car as a 2006 as opposed to a 2023, it’s pretty darn awesome actually.
2023 dodge charger R/T Dashboard center stack
Yeah, everything about this dashboard just screams Nickelback (with a little Kelly Clarkson mixed in). #2006FTW

The best part of the interior (by far) are the front seats. They’re big, bolsterous, and extremely supportive. These are the kinds of seats that you sit *in* rather than *on*. On the flip side, they’re not quite as nice as the seats in the 2018 Challenger R/T Scat Pack. Those were epic.

2023 dodge charger R/T front seats
OMG the seats. They may not look like much, but they cradled me (and my skinny a**) like an excited mother holding her newborn for the very first time.
2023 dodge charger R/T cupholders
Good news: the cupholders in the center console are huge. Bad news: plastic everywhere. We’re talkin’ the cheap stuff!
2023 dodge charger R/T infotainment screen
The infotainment screen (and the user interface) is about archaic is the rest of this interior IMHO. The worst part? It’s not Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compliant. Booooo!
2023 dodge charger R/T USB ports
It’s not completely archaic though. Dual USB-A ports (and an auxiliary jack) are located under the center armrest.
2023 dodge charger R/T rear seat
Interesting. Rear seat legroom seems to be fairly tight for a car of this size. Buy this car to augment your rebel personality – not for the backseat space.
2023 dodge charger R/T adjustable headrest
Great news! The large headrests are very simple, highly adjustable, and won’t mess up yer mullet.
Sitting behind the wheel of a 2023 dodge charger R/T
Fun fact: The 2020 Challenger that I drove had a very different dashboard (and interior) than this. So before you go thinking that the Charger and Challenger are basically the same car, have a look at both to see which one you like best.
Finally, to cap off my musings about the interior, here’s a picture of the trunk (demonstrating the ease in which it will swallow two full-size suitcases). Dayum!
2023 dodge charger R/T interior details

Gas mileage (lol)

I spent three days with the car you see in these pictures, driving at a total of 217 miles. Most of that was highway driving, but I did spend a not-so-insignificant amount of time ripping away from stoplights at every chance possible. My average gas mileage? 18 mpg. It was my fault, I totally deserved it, and I’d do it again without hesitation. This car is that much fun.

2023 dodge charger R/T at the gas station
At the gas station. Why aren’t there any other Dodge Chargers here? $20 bucks says one would have pulled up if I could’ve waited another minute or two.

Pros and cons

I can’t think of any other four-door sedan quite like the R/T. It’s excessive enough in all the right places to make a law-abiding guy such as myself remember what it feels like to be young and rebellious. This concerns me. At the very least, it reminds me that I’m not quite dead yet.

Pros

  • The sound! It’s the best sounding mass-produced American car of 2023 IMHO.
  • The amount of thrust available at any RPM is insanely impressive for what is essentially an old school V8.
  • It excels at highway cruising like few other cars can. It’s big, floaty (but not overly vague), and can accelerate in and out of traffic at 80mph like a boss.
  • It’s actually comfortable.

Cons

  • Build quality. This isn’t the choice for anyone who wrinkles their nose at any car that creaks and rattles over railroad crossings.
  • I’m sorry, but it’s obnoxious. The sound, the size, and even the way it looks is nothing short of excessive. It’s the perfect car for assholes who don’t give a f**k about anything (or anyone) but themselves.

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2 Comments

  1. I’m trying to understand your review. You initially describe as a horrible car, but other than being big and some plastics and some rattles, you don’t say much bad about it. That said, you have to consider you had a rental with the issues you were having. Many of the other reviewers get cars lent to them for an honest review and not get a loaner. Us (me and my wife) appreciate your generalization to call all of us a$$holes. Our 2020 scat pack and 2023 r/t has zero rattles, even going over train tracks. I have an Android, so I can’t speak to an iPhone, but both of my cars are Android compatible. They have a Charger R/T that is designed for soft city and highway driving, but if you knew much about these cars, Dodge has different suspensions for the different versions. Maybe try the Charger road and track version for performance suspension. I have had 2 mustangs. Both had piston issues which i was told a common issue. My traded in 2018 Charger, and my current 2 Chargers have been proven far more reliable. If I had a choice between some plastics, ( which both my cars are upgraded i.e no plastic dashboard) and a car with engine issues and maybe Mustangs are right for you, that’s fine. Moral of the story, you wrote and bashed the Charger based off of a rental which tends to be the cheapest a rental car business will get, without thorough research and lacking an in-depth piece to your readers.

    Sincerely,
    An a$$ hole

    1. All fair comments. However, the thing you need to know about me is that I’m not your typical car reviewer. Most of my reviews are an overview of my initial impressions of a car. I try to explain what it’s like to get into it for the very first time (having no prior experience). I tell it like it is – the good, the bad, the ugly.

      Also, I’m different from other car reviewers in the sense that I have nobody to answer to. Because I have no sponsors (and nobody is giving me their car to review), I don’t have to worry about saying something bad.

      If there’s something I don’t like, I’m going to say it.

      In regards to the Charger, the very first line of this review was the truth. I had a blast driving this thing! It’s not perfect (no car is), but it was a ton of fun and I very much looking forward to driving another one.

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