2010 Dodge Charger Overview Change Vehicle

This 2010 Dodge Charger overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2010 Charger, and includes Dodge Charger safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Changes to the Dodge Charger are few in number this year, but one very important modification is made. Side airbags – seat-mounted and side curtains – are standard on every Charger for 2010.

Dodge’s full-size sedan is available in four trims: SE, SXT, R/T, and SRT8. The Charger SE is the most affordable, due in part to features like a rather uninspiring 2.7-liter V6 engine and yester-tech four-speed automatic transmission. Get past that and you’ll find typical niceties such as power door locks with keyless entry, power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, an auxiliary audio input jack, and a single-disc CD player. A set of 17-inch alloy wheels adds a bit of visual spice.

For folks like us, the 2010 Charger SXT is a better fit thanks to the power that comes from its 3.5-liter V6. Dodge has also fitted this variant with satellite radio, stability and traction control systems, antilock brakes with brake assist, heated side mirrors, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and foot pedals that can be moved forward or backward with the touch of a button. Get the Charger SXT AWD and your ride comes with performance brakes, a five-speed automatic with Dodge’s AutoStick manual shifting feature, and 18-inch wheels and tires.

Move up to the Charger R/T and you’re talking real performance, whether you choose rear- or all-wheel drive. That’s not surprising when you learn there’s a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 under the hood, delivering power that the upgraded suspension has been engineered to handle. Substantial 18-inch alloy wheels and tires certainly don’t hurt. But, not everyday is race day, so when it’s time to commute the R/T coddles with leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and an impressive sound system. Automatic headlights, a power front passenger’s seat, a HomeLink universal remote, and other upgrades are also included.

Those three models should cover the needs of the vast majority of buyers, though there are always a few who want more power, more speed, and more attitude. Dodge answers that call with the 2010 Charger SRT8. Like the R/T, the SRT8 is fitted with a Hemi, but this one offers 6.1 liters of displacement and an extra 55 horsepower. That expectedly inefficient, petrol-swilling engine has a supporting cast comprised of big brakes, a performance-tuned suspension, and 20-inch wheels. The interior includes its own share of upgrades, like unique leather upholstery, remote engine starting, and heated seats.

You can outfit a Charger with numerous options. The base SE can be equipped with traction and stability control, as well as antilock brakes. For navigation, Bluetooth, a hard drive entertainment system, a rear seat entertainment system, and a power sunroof. Dodge asks you to get SXT, R/T, or SRT8 trim. The R/T and SRT8 can also be equipped with several go-faster option packages

Power for the most affordable model in the lineup, the 2010 Charger SE, comes from a 2.7-liter V6, which is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. A powerhouse this engine is not, given output of only 178 horses and 190 pound-feet of torque. That being said, EPA estimates of 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway are the best you’ll see from any Charger.

There are, of course, drivers who are willing to sacrifice a bit of efficiency in the name of performance. With those folks in mind, Dodge offers the 3.5-liter V6 with all of its 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Available with the Charger SXT, this relatively bountiful six-cylinder can be mated to the SE’s four-speed or a five-speed automatic with manual shifting capability, though the optional all-wheel-drive system is required to get the extra gear. Expect fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive and 17-city/23-highway with all-wheel drive.

With the duo of V6s covered, we’ll move on to the 2010 Dodge Charger’s eight-cylinder Hemi engines. The first is a 5.7-liter version used in the R/T, as well as the many examples purchased by law enforcement agencies, and packs a solid punch with 368 horsepower complimented by 395 pound-feet of torque. The Charger R/T is not your typical family sedan, to say the least. It’s also not all that efficient around town, where it’s estimated to average up to 16 mpg. Spend your time behind the wheel cruising the highway and, according to the EPA, you should be looking at up to 25 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 23 mpg with all-wheel drive.

There’s one engine left to cover: the Charger SRT8’s 6.1-liter Hemi V8. Horsepower comes in at 425, and torque measures 420 lb-ft. As one might guess, the most powerful Charger model is also the thirstiest; plan on traveling 13 mpg around town and up to 19 mpg on the freeway.

Dodge makes side airbags standard on all Chargers for 2010, but features like antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, and stability control remain optional on the entry-level Charger SE. It’s 2010. It is time to make these items standard.

Thanks to this year’s addition of side airbags, the Charger earns a Marginal rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Believe it or not, that’s one notch up from the IIHS’s lowest Poor score, given to the Charger last year. Based on results published by the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers can plan on faring better in the unfortunate event of a head-on collision.

In terms of reliability, J.D. Power and Associates expects the 2010 Charger to be a bit above average. Consumer Reports has not announced its findings, though we can tell you that the essentially identical 2009 earned an average rating.

Kudos to Dodge for adding side airbags as standard equipment on the 2010 Charger. Unfortunately, results from the IIHS’s side-impact crash tests are only slightly better. If you can look past that, not to mention merely average reliability predictions, this American-badged, rear-drive four-door is worth a look.

By Thom Blackett