The Dodge Charger has lived a fairytale of success and failure since its introduction in 1966. It went from a rather modest first

While some Mopar enthusiasts were initially put off by a 4-door Charger, the new Challenger has rectified the situation. (Photo: Chrysler)

generation family cruiser, to a stylish and meaty second-generation (1968-1970) coupe that would become one of the most highly sought after, recognized, and legendary muscle cars of all time (Dukes of Hazzard, Bullitt, etc).

After Dodge's initial success with its second- and third-generation Chargers, the years that followed were a steady decline of burly, boring, and unimaginative designs, including a 1983 1.6-liter (63hp) three door hatchback, which would have made the Duke boys hang their heads in shame. Add on the difficulties of the oil crisis, various government safety/emissions regulations, and the Charger was quickly drained of whatever dignity it had left. It was finally laid to rest in 1988 and was forgotten not long after.

As

A fully-independent suspension makes the Charger a strong performer in the corners, although its overall heft is hard to totally overcome. (Photo: Chrysler)

every fairytale gravitates towards its happy ending, the Charger eventually made its comeback in 2006, 19 years after its disappearance. To many peoples’ pleasant surprise, it was actually a lot like its old self and consumers began to take notice again. Now, not everybody likes the new four-door styling, but those who do have the choice of several flavours ranging from a base 2.7-litre (178 hp) SE, on up to the upper echelon SRT8 (6.1-litre, 425 horsepower). One of the most humble, practical, and still fun to drive versions, however, is the Charger R/T.

I use the word humble, as the R/T offers all the punch and performance, but doesn't necessarily package itself as such. There are no false scoops, decals, noisy paint jobs,

Plastics quality is so-so and switchgear is ok, but a car that was once ahead of the entry-level pack is in dire need of an update. (Photo: Chrysler)

excessive badging, or giant wings. Okay, so the Daytona package may have some of that, but were talking about the bone dry R/T with none of the frills, plenty of thrills, and a base price that won't send you running for the hills, at $40,295 (although at the time of writing you can pick up a Charger R/T for $28,595, an $11,750 savings less the $1,400 destination fee).

The basic Charger profile has obviously been designed to be a wolf (sedan) dressed in sheep's (coupe) clothing. Its secret lies within the way the rear roofline slopes back. If you look at the Charger from certain angles you would almost swear it was a two-door coupe. The downside is that rear seat passengers don't have the available headroom they might in its Chrysler 300 cousin, but this is a small price to pay for a taste of the good old days.

The

Rear seat accommodations are excellent and the split seatbacks fold forward for added trunk storage. (Photo: Chrysler)

2009 Charger is all grown up now, but even so, it hasn't forgotten that sometimes it’s nice to pretend it is still cruising the boulevard as a carefree coupe looking for trouble. While its looks might deceive some and its raw horsepower (368hp) might even win a few races, there’s still one aspect of the Charger that will always be decidedly unlike a coupe... its massive weight. We're not just talking about a few pounds overweight, but rather a full 1,800+kilos (4,000+pounds) pushed to the curb.

While the handling is solid, smooth, and composed, its sluggish nature during spirited maneuvers is a constant reminder of its sheer size. The Charger isn't exactly unresponsive, but you learn fairly quickly that the joy factor of the standard R/T

You can even get a rear entertainment system situated between the front seats so as not to impede on rearward vision. (Photo: Chrysler)

does not go much beyond its impressive 0-100km/h launch in under 6-seconds, in a straight line. While my test vehicle was not equipped, I have heard the available suspension upgrades can really wake things up in this arena.

Having experienced all of the Chargers in Dodge's 2009 lineup, and understanding what it means to be on a budget and have a partner from which you must consult with when making the decision to buy a vehicle, I can honestly say that the R/T represents the best in compromise and practicality. The base SE 2.7-litre is functional, but anyone looking at the 2009 Charger is probably looking for a bit more than just functionality. The 3.5-litre, 250 horsepower option offers plenty of get up and go,

The Charger's Hemi V8 is the way to go. (Photo: Chrysler)

but it's missing one very important aspect of owning a Charger.... the V8 Hemi! The SRT8 is a beast, but not enough to account for its extra hike in price ($47,145, although the same discount at writing brings it down to $35,395).

The difference between the 3.5-litre V6 and the 5.7-litre V8 Hemi can be summed up in one word, “Wahoo!” Or perhaps rather, “Yippee!” There is no comparison between the 368 horsepower R/T and the 250 horsepower SXT. The engine note alone is worth the $7,000 upswing in price. For those who have been pining the loss of the old muscle car, the Charger R/T will be a sight and sound for sore eyes. It is about as close as you can get to reliving the golden age of muscle in a four-door sedan in the $40K range, except for perhaps the Pontiac G8.

While

The 2009 Charger: still competitive and still a lot of fun in R/T spec. (Photo: Chrysler)

many treehuggers might balk at the statement I am about to make, the 5.7-litre V8 is actually the more practical and cost-effective engine in terms of its horsepower versus its mileage ratio. Compared to the much smaller and weaker 2.7-litre V6 (11.3 city/7.7 highway L/100km), the R/T is capable of achieving a comparable 13.5/8.0 L/100km thanks to its cylinder shutdown technology (allows four cylinders to maintain cruising speeds). This is why I subtitled this review, “Because You Only Live Once.” In my opinion, most enthusiasts will enjoy the fun factor of the R/T enough to foot the extra cost in ownership, which includes both the initial price and any extra cost in gas.

The changes for the 2009 Charger R/T were overall very slight, including a modest boost in horsepower (340 to 368), slightly modified taillights, an improved interior, and a few bits of satin chrome here and there. Other than that, the R/T is the same overall offering as last year, which I quite frankly couldn't be happier about. While the 2009 Pontiac G8 may be quicker and more agile in just about every way, the Charger is distinctive, stylish, and most importantly... still in production!

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(EGG) 3.5L High Output V6 Engine

(26C) Quick Order Package 26C

(AHM) Convenience Group I