The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T – Best Muscle for the Money (Detailed Review)
One of the main segments where American car manufacturers defined a market was the American muscle car. In 1949, coming out of the lean second world war years, Oldsmobile launched the first of a type with the Rocket 88. It could speed along at a respectable 97mph (156km/h) and was a foretaste of what was to come.
Both the Dodge Charger and the Dodge Challenger emerged in the mid-1960, and both belong to the group called Pony Cars. Today the top specification Dodge Charger, the SRT Hellcat, is powered by a mighty 6.2-liter V-8 engine and puts 707 horsepower and 650 pounds-foot of torque.
You don’t buy a 2021 Dodge Charger R/T for its tight shut lines or interior build quality; you buy it for its looks and the ferocious power output of the engine. It is the last V8, which costs under $40,000, and represents the golden age of American muscle cars.
The History of the 2021 Dodge Charger
The Oldsmobile Rocket may have been the first Muscle Car, but it wasn’t the last. When Lea Iacocca championed the launch of the Ford Mustang, the first of the Pony cars that launched on April 14, 1964, it is doubtful that anyone could predict just how successful this sector of the American car market became.
The other manufacturers were left scurrying to the drawing boards, and the Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, Mercury Cougar, Pontiac Firebird, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger were the result.
The American muscle cars were simply family sedans that had enormous powerplants squeezed in. The problem with the early muscle cars was that they were essentially frames built to support powerful V8 powerplants. There were many compromises and fewer home comforts; an example is the Ford Mustang which had an atrocious rear-seat room.
First launched in 1966, the Charger was Dodge’s attempt to produce a more practical and comfortable vehicle with the same outrageous power as its sportier competitors.
Until it was first discontinued in 1987, the Dodge Charger was always a two-door fastback vehicle. After a twenty-year absence in 2006, it was relaunched as a four-door sedan.
It retained its American Muscle Car DNA with the introduction, at the same time, of the SRT8, which is powered by a 6.1 L Hemi engine mated to a 5-speed automatic.
Today there are only four survivors of this market segment which are.
- Ford Mustang
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
What Is The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T Like?
Sitting in the middle of the Dodge Charger range, the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T arguably offers the best balance of the whole range.
With its aggressive front end, front end, and LED lights, the Dodge Charger looks ready to pounce.
Compared to the previous generation, the nose has been designed to be less angled and more aerodynamic while it features a noticeable curve around the headlight housing. The way the high waistline in the rear drops down to the swooping front end will make the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T a sought-after vehicle to own into the future.
The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T doesn’t offer any of the power advantages of its bigger brother, the SRT Hellcat, but it still produces good performance and a satisfying V8 soundtrack.
The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T is a much bigger shell than its Muscle Car competitors.
| Dimension | Dodge Charger RT | Ford Mustang | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Length | 200.8 in | 188.3 in | 188.3 in |
| Width | 82.7 in | 77.2 in | 74.7 in |
| Height | 57.8 in | 54.7 in | 53.1 in |
What Is the Performance of the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T Like?
The Dodge Charger owes its DNA to muscle cars of the past, so it comes as no surprise that the RT, although not in the same league as the SRT Hellcat, still delivers the goods.
The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T boasts a 370-hp 5.7-liter V8, which produces a somewhat more balanced version of the Dodge Charger than the bat-out-of-hell-capable SRT.
The 0-60 mph acceleration time is a respectable 5.2 seconds, and it will run the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds.
The cost of the V8 engine is always going to be felt at the gas station. Unfortunately, the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T is a victim here with consumption figures of
| Urban | 16 mpg |
| Highway | 25 mpg |
| Combined | 19 mpg |
The only bright spot in this gloomy tale of carbon emissions is the SRT has a combined gas usage of 15mpg; this is another reason why the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T is the best balanced of all the Chargers.
The engine is only connected to the rear wheels because, we guess, no respectable Muscle Car would have Four Wheel drive. If it’s all-wheel-drive you want, you will have to opt for the more anemically powered V6.
What Is The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T Like to Drive?
It is a universal belief that you drive the Dodge Charger because you want to have fun.
The RT, with its 370-hp 5.7-liter V8 up front, whips itself into a frenzy to get you from A to B while delivering that steady growl that only 8 pistons can provide.
If you want to balance the fun with real-world practicality and respectable performance, select the 2021 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack, a particular bargain.
As shown earlier, the standard 2021 Dodge Charger R/T 0-60 mph is capable of 5.2 seconds while the R/T Scat Pack catapults the 0-60 mph acceleration times to just 4.2 seconds; this is an impressive achievement for a passenger-carrying sedan that can accommodate five adults. The 2021 Dodge Charger Scat Pack just adds that extra bit that elevates the standard R/T to something even more special.
The official 2021 Dodge Charger RT top speed is 176mph, and based on the acceleration times, we have no reason to doubt the veracity of these numbers.
The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T Interior
It is fair to say that the build quality does not influence most people who buy a Dodge Charger in the same way that, perhaps, an Audi owner may be.
Dodge build quality has improved over the years, and the cabin is a very focused, driver-centric place to spend some time.
The Alcantara and Nappa leather seats look comfortable when you open the door, and when you sit down, you confirm that the looks didn’t deceive you.
The 2021 Dodge Charger R/T seats are superbly comfortable for regular daily driving, and there are no side bolsters to get in the way. As demonstrated in the table listing the dimensions, the 2021 Charger is more extensive in almost every respect; this comes through with a roomier interior than the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.
The driver’s seat provides electric power adjustment across six-axis and 4-way lumbar support.
The leather steering wheel is heated.
While its competitor’s seat, two adults up front and height challenged individuals (children) in the back, the Challenger’s rear bench seat comfortably accommodates three adults for long-distance driving.
Temperature-controlled air is provided by left and correct zoned automatic temperature control. The front seat occupants get their air vents, as do those sitting in the back.
Standard features include
- An 8.4-inch touch screen
- Satellite radio.
- A six-speaker Alpine premium stereo (a 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo is optional)
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- An auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- A universal garage door opener
- Projector LED fog lights.
- Heated outside mirrors are all standard features on the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T.
Conclusion
The four-door 2021 Dodge Charger R/T is a muscle car that provides all the convenience of a family sedan while giving its owner a little bit of excitement when called up to do so. With the 2021 Dodge Charger RT price under $50,000, it is one of the cheapest V8’s available.
For a car that owes its origins to the days of yore when oil flowed freely and cheaply, and no one realized the damage to the environment, it handles itself well. It compares favorably to both its traditional rivals and products from overseas.
