Muscle cars from the many Dodge Charger model years are forces to be reckoned with. From the 1966 debut to the current seventh generation, every Dodge Charger has been an exciting machine built for fun and function – but which model year is the best?
Join us as we find out. We’ll explore the Last Call editions that make 2023 one of the most special Dodge Charger model years below. Then, we’ll take a look at the most iconic classic model years and the best Dodge Charger model years in recent history so you can have a sense of what to look for. Read on, and visit us at San Antonio CDJR to test-drive a Dodge Charger.
The 2023 Dodge Charger marks the end of this uncompromising muscle car as we know it. While the Charger will remain intact as a power-crazed model, the gas-burning aspect is on its way out. Dodge designers whipped up a brutal bunch of send-off editions to make up for the sad stuff, ending the decades of Dodge Charger model years with a bang. The Last Call models include:
Contact us to see if any of these four collectibles are available in our new Dodge Charger inventory. Production of the Dodge Charger has halted, and any remaining stock will go fast.
While we can’t guarantee that any of these classics will be available in our pre-owned Dodge Charger inventory, we’ve listed three model-defining years and their importance below.
How could we not honor this incredible car’s roots? The Charger came to life for the 1966 model year as a two-door fastback with the most muscle in the brand’s arsenal.
This work of art was ahead of its time. Despite being the first of the many Dodge Charger model years, modern aspects like sleek fastback body lines, an electro-luminescent gauge cluster, and a center console spanning the interior for added practicality defined the model – as did the optional 7.0-liter V-8 behemoth known as the 426 HEMI. It made 425 horsepower in 1966. Consider this: The modern Charger Scat Pack is a wild ride with similar power, yet it’s had nearly six decades of refinement to manage it.
The 1966 edition would be followed by many updates, but since this was the first Charger model year, it’s one of the best because of its impact on automotive history.
Three things make 1969 one of the best Dodge Charger model years: menacing styling, the General Lee, and a monster that obliterated NASCAR competition.
Fans of the Dukes of Hazzard know the title characters’ signature vehicle, the General Lee, is a Dodge Charger, but did you know that it’s a 1969 Dodge Charger? This was an important Charger model year for other reasons, too. The model’s fierce second generation had debuted for the 1968 model year, and although it was no slouch, it couldn’t quite clinch the NASCAR success its designers had hoped for.
Enter the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. Using then-unseen aerodynamic enhancements, the Charger was transformed into an act of war on wheels. While introduced too late to dominate the 1969 season, 1970 was ruled by the Charger Daytona (and its mechanical sister, the Plymouth Superbird driven by Richard Petty), earning the Dodge brand the NASCAR Manufacturer’s Championship title.1 In response to this bombshell, NASCAR changed the rulebook and barred the Charger Daytona from the 1971 season.1
NASCAR aside, most fans of muscle know why 1971 was such an important year: It was the final hurrah for V-8 shenanigans across America. New regulations would soon go into effect, and while 1972 carried on some of the glory, 1973 saw the axe fall on American muscle. Similar things are happening today, and while we’re excited about the future, looking back 53 years into the past reveals one of the best Dodge Charger model years.
The drop-dead gorgeous third-generation Charger debuted with new styling and engineering for the 1971 model year, along with iconic V-8 options like the 426 HEMI and the 440 Six Pack. Since it helped define one of the most consequential years of the American muscle wars and was driven by Richard Petty, this model deserves massive kudos.
The Charger Super Bee also came to life for the 1971 model year, and now, it’s helping send the Charger into its electrified future. You could say that it’ll be Gone in 60 Seconds: a classic movie that featured the 1971 Charger.
After years of hiatus, the sixth-generation Dodge Charger revived the “Charger” name for the 2006 model year, and then the seventh-generation Dodge Charger made it a household name during its 2011 model year debut.
So why do we consider the 2012 Dodge Charger to be one of the best Dodge Charger model years? Because 2011 missed out on the SRT-8 trim, but 2012 brought it back. The 2012 model also offered available AWD, which is a Charger staple to this day.
Models like the 2014 Dodge Charger RT are awesome V-8 beasts with affordable price tags on our used car lot, but that’s not the only reason why this is one of the best Dodge Charger model years.
The year 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the first car sold by the Dodge brand. To celebrate, the Charger was made available with a 100th Anniversary package, which is quite the collectible edition today. With a “Best” J.D. Power Driving Experience score of 94 out of 100,2 even the normal trim levels make for great additions to your driveway.
Like the 1968 model year, 2015 introduced an icon, namely the redesigned seventh-generation Dodge Charger, which lasted until the Last Call 2023 models.
More importantly, the 2015 Dodge Charger was the first to have a Hellcat model. With the introduction of two beloved upgrades and continuations of favorite trims like the 2015 Dodge Charger RT, this model year had a massive impact on the Charger and Dodge fans worldwide.
The year 2019 was not groundbreaking for the Charger. Instead, it was one of refinement. The redesigned seventh generation had been out for four years, and its evolution led this year to be one of the most reliable Dodge Charger model years. The 2019 Charger has a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability score of 87 out of 100,3 making it a fantastic used car for style, substance, and longevity.
“Redeye” used to be a term no one wanted to hear in the context of transportation. The 2020 Charger flipped that on its head. Specifically, 2020 is one of the best Dodge Charger model years because it introduced the highest-performance version of the Charger: the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye. This year also followed in the footsteps of 2019’s top-rated reliability.
Ready to jump into the all-new inventory at San Antonio CDJR and peel out in a 2023 Dodge Charger? Looking for one of the best previous Dodge Charger model years? We can help. Explore our inventory online, and reach out to our team to get a deal on your next new or used Dodge vehicle.
With almost six decades of history, it’s hard to consider just one of the Dodge Charger model years as the best. However, versions like the 2019 Dodge Charger have a great price and one of the highest reliability ratings in the model’s history. As for the classics, we’d say the winged 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona is by far the best.
The Dodge brand is discontinuing the Charger in order to focus on its responsibility toward the environment. While we love the sound of eight cylinders burning gasoline, times are changing, and tightening regulations are bringing attention to the impact of inefficient gas-powered cars. Fear not, as the Charger is slated to return as a thrilling EV, and we still have many used models available.
The biggest update to the 2023 Dodge Charger Last Call editions would undoubtedly be the creation of the King Daytona model with 807 horsepower. On other editions, updates to the Charger include an under-hood plaque commemorating the HEMI V-8 engine, the return of colors like Plum Crazy, and the addition of a “345” badge to standard RT models.
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1For more information, please visit: https://www.nascarhall.com/blog/nascars-age-of-aero-wars.
2Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2014/dodge/charger.
3Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2019/dodge/charger.
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