Dodge Magnum 2007 $19,650

Bold Styling The Magnum's styling has worn well, thanks in part to the iconic crosshair grille that's shared across Dodge's lineup. The profile is sleeker than that of the Dodge Charger sedan, with slicked-back headlights in contrast to the Charger's forward-canted nose. In back, the Magnum's tail tapers into a low hatch that curves over the last section of the roof. The design means there's less chance of the hatch striking a wall or another car behind it when it opens, but it also limits luggage capacity. Wheels on most Magnums come in 17- or 18-inch diameters. The SRT8 ups the ante with 20-inch wheels, custom bodywork and red brake calipers. Performance to Match The Magnum offers two V-6 and two Hemi V-8 engines. Output ranges from 190 to 425 horsepower, and an automatic transmission is standard. Here's how the drivetrains stack up: Magnum Engines 2.7-liter V-6 3.5-liter V-6 5.7-liter V-8 6.1-liter V-8 Availability SE RWD SXT RWD, AWD R/T RWD, AWD SRT8 RWD Horsepower (@ rpm) 190 @ 6,400 250 @ 6,400 335 @ 5,000* 425 @ 6,000 Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 190 @ 4,000 250 @ 3,800 375 @ 4,000 420 @ 4,800 Transmission Four-speed automatic Five-speed automatic Five-speed automatic Five-speed automatic EPA-est. gas mileage (city/hwy, mpg) 21/28 19/27 (RWD), 17/24 (AWD) 17/25 (RWD), 17/24 (AWD) 14/20 Rec. gasoline Regular (87 octane) Mid-grade (89 octane) Mid-grade (89 octane) Premium (91 octane) *350 hp @ 5,200 rpm with optional Road/Track Performance Group package Source: Manufacturer data The R/T's 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 delivered commanding power, though you wouldn't think it while tooling around town. The accelerator takes its time to move things forward it's never overly tardy, but those accustomed to the hyper-aggressive pedals in many four-cylinder cars may need patience. Find some open road, though, and the Hemi shines. Thanks to gobs of low-end torque and a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic, it moves the Magnum effortlessly. Highway passing is all too easy, with enough power in fourth gear to make quick 60-to-70 mph bursts. Even when pressed hard, the V-8 never breaks a sweat it only gets louder, does its job and returns to near-silence. Four-wheel-disc brakes are standard, and antilock brakes come on most trim levels. The all-wheel-drive Magnum SXT and all R/Ts have beefier ABS brakes. The pedal in my test car felt a bit mushy, but it produced adequate stopping power. The SRT8's 6.1-liter V-8 goes well beyond mere passing confidence to deliver blistering performance at any speed. The recalibrated five-speed automatic makes choppier shifts, which gives the acceleration an even more explosive character. Dodge says the SRT8 can zip from zero to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds, which puts it on par with a Porsche Boxster S. If the extra power is gilding the lily, the suspension and braking improvements are worth the upgrade. The regular Magnum feels like a big American car, with light steering, modest body roll and vague directional control. Not so in the SRT8 it has tighter steering, stiffer shock absorbers, larger stabilizer bars and performance Brembo brakes. The result is a two-ton wagon that doesn't feel like one. Flick the steering wheel, and the nose points exactly where you want it to. The brakes offer immediate, fade-free stopping power. The wheels stay grounded even through bumpy turns, and the suspension does an excellent job minimizing body roll. It also damps out major undulations to prevent excess shaking and rattling. On the Magnum R/T, an optional Road/Track Performance Group package promises some of this effect, with a stiffer suspension though not as stiff as the SRT8's and 15 more horsepower, for 350 hp total. I didn't have a chance to drive a Magnum with this option, but if you have, shoot me an email. Likewise, I can't comment on the Magnum's performance with either V-6. Fellow reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder tested the car with the 2.7-liter V-6 last year, and he reports that despite its coupling wi

• City 17/hwy 24 (5.7L engine/5-speed auto trans)
• Rear spoiler
• Lower body-side cladding
• Body-color bodyside molding w/bright insert
• Chrome headlamp bezels
• Halogen headlamps
• Fog lamps
• Heated pwr mirrors
• Sunscreen glass
• Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
• Rear window wiper/washer
• Body-color door handles
• Front license plate bracket
• Leather-trimmed front bucket seats w/pwr 8-way driver seat
• Driver/front passenger manual lumbar adjust
• 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat
• Full-length floor console w/12V pwr outlet
• Cell phone storage
• Rear armrest w/cup holder
• Floor carpeting
• Front/rear floor mats
• Pwr adjustable pedals
• Leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Instrumentation
• Tire pressure monitor warning
• Pwr windows w/driver one-touch down feature
• Speed-sensitive pwr door locks w/satin silver knobs
• Speed control
• Remote keyless entry
• Sentry Key theft deterrent system
• Air conditioning
• Front/rear climate control outlets
• Rear window defroster
• AM/FM stereo w/CD player
• (6) Boston Acoustics speakers 276-watt amplifier
• Sirius satellite radio w/(1) year of service
• Integrated rear window antenna
• Smokers group
• Dual visors w/illuminated vanity mirrors
• Passenger assist handles
• Lighting
• Illuminated entry
• Leather-wrapped shift knob
• 5.7L Hemi multi-displacement V8 engine
• Severe duty engine cooling
• 5-speed automatic transmission w/Autostick
• Brake/park interlock
• 3.07 axle ratio
• All-speed traction control
• Electronic stability program
• All wheel drive
• 730 CCA maintenance-free battery w/pwr accessory delay
• 160-amp alternator
• Touring suspension
• P225/60R18 touring BSW tires
• 18 x 7.5 aluminum wheels
• Compact spare tire
• Pwr rack & pinion steering
• 4-wheel anti-lock performance disc brakes
• Emergency brake assist
• Dual rear performance exhaust w/bright exhaust tips
• Front advanced multi-stage airbags
• (5) 3-point seat belts
• Child seat upper tether anchors
• Rear door child protection locks
• Dual-note horn