Dodge’s Lineup for 2018

As one of America’s oldest and most well-liked car companies, Dodge turns out a great selection of vehicles every year.

For 2018, the company has continued its focus on its flagship muscle cars, but also integrated more technology and innovation into its various offerings. More than ever before, the Dodge lineup represents a marriage of raw power and intelligent features that make for a great driver experience.

Here are the primary offerings from Dodge’s newest lineup for the 2018 model year.

2018 Dodge Charger

True to the past incarnations of the model, the 2018 Dodge Charger, starting at $32,995, is a high-performance muscle car capable of delivering an excellent and responsive driving experience. The 2018 Charger comes with four engine options, which are as follows:

• 6-liter V6: 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque
• 7-liter Hemi V8: 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque
• 392 Hemi V8: 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque
• Supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8: 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque

Each of these engines is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for optimized responsiveness. Fuel efficiency varies based on the engine selection but ranges from a high of 19 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway for the 3.6-liter V6 to a low of 15 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway for the 6.2-liter Hemi.

In addition to its peak performance, the 2018 Dodge Charger also offers a wide range of entertainment and safety features. The Charger offers a seven-inch digital cluster display that keeps drivers appraised of critical vehicle information, as well as a hands-free calling and navigation system controlled by voice command. The center console contains a media hub with USB and auxiliary inputs for connecting devices. The 2018 Dodge Charger also offers Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with Apple Music and Apple CarPlay. Topping off the infotainment system is a premium 10-speaker sound system.

In terms of safety features, the 2018 Dodge Charger offers:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Brake assist
• Blind spot monitoring
• Backup camera
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers

Despite its extreme performance capabilities, the 2018 Dodge Charger was rated only number eight in the 2018 large car class by U.S. News and World Report. The reason for this is that the Charger doesn’t have a high reliability rating and doesn’t have as much interior luxury as some of its competitors. Nevertheless, the Charger was the recipient of the 2018 Edmunds Best Retained Value Award.

2018 Dodge Challenger

A close cousin of the Dodge Charger, the 2018 Dodge Challenger, which starts at $27,295, also focuses heavily on high-performance capabilities. Though visually very different and more reminiscent of a classic muscle car, the 2018 Dodge Challenger is very mechanically similar to its Charger counterpart and features the same set of engine options. A special variant, known as the Dodge Challenger Demon, features a variation on the 6.2-liter engine that produces up to 840 horsepower. The Challenger can be outfitted with an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. Fuel mileage varies but tops out at 19 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway for the 3.6-liter V6. Outfitted with the 6.2-liter Hemi and an automatic transmission, the Challenger gets 13 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.

The Dodge Challenger comes with most of the same infotainment features that are available on the Dodge Charger. On the Challenger, though, an upgrade to an even better sound system is available. This sound system is an impressive 18-speaker array powered by a 900-watt amplifier and manufactured by Harmon Kardon. The Challenger’s safety features are also broadly similar to the Chargers, including blind spot monitoring, forward collision warnings, adaptive cruise control, and automatic rain-sensing wipers.

The 2018 Dodge Challenger has been rated slightly better than the Dodge Charger, currently occupying the number five position on U.S. News and World Report’s list for the sports car class. The model is noted for its extreme power and ample passenger and trunk space.

2018 Dodge Durango

Starting at $29,995, the Dodge Durango SUV is a bit of a departure from Dodge’s power-oriented muscle cars. Nevertheless, the Durango comes with three fairly powerful engine options, including:

• 6-liter V6: 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque
• 7-liter Hemi V8: 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque
• 4-liter Hemi V8: 470 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque

Each engine is paired with Dodge’s eight-speed automatic transmission for smooth shifting, and a paddle shifting option is available. The SUV is available in both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive formats. Fuel mileage is highest on rear-wheel drive models equipped with the 3.6-liter engine at 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. The lowest mileage of 13 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway is found on the all-wheel drive format equipped with the 6.4-liter engine option.

With connectivity to SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Apple Music, Android Auto, and a hands-free calling system, the 2018 Dodge Durango is loaded with infotainment possibilities. More than the Charger and Challenger, the Durango’s interior is luxury-oriented, making for more comfortable driving. The SUV’s center console offers HDMI, USB, and auxiliary connections, and devices can also be connected by Bluetooth. Two available nine-inch screens mounted on the back of the front seats allow passengers to watch Blu-ray movies during long trips. A premium sound system from BeatsAudio rounds out the interior with excellent sound quality.

The 2018 Dodge Duragno offers intelligent safety features, including parking assist and adaptive cruise control. Braking assistance, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, rain-sensing wipers, and blind spot monitoring are also available. Combined with Dodge’s collision-mitigating body design, these features make the Durango an eminently safe vehicle to drive.

The 2018 Dodge Durango received a Large SUV Best Buy rating from Consumer Guide Automotive, a rating which has been continuously help by the Durango since 2008. The Durango was also rated number seven out of 19 midsize SUVs by U.S. News and World Report.

2018 Dodge Grand Caravan

Dodge’s flagship minivan, the Grand Caravan, is back for 2018 with a starting MSRP of $26,250. Unlike most Dodge vehicles, the 2018 Grand Caravan offers only a single engine option, a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 2018 Grand Caravan gets 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.

Because of its popularity as a family minivan, the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan is loaded with entertainment and multimedia features that will keep younger passengers occupied on the go. Some of the infotainment features you’ll find on the new Grand Caravan include:

• SiriusXM connectivity
• Built-in headphones for individually selected music
• Ceiling-mounted DVD player
• 5-inch touchscreen control panel
• Mobile Internet access with Web by Mopar

The 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan’s safety features are also optimized to make it a good choice for families. The Grand Caravan includes a backup camera, an interior observation mirror, child protective door locks, all-speed traction control, and an electronic stability system. If you’re looking for a safe ride for the entire family, the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan is difficult to beat.

Though the model doesn’t bring in the awards it once did, the Dodge Grand Caravan still performs well against competitive minivans. The 2018 incarnation of the minivan has been reviewed positively both for its relatively low starting price point and its family-friendly features.

2018 Dodge Journey

Rounding out the 2018 Dodge lineup is the Dodge Journey crossover, which starts at $22,795. This crossover is available with two different engines. The first is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, while the second is the larger 3.6-liter V6 engine putting out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Both engines on a standard Journey get 25 mpg on the highway, but the four-cylinder version gets 19 mpg in the city, while the six-cylinder version gets only 17. An all-wheel drive Journey is also available with the six-cylinder engine. In this format, the vehicle gets 16 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.

Like most Dodge offerings, the 2018 Journey is well-appointed in terms of infotainment features. The vehicle comes with either a 4.3-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreen option, SiriusXM and Bluetooth connectivity, and auxiliary and USB inputs for devices. The Journey can also act as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for mobile Internet. A rear seat overhead nine-inch screen for watching movies and playing games is also available.

The safety features of the 2018 Dodge Journey are a bit sparser than some of Dodge’s other vehicles in the 2018 model year, but you’ll still find that the vehicle is quite safe. The Journey offers a backup camera, parking assist, brake assist, and electronic stability control. In addition, the 2018 Dodge Journey comes with Dodge’s regular frame design that is intended to keep you and your passengers safe in the event of a collision.

Overall, the Dodge Journey hasn’t been rated particularly well in this model year. In US News and World Report’s list of 19 midsize SUVs, the Journey came in last at number 19. Less than stellar performance specifications and an interior that doesn’t stack up well compared to other midsize SUVs were partially to blame for this fact.

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