Dodge has announced that the sporty Charger GT trim level will soon be available with all-wheel-drive, coupling stronger winter driving abilities with the aggressive design of the more-powerful models.
Follow us today...
When the current Dodge Charger was introduced for the 2015 model year, there were two distinct exterior designs offered across the lineup. The SXT and R/T models shared one design while the Scat Pack, SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models shared another. Over time, the R/T models were also available with the “Hellcat look” and when the GT models were introduced, they also have the sportier face.
That left only the SXT (below in TorRed) models without the sportier exterior design, which meant that if you wanted all wheel drive – available only on SXT models – you couldn’t get more aggressive body. That changes for 2020, as Dodge has announced that the Charger GT will soon be available with all-wheel-drive, so we will soon see more Chargers that look like Hellcats digging their way through the snow.
"Most people think of Chargers and Challengers as high-performance muscle cars, which clearly they are, but they can also be four-season capable AWD performance cars," said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “Only Dodge offers vehicles that combine practicality and all-weather driving confidence without sacrificing muscle car attitude.”
Details on the GT Model
The 2020 Dodge Charger GT is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which sends 300 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque towards all four wheels by means of an 8-speed automatic transmission and an advanced all-wheel-drive system.
What makes the GT unique from the SXT is the introduction of some performance-themed features from the V8 models. This starts on the outside with the hood, grill, front fascia, rear fascia and side sills that are all similar to those found on the Scat Pack and Hellcat models. The Hellcat has additional vents in the hood, but overall, the GT package looks very similar to the strongest models in the lineup.
The GT package also includes a 3.07 rear axle ratio, the performance steering wheel with paddle shifters, Dodge Performance Pages app on the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen, cloth performance seats, premium exterior lighting and other high tech gadgetry which isn’t standard on the SXT models.
The rear-wheel-drive Charger GT starts at $33,390 including destination, while the all-wheel-drive model starts at $36,490. The option is not yet available on Dodge.com, but the company has stated that GT AWD models will be in dealerships early next year.
AWD Charger Owner Input
While it is easy to imagine the advantages of adding all-wheel-drive to the Dodge Charger, we wanted to get input from someone who has lived with the AWD sedan. We spoke with Chris Bolt, who drives a Sublime Challenger Hellcat in the summer, but when the Canadian winter strikes, he packs the supercharged muscle car away and drives an all-wheel-drive Charger. Bolt previously drove a Subaru in the winter, so we reached out to him for some input on the ownership experience with the AWD Dodge sedan.
“Coming from a Subaru winter vehicle to the Charger AWD has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The Charger ride quality is just light years ahead of the Subaru. It’s not a punishing ride and long cross country drives are so much easier now. I cannot overstate the comfort.
It tracks straight and true thru deep snow without fuss (I do have a set of good snow tires on it, Michelin X Ice). This is my second winter with it and I absolutely love this car, almost as much as my Hellcat Challenger. Even during the summer months I find myself going to and driving the Charger more than I ever dreamed. It’s very reasonable on fuel, has more than enough power for an all season daily driver. The electric steering system is fantastic, and noticeable differences between the modes.
The Hellcat is the reason I even looked at these cars, I enjoyed driving it so much I figured they were worth a look. Very happy I did. I seriously enjoy the car almost as much as my Hellcat and it has less than half the power. The best part is it feels like home. The infotainment systems, switches and other controls are very similar or identical to the Hellcats and it’s almost like driving the same car from the interior point of view.
Having the Charger AWD is like having the Best of Both Worlds, it’s a blast to drive in the winter or summer, and it does it in style and comfort not offered by others in the price range. When my Charger has too many miles I will be replacing it with another without question. Fantastic cars in my experience.”
If you are a fan of the Charger Hellcat exterior styling, but you don’t need 700+ horsepower and you do need all-wheel-drive, the 2020 GT package might be ideal for you.
Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Patrick has been sharing his automotive expertise in automotive journalism from Detroit for more than a decade covering the Big Three. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Youtube and Twitter.
Follow us today...