Dodge has repositioned the various packages (now totally six in all) for the 2019 Charger. Not many serious changes hit the market for 2019, though potential buyers waiting for specific features to carry over from the Challenger’s insane Hellcat and Demon offerings may be pleased. In the end, the Charger in all its iterations is still a large, bold sedan offering plenty of power at a reasonable price.

Exterior Styling

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Much like the Challenger’s higher spec packages, the 2019 Charger has minimal exterior styling cues to differentiate itself from a 2018 model — two grille intake ducts and an optional satin black hood round out the improvements (in case any anxiously awaiting fans haven’t skimmed ahead and are wondering whether the intake signals engine upgrades, guess again).

Even in base specs,  the Charger’s aggressive profile points towards Dodge’s commitments to exterior style to match brute power under the hood. The same bulging haunches, angry grille, side swoops, and venting patterns all point to the fact that this simply is not a normal passenger car. Depending on the choice of engine and drivetrain packages, additional details like a small rear spoiler, bigger wheels, and larger exhaust tips round out the entire lineup.

RELATED: DODGE CHARGER GETS ALL NEW GRILLE IN DEMON-INSPIRED UPDATES

Drivetrain & Mechanicals

Most readers no doubt want to know exactly how radical the most powerful Charger will be for 2019. Some of those readers will no doubt feel a certain sense of disappointment when they learn that the 2019 Charger SRT Hellcat will feature the same engine and supercharger as its predecessor, churning 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque out of the same 6.2-liter Hemi V8 (for context, the Challenger Hellcat can be had with up to 797 horses).

However, a couple of upgrades have made their way from the Challenger Hellcat to the Charger lineup for 2019, which will help improve outright performance even if the numbers on paper remain the same. Off the line acceleration is aided by launch control and line lock (stationary front braking) capabilities, while Dodge’s Torque Reserve technology effectively traps boost in the supercharger and manages air/fuel and spark timing to offer a bump in low-end grunt. To help the same supercharger cope with the potential for added wear and tear, Dodge’s wise engineers threw in an After-Run Chiller that cools the supercharger and charged-air cooler after the engine is turned off.

RELATED: CHECK OUT THE 2019 DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT

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Lower spec Chargers run a wide gamut of options packages. The Scat Pack slots in below the Hellcat with a normally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 that produces 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft. Plentiful bee logos, a Scat Pack specific appearance package, and the Hellcat’s launch control come with this configuration. One step lower, the R/T gets the aggressive front end and a V8 for 2019, as a 5.7-liter unit replaces the outgoing model’s V6.

Perhaps the biggest change for the entire 2019 Charger range is the GT package, which has dropped the all-wheel drive in favor of pumping its 300 horses straight to the rear axle. The SXT AWD retains all-wheel drive and adds a front axle disconnect feature, while the base Charger SXT is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 producing 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.

The three lowest-spec packages will be difficult to differentiate from the outgoing 2018 models from the exterior, as Dodge has opted not to include the revised grille and hood package until the R/T’s price point. Unlike the Challenger, every single iteration of the 2019 Charger will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the rest of the industry has slowly caught up to the Charger Hellcat, which was the world’s fastest and most powerful sedan when it debuted in 2015, passing on the newest gen simply because 707 horsepower isn’t quite enough sounds like an uncommon and unlikely decision.

RELATED: DODGE REVEALS 2019 CHARGER GRILLE INTAKE

Interior & Tech

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Besides novel engine and power management additions, the interior and tech of the Charger lineup remain largely unchanged. Higher-spec models offer bolstered seats finished in optional houndstooth, while the range toppers get microsuede wrapped details. Nappa leather and a Cold Weather Package also fit into the mix, adding a heated steering wheel and seats to the Charger for the first time.

Infotainment comes by way of an 8.4-inch UConnect touchscreen running Dodge’s Performance Pages programming. A multifunction steering wheel sits in front of a digital instrument cluster and is mounted with paddle shifters for higher-spec models. Electronic stability control, remote start, automatic halogen projector headlights, and three 12-volt power outlets round out the interior amenities.

Pricing & Buying

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Each level of Charger builds in price, though not quite up to the levels one might expect for some of the world’s fastest muscle sedans. For those drivers willing to forego pure insanity, the Charger SRT Scat Pack is probably the best bet and can be bought with minimal extra option boxes checked for under $40,000.

That’s the only price Dodge has promised to maintain at the moment, but given that a Challenger Hellcat starts at around $65,000, it seems likely the range-topping Charger might approach similar figures with a few more options added on to compensate for less outright power. Delivery of all the models should begin in late 2018, and dealers can currently accept orders for specific models.

Competition

Comparing the Charger to any range of Detroit’s contemporary beasts, like the Camaro or Mustang, is a bit of an apples-to-oranges game. After all, this is a sedan ranging from budget level tame to track-capable insanity. The Cadillac CTS-V, meanwhile, offers plenty more luxury with similar power figures sure to come at a much higher price. And is it really fair to compare the Charger to the Kia Stinger, when domestic consumers are still trying to wrap their heads around the mere fact of its existence?

NEXT: WATCH A MUSTANG AND CHARGER RECREATE THE CLASSIC BULLITT CHASE