Manoli Katakis 
Winter is no longer coming. Winter is here. Normally, for the RWD muscle car enthusiast, that tends to mean garaging up the prized pony, and living through the next couple of months in the seasonal beater. At the very least, it should mean a set of winter tires. Thankfully, there’s the 2020 Dodge Charger GT AWD, and it’s the happy balance between providing muscle car style with all-wheel-drive to better handle the elements with confidence.
At a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34,995 (excluding $1,495 destination charge), here’s what you get:
- 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine standard on Charger GT AWD, delivers 300 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and a responsive 264 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm mated to the omnipresent TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic.
- A segment-exclusive detachable transfer case, which is completely computer controlled. The front wheels are disengaged and 100 percent of the engine’s torque is directed to the rear wheels. This preserves the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling characteristics inherent to rear-wheel-drive vehicles. When sensors indicate the need for additional traction, the system automatically engages the front wheels, instantly transitioning Charger GT AWD into all-wheel-drive mode. Sport mode activates full-time AWD.
- 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
- A tuned induction system and dual exhaust from the manifolds back to the tips help deliver more than 90 percent of the engine’s peak torque from 1,800 to 6,400 RPM
- Standard performance hood, front and rear fascias, sculpted side sills, performance rear spoiler, projector LED fog lamps, and rear parking assist
- All-wheel-drive suspension, 3.07 rear axle ratio
- P235/55R19 BSW all-season performance tires mounted on 19-inch aluminum wheels in a Satin Carbon finish, optional in Black Noise
- Performance steering wheel with paddle shifters, Dodge Performance Pages with the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen, Houndstooth cloth high-bolstered performance seats and Dark Dub Plate instrument panel.
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). The VDC software is integrated with the vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, and is meant to provide confident traction on slippery surfaces and also helps the driver maintain the desired vehicle path by channelling and controlling the torque either up front or in the rear.
The 2020 Dodge Charger GT AWD joins more entry-level Charger SXT AWD in dealer showrooms, giving more AWD options and a broader range of price points. For those looking for an AWD coupe, the 2020 Dodge Challenger SXT and GT AWD are also available.
Dealer orders for Charger GT AWD will be open for orders in January, and vehicles are scheduled to arrive in Dodge dealerships in the first quarter of 2020.
No, it doesn’t have the Hemi V8, but with all of that snow in the forecast, is that really a bad thing?
