Who would think that a well-equipped 2011 Dodge Charger R/T would charm you with a world-class interior, not to mention a very competitive price?

The products rolling out of the new Chrysler Group, such as the Dodge Charger and its upscale sibling, the Chrysler 300, have been refined, restyled and reinvigorated now that Fiat is the majority owner. 

The Charger’s new bodywork carries styling cues from the 1970 Charger, most notably the character lines along the side. The nose is still dominated by the Dodge crosshair, although it has been redesigned.

The Charger shares its chassis and many mechanical components with the Chrysler 300. It has the longest wheelbase in its class, and that means the cabin is spacious, although the sloping roof encroaches on rear-seat headroom.

The most surprising thing about the Charger is the remarkably handsome interior. The test car’s red and black interior had red, pleated inserts on the door panels and seats. A matte black texture, somewhat reminiscent of a basketball, is used on the dash and door panels. It looks expensive and begs to be touched.

The Charger is definitely sporty, but the R/T seems decidedly more refined than before. The subtle gray-on-black gauges look elegant and are easy to read. The LCD touch screen has some of the sharpest graphics I have seen. The brushed aluminum panel that surrounds the gauges and center screen is a nice counterpoint to the matte texture.

The Charger is available with a 292-horsepower V-6 or the 370-horsepower Hemi V-8. Prices start at $25,495 for the V-6 SE and range to $29,995 for the Hemi-powered R/T. All-wheel drive is optional on the V-6 SXT or the V-8 R/T.

The 370-horsepower Hemi V-8 is a marvelous engine, although it slurps fuel. All-wheel-drive hurts fuel economy a little, but when you consider that a loaded R/T costs less than $38,000, it is a relative bargain.

Dodge’s all-wheel-drive system uses an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect to drive the front axle only when needed. That results in slightly better fuel economy while maintaining rear-wheel-drive handling.

Dodge activates all-wheel drive based on outside temperatures or by slippage of the rear wheels. Shifting the transmission into Auto Stick mode also activates the system, as does running the windshield wipers for an extended time. When all-wheel drive is active, a light in the instrument cluster notifies the driver.

Vehicle stability control, all-speed traction control and anti-lock brakes are standard as well.

The Charger’s performance in no way detracts from its practical side. It is fully capable of hauling four people, and it has a sizable trunk.

All-wheel drive merely makes it more appealing for our changeable weather.

Price

The test car’s base price was $32,320. Options included the R/T Plus package of Nappa leather seats, heated back seats, heated and cooled front seats, blind-spot monitor, adjustable pedals, Garmin navigation system with back-up camera, rear park sensors and Bluetooth connectivity. The sticker price was $37,165.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

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SPECIFICATIONS:

2011 Dodge Charger R/T Plus

• Engine: 5.7-liter, 370-hp V-8
• Transmission: automatic
• All-wheel drive
• Wheelbase: 120.2 inches
• Curb weight: 4,450 lbs.
• Base price: $32,320
• As driven: $37,165
• Mpg rating: 15 city, 23 hwy.