2008 Dodge Magnum

Editor: New Car Test Drive
The great American station wagon.

Driving Impressions

The Dodge Magnum is a car we enjoy driving, especially the SRT8, though we like all the different models. All that horsepower, all that torque, lots of room, predictable handling, and a comfortable ride make for a fine family car.

The five-speed automatic transmission upshifts smoothly, though sometimes a bit prematurely (probably as a concession to fuel economy). Gear engagement often lacks the crispness we believe should be the norm in a car with the SRT8's credentials.

Power in the SE with its 2.7-liter V6 is barely adequate for a car weighing close to two tons, and the four-speed automatic that comes with it is basic by today's standards of five-speed automatics.

The SXT is a big step up, with some 40 percent more horsepower and 30 percent more torque on tap, plus a five-speed automatic, in a car weighing barely 50 pounds more than the base SE. The SXT's 3.5-liter V6 makes 250 horsepower. In these days of high horsepower V8s and strong V6s, that number might have lost its meaning, but 250 horsepower is a lot, and it's especially effective with the 250 pound-feet of torque this engine offers. The SXT is more fully featured for the money, too, including sharper wheels and tires more befitting the car's abilities. It's rated to tow 2000 pounds and gets an EPA-estimated City/Highway 17/24 mpg. The five-speed automatic comes with the AutoStick feature allowing the driver to select gears manually.

The R/T is our favorite with its 5.7-liter V8 Hemi that puts out 340 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Even with all that power and torque, the acceleration isn't neck-snapping. The R/T has a tall final drive ratio of 2.82 in the rear-wheel-drive version and 3.07 with all-wheel drive; those ratios are good for gas mileage and quiet running, but they temper acceleration. Still, the Magnum R/T is capable of a 0-60 mph run in around 6.3 seconds. Put your foot to the floor and the R/T gets under way without a jolt, but builds speed quickly and keeps supplying the punch. The five-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, and the AutoStick feature can be used for more spirited driving.

The R/T engine's Multi-Displacement System, or MDS, cuts out half of the eight cylinders whenever horsepower is not needed. At a steady 60 mph or less on a flat highway, it only uses four cylinders and gets about 30 miles per gallon. With a response time of 0.04 seconds, we couldn't feel when it went from a V4 back to a V8 when we hit the throttle to speed back up again. For 2008, Dodge adds a Fuel Saver Mode display that lets you know when the car is running on four cylinders. The R/T is EPA-rated at 15/23 mpg. Although technically capable of towing 3800 pounds with the optional tow package, Dodge does not recommend using the R/T as a tow vehicle.

The R/T could benefit from tires with more grip. It comes with Continental Touring all-season tires, P225/60R18, which were the likely cause of the Electronic Stability Program's occasional intrusion into our hard but not overboard driving. As the tires lost their limited bite, the ESP feathered the throttle. With stickier tires, it's unlikely that intrusion would occur. Performance enthusiasts might want to opt for the 20-inch wheels and high-performance rubber. They may not last as long or work as well in the winter, but they will improve handling. Another option would be to get high-performance 18-inch tires with more grip, thereby avoiding the harder ride quality of the short-sidewall 20-inch tires.

The brakes are fully up to the task. The vented front rotors measure 13.6 inches in diameter, an inch larger than the SE and SXT, and the vented rear rotors are 12.6 inches across; additionally, the front brakes use dual piston calipers. Couple that mechanical strength with ABS with Brake Assist, which balances the braking between front and rear and the Magnum makes worry-free stops. On twisty mountain roads we repeatedly hammered the brakes