The 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a practical as any four-door sedan, but the SRT8 package means it can rip up the pavement with raw power

2010 Dodge Charger SRT8

What was tested? 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 high performance mid-size sedan ($40,630).

Options: Paint upgrade ($225), navigation and audio upgrades ($2,875). Price as tested (including $750 destination charge): $44,480.

Pros: It's as practical as any four-door family car, but the SRT8 package means it can rip up the pavement with raw power, too.

Cons: Gas mileage isn't impressive, and you get more refinement from the new Camaro.

Back in the 1960s, muscle cars defined America's automotive scene. These were big, heavy, bombastic cars that had loud paint schemes and even louder engines that were designed more for drag racing than mere transportation. The energy crisis of the 1970s killed the muscle car, but not for good.

Today, muscle cars have returned in a big way with retro-styled cruisers like the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger. They look fantastic and have the steroid-pumping power to match, along with modern technologies that make them more comfortable and reliable than the originals.

They have a problem, though. The styling that makes them look so good -- a look that mimics their ancestors from decades past -- also makes them a lot harder to live with in the real world. They have big trunks with tiny lids that make packing luggage a pain, two wide doors that like to slam into neighboring fenders in parking lots, and huge pillars in back that give you the exact same rear visibility that Ray Charles enjoys. Like a Hollywood diva, they're beautiful -- but you wouldn't want to live with them. The Charger SRT8, though, is different.

The SRT8 package adds a more taut suspension and a devastatingly huge Hemi V8 engine. It's 6.1 liters, to be exact, and makes 425 horsepower with the kind of frightening rumble that makes children weep

2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 has a 6.1 liter Hemi V8

Based on the same platform as the regular Charger, this four-door car with the SRT8 package adds a more taut suspension and a devastatingly huge Hemi V8 engine. It's 6.1 liters, to be exact, and makes 425 horsepower with the kind of frightening rumble that makes children weep. The result is a car that's thrilling to drive. It's one of the fastest cars on the road and feels like it belongs in the '60s, with straight-line speed that makes your back tense up. That doesn't matter, though, because your back will spend most of its time slammed into the seat cushion from the pure acceleration.

The Charger SRT8 also comes with beefed-up Brembo brakes that make it stop just as brilliantly. Dodge is proud of these brakes, too, which is why the calipers are painted steal-me red and neatly framed by alloy wheels with gaping holes to show them off.

Those brakes are one of the few hints at the SRT8's raw power. Yes, it has a hood scoop, and yes, it has a badge on the back that Mopar enthusiasts will love, but it ultimately ends up looking like the plain ol' grocery-getting Charger. That's good news when you pass a police officer.

Inside, you won't get the same kind of quality and whiz-bang lighting you'll find in the new Camaro -- this is an aging design, after all, and wasn't even top-notch when it was first introduced -- but you will find sporty bucket seats that have big side bolsters to keep you pinned in place through the corners.

That's a good thing, because the SRT8 can corner well, too. It's not quite as precise as the Camaro, but it does handle far better than you would expect from something so big and heavy. There's enough body roll to let you feel the heft, but not so much that you can't have fun with it. I won't insult your intelligence by mentioning the gas mileage. Muscle cars just aren't designed for that sort of thing, and the people who buy them don't care.

I will mention how nice it is to have four doors and a real, usable trunk. The SRT8 gives you all the muscular performance of a coupe, only with a far more usable package. Does it look as good as the Challenger? Nope. But would I rather drive it in the real world, with kids and friends and trips to the Home Depot? Absolutely.

It's also interesting to note that new federal regulations are about to kick in that will effectively kill cars like this. Obama wants new cars to be green, and massive 425-horsepower sedans just aren't.

If history is any guide, though. technology will catch up, and 40 years from now we'll be able to buy cleaner, more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable muscle cars once again. And that's when the "retro" models will hearken back to the good ol' days of 2010.

Ratings

Style: 6

Performance: 10