2005 Dodge Magnum Review

Combine custom car styling and a roomy interior with a potent Hemi V-8 and all-wheel drive and you have the Dodge Magnum R/T AWD station wagon.

The $22,320-$37,320 four-door Magnum also comes in lower line models with rear-wheel drive and two less potent V-6 engines. A larger, 425-horsepower version of the Hemi also is offered in limited numbers for $37,320 in the Magnum RT SRT8 version.

The Magnum debuted with the new, full-size Chrysler 300 sedan about a year ago. Dodge dealers traditionally greet mostly sedan and truck buyers, and only recently got the new Dodge Charger sedan. But Dodge is pretty much on track with the Magnum, having sold 26,543 of them in the first five months this year.

2005 DODGE MAGNUM
PRICES
$22,320-$37,320

LIKES
Fast with Hemi V-8. Confident handling. Roomy. Available all-wheel drive.

DISLIKES
Wide turning circle. Thick windshield posts. Rather high cargo opening.


The Charger is as boldly styled as the 300 and Magnum, and all share major mechanical components.

Dodge raised the Magnum's body sides and pulled the roofline down tautly around the slit-shaped windows to give it a new proportion of body to glass, which is usually found on custom cars and hot rods.

Such cars look low, but really aren't. Neither is the 58.4-inch-high Magnum. It looks low, but is nearly 2 inches taller than a Cadillac DeVille sedan.

The Magnum comes with rear-drive or an all-wheel-drive system that continuously drives all wheels for maximum traction at all times. The Magnum is heavy at 3,855-4,324 pounds, so the standard 2.7-liter, 190-horsepower V-6 for the base SE rear-drive model is best suited to casual driving and calls for extra room to pass.

The all-wheel-drive SXT gets a 3.5-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 that provides much better performance, although the top dog engines are the 340- and 425-horsepower Hemis.

However, the 6.1-liter 425-horsepower Hemi lacks the cylinder deactivation feature of the 5.7-liter Hemi. That feature seamlessly deactivates four cylinders during light throttle conditions to save fuel.

The Magnum with the 340-horsepower Hemi does 0-60 mph in a quick 6.1 seconds while delivering an estimated 17 mpg in the city and 24-25 on highways with a five-speed automatic transmission, developed by the Mercedes-Benz part of the DaimlerChrysler operation.

The 425-horsepower Magnum is much faster. But that engine only delivered an estimated 14 mpg in the city and 18 on highways in a rear-drive 300 I recently tested.

The 2.7 V-6 works with a four-speed automatic transmission and delivers 21 city and 28 highway, while the mid-range 250-horsepower V-6 is offered with either four- or five-speed automatics. It provides 17-19 mpg in the city and 24-27 on the highway, with the all-wheel-drive version having the lower numbers.

The 340- and 425-horsepower Hemi in the RT comes only with the five-speed automatic, which has a manual shift feature.

The Magnum has a long 120-inch wheelbase, which helps provide a smooth ride with the sophisticated rear suspension from the last-generation Mercedes E-Class model.

Even the base SE model has much comfort and convenience equipment, including air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/-CD player, split-folding rear seat and the usual power accessories.

The SXT adds such items as a stability control system and anti-lock disc brakes, besides larger 18-inch tires.

I tested the Magnum RT AWD with the 340-horsepower Hemi and all-wheel-drive system. It's quite luxurious, having all the SXT features and such items as leather upholstery and an upgraded sound system.

The RT AWD weighs the most because an all-wheel-drive system is heavy; I could feel the Hemi V-8 fighting the RT's weight during hard acceleration, which still was impressive. The system's added stability comes in handy during summer driving and is especially useful in winter.

The quick steering has a nice hefty feel, although the wide turning circle occasionally caused me to make extra turning maneuvers to fit in tight spots. The ride was supple despite the firmer suspension that goes with a Hemi V-8, and handling was athletic. The brakes were strong, with no slack on top of the pedal.

The spacious, upscale interior is cleanly designed, with four stylish white-faced gauges that have red pointers. Front bucket seats provide good support, and controls are easy to reach and use, although the transmission shifter has a rather notchy gate.

My test car had the $925 Convenience Group II, which contains automatic climate control, heated front seats, power front passenger seat and power pedals that should be handy for shorter drivers, as is the standard tilt-telescopic steering wheel.

Optional safety items for the Magnum include front side air bags and curtain side air bags.

The hatch has no separate-opening glass window but is designed so it pops up well out of the way in tight spots for easier loading.

The cargo opening is rather high, but there's plenty of space in the long, but somewhat shallow, cargo area. Rear seatbacks slip forward to enlarge that area.

The Magnum has no direct rivals in terms of styling, and no competitor comes close in terms of power when it has a Hemi V-8. With products such as the Magnum, it's no wonder that DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler group is doing so well.