If you love having a car that looks intimidating, has the power of a muscle car, yet also can be driven safely when the roads get slick, you’ll want to take a closer look at the Dodge Charger.
A classic American car that continues to be popular, it has received numerous upgrades over the years, making it one of the most reliable cars on the road today. If you’re wondering just how well a Charger does in snow, here’s what you need to know!
Is the Dodge Charger a Good Car for Snow?
Should you be driving a Dodge Charger on a snowy road, you’ll know you’ve got a good car for the job. In fact, the Dodge Charger can drive down snowy roads and highways much easier than many other similar vehicles.
Thanks to its many upgrades and the very important All-Wheel Drive feature it now possesses, a Dodge Charger can navigate snowy roads due in large part to such features as Anti-Lock Brakes, All-Speed Traction Control, Rain Brake Support, and Electronic Stability Control.
Since AWD is so important in how a Dodge Charger performs in the snow, you should know that this is not usually a standard option on most Chargers.
Instead, they come standard with Rear-Wheel Drive, which can greatly hamper their performance in winter driving conditions. If you’re buying a Dodge Charger, always opt for the package that includes AWD.
Does the Dodge Charger Come with AWD?
As you just found out, most Dodge Chargers do not come standard with AWD, but instead, have RWD!
While having RWD will hamper their performance in the snow to a certain extent, they will perform well enough with RWD to make them good cars to own if you live in an area that has slick roads several months out of the year.
One of the best reasons to have a Dodge Charger on a snowy road is its ground clearance, which is almost five inches. Though significantly lower than that of a truck or SUV, it does have its advantages.
With such a low ground clearance, the Dodge Charger has a very low center of gravity, allowing its tires to hug the road more than you might imagine. This reduces your risk of an uncontrolled slide and being involved in an accident, which is something you never want on a cold winter day or night.
How Much Snow Can the Dodge Charger Handle?
Possessing a low ground clearance when compared to a truck or SUV, you may think the Dodge Charger won’t be able to handle a large snowfall. However, this is not true at all. Although it gets very high marks for its drivability in light snow, the AWD version gets good reviews for its ability to handle higher amounts of snow.
While you of course need to use common sense while behind the wheel of your Charger to know when you should or should not try to tackle a road covered in deep snow, those who know and drive Chargers agree that these cars can get through the most difficult winter driving conditions with few if any real problems.
As to why a Charger can handle snow so easily, you can thank the engineers who came up with the many driver-assist options found on most Chargers.
From the Electronic Stability Control to the All-Speed Traction Control and more, being on a snow-covered road in a Charger can give you virtually the same amount of control and confidence you would have in a four-wheel-drive truck or SUV.
Based on most road tests done with the Dodge Charger under winter driving conditions, their ground clearance has enabled them to handle at least six inches of snow on a road with little if any difficulty.
While conditions can vary and change in a matter of moments on a winter road, taking advantage of the Charger’s driver-assist options tends to make your drive a safe one.
Ways to Improve the Dodge Charger Snow Performance
To maximize how your Dodge Charger performs while driving in snow, there are several things you can do. One of the best features is the AWD system, which transfers power to the front wheels of the Charger when it requires additional stability on a slick road, which in turn allows the tires to gain more traction.
The Electronic Stability Control, known as the ESC, is another vital component to keep you and your Dodge Charger safe in the snow!
Equipped with sensors that measure your driving speed and steering input, the ESC can predict ahead of time when your Charger may encounter a situation that creates instability, take the necessary actions with various systems on the Charger that may include decreasing engine output and applying brake pressure and keep you driving down the road with no problems.
Finally, the Rain Brake Support will also play a crucial role in helping you stay safe while driving in the snow. When this system activates on your Charger, it will detect the wipers are operating, signaling rain or snowfall.
Once this occurs, minor brake pressure is applied as needed to prevent water from building up on brake rotors and pads. A new feature on many Chargers, it has been very effective in helping to prevent serious accidents.
Do Dodge Chargers have a “Snow” Mode?
No, Dodge Chargers do not have a designated “Snow” mode. However, the various driver-assist systems on a Dodge Charger essentially act as a “Snow” mode.
By being able to provide greater traction and brake pressure, anticipate dangerous road conditions before spinning out of control becomes a reality, and help the Charger maintain a low center of gravity, winter driving becomes much safer no matter the conditions.
Can Snow Gear be Installed on a Dodge Charger?
Just as you can do on many other types of vehicles, it is possible to install various types of snow gear on your Dodge Charger. The most common types of snow gear installed on Chargers include snow tires, snow chains, studded tires, and snow socks.
But before you go all-in on putting as much snow gear as possible on your Charger, keep a few things in mind.
If snow chains and snow socks are used, you should not drive your Charger past 30 miles per hour. Also, when installing snow chains, only do so on the rear wheels of your vehicle.
As for snow tires and studded tires, always make sure you know the proper size needed for your Dodge Charger, as well as the speed and weight ratings.
If you don’t, you could install tires on your vehicle that could make your winter driving not only more hazardous but also potentially damage your Charger and lead to extensive and expensive repairs.
Will My Dodge Charger Do Well in Cold Temperatures?
When the roads are covered with snow, this also means the temperatures can dip quite low, leading you to wonder how your Charger and its engine will perform. However, you need not worry, since it has a fuel-injection system.
As a result, your Dodge Charger will start just as easily on a cold morning as it will on a warm day during the summer.
Outfitted with so many features designed to make winter driving safe, the Dodge Charger should be able to get you where you need to go, even when the roads are slick and white.
Whether you outfit it with snow gear or rely on its AWD and ESC, your Dodge Charger can be a great winter vehicle.
