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There’s something that’s universally great about a fast family sedan – a car that can haul the kids with ease and then push you back in your seat when you want it to.
Unfortunately, with the dominance of pickups, SUVs and crossovers, there aren’t nearly as many performance-minded sedans available as there used to be, especially from non-luxury brands.
But there are still a few options out there, and despite having completely different engine types and drivetrain layouts we’ve found two family sedans that are roomy, affordable and deliver plenty of performance: the Dodge Charger R/T and Toyota Camry TRD.
At first mention, a comparison between the Dodge Charger and the Toyota Camry might sound absurd. One is a rear-drive V8-powered four-door muscle car and the other is well, a Toyota Camry.
But when powered by a V6 engine, and especially in TRD trim, the Camry is a quick and practical machine with just the right amount of character to stand out from the sea of boring cars on the road.
As for the Charger, there are any number of trims and powerplants available, from the base rental spec versions to the supercharged Hellcat, but it’s the mid-grade R/T that matches against the Camry TRD.
Power & Performance
Neither the Charger R/T or Camry TRD are hard-edged performance cars, but they are still plenty capable all things considered. The Camry TRD sends 301 horsepower to the front wheels while the Charger sends 370 horsepower to its rear wheels, both through eight-speed automatic transmissions.
In terms of acceleration, the two cars should be very close. Both will do 0-60 in the mid-five-second range, though the Charger will be a bit quicker at the end of a quarter mile.
When it comes to handling and braking, the Camry should get the nod thanks to its lighter weight and the more aggressive suspension setup the TRD models get.
Price
What about price? When looking at new versions, the Camry TRD has sizable MSRP advantage, with a base price just under $34,000.
A 2022 Charger R/T meanwhile has an MSRP at $42,000, but even in today’s tight car market it shouldn’t be hard to find one being offered below MSRP.
The Charger claws back at that difference even more if you consider used examples, as the Charger R/T has basically been the same car since 2015 while the Camry TRD has only been around since the 2020 model year.
Fuel Economy
When it comes to fuel economy, there’s no question the Camry is going to have the edge with its smaller V6 engine. And it comes in with 22 MPG city, 31 MPG highway ratings.
The Charger R/T on the other hand carries ratings of 16 MPG city, 25 MPG highway ratings. For its size and power these are more than acceptable numbers, but head-to-head this department is an easy win for the Toyota.
Character & More
Apart from their costs to buy and run, both cars should hold their value quite well. With their naturally aspirated engines, both should be reliable as well. Though the Toyota will likely have the edge over the long run.
The biggest difference between the two cars is going to be more in their character and how they feel behind the wheel. The Charger is larger, but it’s hard to beat the sound of a V8 and a traditional rear-drive layout.
The Camry on the other hand, takes a relatively nondescript front-drive family sedan and turns it into something pretty special, and is the more fuel-efficient way to enjoy a quick four-door.
No matter which you choose, or if you are even shopping both of these models, we should be thankful there are at least a couple quick and practical four-door sedans you can still buy without breaking the bank. Enjoy them while you can.
Keyword: Toyota Camry TRD vs Dodge Charger R/T: Picking the Better Affordable Performance Sedan