You see them everywhere. At the red light in the suburbs, prowling the fast lane on the interstate, or sitting a bit too low on aftermarket springs in a grocery store parking lot. The 2016 Dodge Charger sedan isn't just a car; it's a statement that refused to die when every other manufacturer decided that sedans should look like melted bars of soap. It's chunky. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s a bit of a dinosaur, but that is exactly why people keep buying them.
While the rest of the world was obsessing over CVT transmissions and three-cylinder turbos, Dodge was still shoving massive Hemi V8s into a four-door chassis that can trace its roots back to the Bush administration. It shouldn't work. By all logical metrics of "modern" efficiency, it’s a disaster. Yet, the 2016 model year hit a specific sweet spot in the LD generation’s lifespan where the tech finally caught up to the muscle.
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The weird reality of the 2016 Dodge Charger sedan trim levels
Most people think "Charger" and immediately picture a Hellcat burning rubber. But the reality of the 2016 lineup is way more varied—and frankly, some of the lower trims are where the actual value hides.
You’ve got the SE and SXT at the bottom. They use the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Now, purists will tell you a V6 Charger is a "rental car special," but 292 horsepower isn't nothing. It’s actually more power than many V8s from the nineties. If you're just commuting on I-95 and want to look intimidating without spending $80 at the pump every three days, the SXT with the Rallye Appearance Group is a sleeper hit. It gets the 840A package which bumps it to 300 horsepower. It’s enough. Barely.
Then you move into the R/T. This is the gateway drug. The 5.7-liter Hemi. It makes that classic American rumble that sounds like a thunderstorm in a metal trash can. It’s got 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. It’s not "fast" by 2026 standards, but it’s quick. It’s heavy, though. You feel that weight in the corners. Like trying to dance with a refrigerator.
Then things get stupid.
The R/T Scat Pack and the SRT 392 both use the 6.4-liter (392 cubic inch) Hemi. We're talking 485 horsepower. In 2016, this was the sweet spot. You got the big brakes—Brembo six-piston fronts on the SRT—and the active exhaust that clears your sinuses every time you cold start it at 6:00 AM. Your neighbors will hate you. You won't care.
That 707 horsepower elephant in the room
We have to talk about the Hellcat. In 2016, the Hellcat was still a relatively new phenomenon. It was the car that put Dodge back on the map as the "crazy" brand. 707 horsepower. A 200 mph top speed. In a sedan with a trunk big enough for a week's worth of camping gear. It’s absurd. It’s also surprisingly easy to drive if you keep your foot out of it, thanks to the heavy steering and the well-tuned ZF 8-speed automatic.
The ZF 8HP transmission is actually the unsung hero of the 2016 Dodge Charger sedan. It’s the same basic gearbox you’ll find in a BMW 5 Series or a Rolls-Royce. It’s fast. It’s crisp. It doesn't hunt for gears like the old 5-speeds used to. Without this transmission, the 2016 Charger would just be a loud, slow boat. With it, it’s a genuine performance machine.
Inside the beast: Where the 2016 model actually improved
If you’ve ever sat in a 2010 Charger, you know the interior felt like it was made of recycled Tupperware. It was bleak. By 2016, Dodge actually figured out how to make a cabin you’d want to spend time in.
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The Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen in the 2016 model is legendary in the car world. Why? Because it actually works. It doesn’t lag. The icons are huge. Even in 2026, it feels more intuitive than some of the "all-glass" cockpits in brand-new EVs. For the 2016 year, they added Siri Eyes Free and a "Drag and Drop" menu bar. Small things, sure, but they make a difference when you’re trying to change the radio station at 80 mph.
The seats are massive. They’re like lounge chairs. If you get the Alcantara inserts in the Scat Pack or SRT, you actually stay glued in place during a hard turn. The back seat? It’s huge. You can fit three adults back there without anyone losing circulation in their legs. That’s the "sedan" part of the name doing the heavy lifting.
What goes wrong? The stuff nobody tells you
Look, I’m not going to sit here and tell you these cars are perfect. They aren’t. They’re built in Brampton, Ontario, and while the engines are mostly bulletproof, the "Dodge" part of the car sometimes likes to remind you of its presence.
- The Hemi Tick: If you're looking at a used 5.7 or 6.4, listen to it idle. If it sounds like a sewing machine on steroids, that’s the "Hemi tick." Sometimes it’s just an exhaust manifold bolt that snapped—super common—but sometimes it’s a lifter failure that’s eating the camshaft.
- Suspension Bushings: These cars weigh over 4,000 pounds. The front tension struts and bushings take a beating. If you hear a "clunk" over speed bumps, you’re looking at a few hundred bucks in suspension work.
- The Infotainment Delamination: On some 2016 units, the screen starts to look like there’s a bubble under the glass. It’s called delamination. It makes the touch functions go haywire. It’s annoying as hell.
Safety and the "Old Platform" problem
The 2016 Dodge Charger sedan is built on the LX/LD platform. It’s old. Because of that, the roof strength and small-overlap crash tests aren't quite as stellar as a brand-new Honda Accord. However, for 2016, Dodge packed in a ton of active safety tech if the original buyer checked the boxes. Full-speed Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist—it was all available.
It feels solid. When you shut the door, it sounds like a vault. That weight gives it a sense of stability on the highway that lighter, more modern cars just can't replicate. You don't get blown around by crosswinds in a Charger. You are the crosswind.
Is the 2016 Charger a good investment now?
"Investment" is a strong word for a mass-produced sedan, but the market for these is weirdly resilient. Specifically the Scat Packs and Hellcats.
While V6 models depreciate like everything else, the high-displacement V8s are holding value because Dodge officially ended production of the gas-powered Charger recently. People want the Hemi. They want the noise.
If you're buying one, look for the "Super Track Pak" option on the lower trims. It gives you a lowered ride height, high-performance shock absorbers, and better steering calibration. It turns the car from a cruiser into something that can actually handle a backroad without making your passengers seasick.
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How to buy a used 2016 Dodge Charger sedan without getting burned
If you're scouring Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, you need to be a bit of a detective. These cars are often driven by two types of people: elderly folks who treat them like Cadillacs, and 22-year-olds who think they’re in a Fast & Furious movie.
- Check the idle hours. Most Chargers have a "hidden" menu in the dashboard that shows engine idle hours versus driving hours. If the idle hours are high, that car spent a lot of time as a police cruiser or sitting in traffic. High idle hours are harder on a Hemi than highway miles.
- Look for the "Blackberry" color. Officially called "Maximum Steel" or "Jazz Blue," these deeper colors tend to indicate the car wasn't a former rental (which are almost always white, silver, or black).
- Inspect the rear tires. Honestly. If the rear tires are a different brand than the fronts, or if they’re bald while the fronts are new, the previous owner was doing burnouts. Avoid those.
The 2016 Dodge Charger sedan represents the last of a breed. It’s a big, rear-wheel-drive American sled with an engine that sounds like it wants to eat the car next to it. It’s not subtle. It’s not sophisticated. It’s definitely not "green." But on a long stretch of open road, with the cruise control set and the Hemi humming at 2,000 RPM, it’s one of the best driving experiences you can buy for the money.
Your checklist for the 2016 Charger
- Confirm the transmission: Make sure it’s the 8-speed ZF, not the older 5-speed (though by 2016, the 8-speed was standard on almost everything).
- Verify the Uconnect version: Ensure it has been updated to handle modern phone connectivity.
- Scan for codes: Use an OBD-II scanner to check for "misfire" codes, even if the Check Engine light isn't on.
- Check the active exhaust: On V8 models, make sure the valves aren't stuck open or closed. It’s a common electronic failure.
When you find a clean one, especially an R/T or a Scat Pack, buy it. The world isn't making cars like this anymore. Everything is going electric or moving to tiny turbocharged engines. The 2016 Charger is a loud, proud relic that still works as a daily driver. It’s the kind of car you’ll look back on in twenty years and be glad you owned. Just be prepared to make friends with the guys at the local gas station. You’ll be seeing them often.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're serious about picking up a 2016 Charger, start by pulling a VIN report on any listing you like. Specifically look for "Fleet" or "Rental" history; these models often lack the heavy-duty cooling and brake upgrades found in consumer-level R/T and SRT packages. Next, schedule a pre-purchase inspection with a mechanic who knows Mopar engines. Have them specifically check the camshaft lobes and the water pump, which is a known weak point on the 2016 5.7L engines. Finally, test drive both a V6 and a V8. Many people find the V6 is plenty for daily use, but if you don't hear that Hemi roar, you might always wonder "what if." Take the time to find a "clean" one with service records, and you'll have a reliable, aggressive sedan that turns heads every time you start it up.