You’re standing in a used car lot, or maybe scrolling through an endless grid of Marketplace listings, and you see it. That aggressive, crosshair-style snout. The "racetrack" LED taillights that look like a neon sign from a futuristic noir film. It's the 2018 Dodge Charger RT. Honestly, it’s a car that shouldn’t really make sense in a world obsessed with efficiency and silent electric motors, yet here we are. It’s loud. It’s heavy. It drinks gas like a sailor on shore leave. But man, there is something about that 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that just hits different.
Most people see the Charger and think "cop car" or "rental fleet." They aren't entirely wrong. Dodge sold thousands of these to police departments and Hertz outlets across the country. But the RT—the "Road and Track" trim—is where the personality actually starts to show up. It’s the middle child of the lineup, tucked neatly between the sensible V6 SXT and the "I want to lose my license" Scat Pack. For a lot of enthusiasts, it’s the sweet spot. You get the V8 rumble without the massive insurance premiums or the "theft-magnet" reputation of the 6.4-liter or Hellcat models.
What’s Actually Under the Hood of the 2018 Dodge Charger RT?
Let’s get the numbers out of the way, because if you’re buying a Hemi, you care about the metal. The 2018 Dodge Charger RT is packing a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine. It puts out 370 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. It’s not "break your neck" fast, but it’s "pinned to your seat" fast. You’re looking at a 0-60 mph time in the low five-second range.
Is it a precision instrument? No way. It’s a sledgehammer.
The engine uses a variable-displacement system that Dodge calls "Multi-Displacement System" or MDS. Basically, when you’re just cruising on the highway, the car shuts down four cylinders to save fuel. It sounds great on paper. In reality, if you have an aftermarket exhaust, you’ll hear a weird "drone" when it kicks in. Most owners end up buying an OBDII plug-in just to disable it because, let's be real, nobody buys a V8 to drive a four-cylinder.
The 2018 model year was a bit of a turning point for the interior technology, too. This was the year Dodge really polished the Uconnect 4C system. It’s got Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard on the RT. That might sound like a small detail, but if you’ve ever tried to use a factory navigation system from 2015, you know it’s a nightmare. Having a responsive 8.4-inch touchscreen that actually mirrors your phone makes the 2018 feel a decade newer than the 2017.
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The Gearbox Debate
Every 2018 RT comes with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. Some purists moan about the lack of a manual—and yeah, the Challenger gets a stick shift, so why not the Charger?—but the ZF-sourced eight-speed is actually brilliant. It’s crisp. It’s fast. It knows exactly which gear you need when you mash the throttle to pass a slow-moving semi on a two-lane road.
If you find one with the Super Track Pak (which was an option back then), you get a slightly lowered suspension, better brakes, and a "Sport" mode that actually changes the shift points. It makes the car feel less like a boat and more like a... well, a smaller boat. It’s still a 4,300-pound sedan. You can't fight physics.
Common Myths and Real-World Problems
People love to talk trash about FCA (now Stellantis) build quality. "It’s going to rattle itself apart," they say. Or, "The electronics will fry in a week."
Here is the truth: The LD platform (which the 2018 Charger sits on) is old. Like, really old. It’s based on Mercedes-Benz E-Class components from the early 2000s. But there is a massive benefit to that. Dodge had nearly 15 years to iron out the kinks by the time 2018 rolled around. These cars are surprisingly robust if you don't treat them like a drift missile every single day.
However, the "Hemi Tick" is a real thing. It’s a rhythmic tapping sound that usually points to lifter failure or a broken manifold bolt. If you’re looking at a used 2018 Dodge Charger RT and it sounds like a sewing machine, walk away. Or, at least, budget a couple grand for a top-end refresh. Another thing to watch for is the "warped dash" syndrome. The leather/vinyl trim near the defrost vents has a nasty habit of pulling away in hot climates. It’s purely cosmetic, but it looks cheap on a car that originally cost forty grand.
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Why 2018 Specifically?
You might wonder why not just buy a 2016 or a 2020?
The 2018 is the "goldilocks" year. By 2018, the styling was aggressive but not overly "try-hard." You got the updated electronics I mentioned earlier. Most importantly, 2018 was before the massive price hikes we saw in the later years of the Charger's production run. You’re getting 90% of a 2023 model for about 60% of the price.
Driving Dynamics: It’s a Heavyweight Contender
Driving a 2018 Dodge Charger RT is an exercise in managed chaos. It’s rear-wheel drive, obviously. On a cold morning with stock tires, the back end will wiggle. It’s playful. It feels alive in a way that an Audi A6 or a BMW 5 Series doesn't. Those cars are refined, filtered, and clinical. The Charger is raw.
The steering is electric-assist, but it has three modes: Comfort, Normal, and Sport. In Sport, it gets heavy. Not "informative" heavy where you feel every pebble, but heavy enough that you don't feel like you're playing a video game. It tracks straight on the highway, making it one of the best road-trip cars ever built. You have massive seats—basically armchairs—and enough room in the back for three grown adults. And the trunk? It’s huge. You could fit a week's worth of camping gear or, more likely, four spare tires for your next burnout session.
Fuel Economy: The Elephant in the Room
Let's not lie to ourselves. The 2018 Dodge Charger RT is thirsty.
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On the highway, if you’re careful and the MDS kicks in, you might see 25 mpg. Maybe. In the city? You’re looking at 15 or 16 mpg. If you have a heavy foot, you’ll be lucky to stay in the double digits. It’s the price of admission for that V8 soundtrack. If you’re worried about the price of 89-octane fuel (which is what Dodge recommends for the 5.7L), this isn't the car for you.
Buying Guide: What to Check Before You Sign
If you're hunting for a 2018 RT today, you need to be a detective. Because these cars are popular with the "sideshow" crowd, many have been abused.
- Check the Idle Hours: In the digital gauge cluster, you can see "Engine Idle Hours" vs. "Engine Drive Hours." If the idle hours are high, it might have been a former security or police vehicle, or just sat in traffic for years. High idle hours are harder on an engine than highway miles.
- Look at the Rear Tires: Seriously. If the brand and wear pattern on the back tires don't match the front, someone has been doing burnouts. That puts stress on the differential and the axles.
- The Coolant Smell: Check for a faint sweet smell after a test drive. The water pumps on these Hemis are notorious for leaking around the 60,000 to 80,000-mile mark. It’s an easy fix, but a good bargaining chip.
- Service Records: These engines need frequent oil changes. If the owner can't prove they did them every 5,000 miles, keep looking. Clean oil is the only thing that keeps the Hemi lifters happy.
Actionable Insights for Future Owners
If you decide to pull the trigger on a 2018 Dodge Charger RT, there are a few things you should do immediately to make the experience better.
First, upgrade the tires. The factory-spec tires are often too skinny for the torque this car produces. Moving to a wider, high-performance all-season or summer tire will completely transform how the car handles corners.
Second, consider a mid-muffler delete. It sounds aggressive but doesn't cost much. It lets that Hemi growl without being obnoxious at highway speeds.
Finally, get a high-quality security system or a physical steering wheel lock. It’s an unfortunate reality that Chargers are high-theft items. A little bit of prevention goes a long way.
The 2018 Dodge Charger RT is a dinosaur, but it’s a T-Rex. It’s one of the last bastions of the "big engine, big sedan, big fun" philosophy. In a few years, everything will be turbocharged four-cylinders or silent electric motors. Buying one of these now isn't just about getting a car; it's about owning a piece of American muscle history that you can actually use to pick up the kids from school or go grocery shopping. It’s practical enough to justify to your spouse and rowdy enough to make you smile every time you hit a green light.