So you think Dodge doesn’t make aerodynamic cars? Preposterous. I mean sure, the last generation Challenger/Charger don’t exactly scream sleek, nor does the new EV Charger, and yes there are plenty of previous offerings that aren’t aerodynamic looking either, but you forget history. When they want to, or when the car in question isn’t beholden to purists demanding vintage styling, Dodge is beyond capable of producing a smooth design that agrees with the wind (rather than antagonizing it). Here are five cars that exemplify this truth…
5: The 2011-2014 Dodge Avenger – 0.33 Cd
Oh trust me, I know you weren’t expecting this of all cars to make the list! Neither was I in all honesty. I fully expected a Viper to occupy this spot, but no! With the Avenger being a regular car without a need for high speed stability, it edges out one of the kings of Mopar by 0.01 coefficient of drag. Try telling that little factoid next time you’re at a dinner party. Get ready to watch everybody near you absolutely run away in boredom.
4: The First-Gen Dodge Intrepid – 0.31 Cd
Now here is a Dodge –if remembered– you probably expected to make the list (and for good reason). The cab-forward cloud car is a distinct departure from the muscle-bound air-assaulting brutish designs we’d witness later. Thin, long, and with soap bar-like smoothness, it’s plain to see this car was a shoe-in for a mention today. 0.31 Cd not only puts it ahead of the Avenger, but actually puts it ahead of its baby brother: The first-gen Neon! With the Neon’s slightly more upright and squished stature, it sits at 0.33 (or 0.328 specifically).
3: The Second-Gen Dodge Intrepid – 0.299 Cd
When it comes to soap bars though, the second generation Dodge Intrepid is pretty damn hard to beat. Legitimately looking like a rolling cloud going down the road, it’s safe to say this car took the Intrepid’s already divisive looks and became even more polarizing. However, leaning more into the “cloud car” theme did produce results. Netting the aerodynamicists a Cd of 0.299. For context, that puts the Intrepid in the same league as the Toyota Echo sedan! Hell, that puts it in the same realm as the original Toyota Prius in fact! Matching the MPG all-star’s 0.29 drag coefficient value. Nicely done Mopar.
2: The 2013-2016 Dodge Dart – 0.285 Cd
Now for the car that inspired me to make this article in the first place! The 2013 to 2016 Dodge Dart is kind of a forgotten automobile in modern times. As such, many of its achievements have been lost to history. However, this particular nugget of info was not widely publicized even when the car came out. At least, I don’t recall ever hearing Dodge boasting about the Dart’s impressively low 0.285 drag coefficient. Strange, when they bragged about plenty of other aspects of their then-new compact, and often bring up aerodynamics when it relates to the next car or the Viper, but I digress. The point is this: The Dart is the second-slipperiest Dodge ever mass produced, right behind…
1: The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona – 0.28 Cd
Indeed, this won’t be a shock to anyone with more than a tablespoon’s worth of Mopar knowledge. The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona is legendary for this very reason, helping it be known even beyond Chrysler circles. Despite initially being based on the seriously cool –and seriously unaerodynamic– second-gen B-Body Charger, the Daytona fixed almost all of the base car’s troubles to become a titan of manipulating wind. So much so, the NASCAR rule makers banned the winged warrior from competition. Not only that, there’s evidence of a Charger Daytona hitting 240 MPH! 240 miles per hour! In the 60s! Though the looks didn’t win over many at the time, they were proven over and over to be damn effective.
And there you have it! Which Dodge surprised you most on this list? Let me know in the comments below.
Author’s Note:
Given what I said about the first-gen Neon in the first-gen Intrepid section, you’re probably wondering why the “Hi!” car didn’t take the Avengers spot on this list. It didn’t take the Avengers spot because, according to this link, the Avenger has a marginally lower coefficient of drag than the Neon. Admittedly it’s only one source and the years (therefore the fascias) are wrong, but no matter. For all intents and purposes, the Avenger and the Neon are almost interchangeable. The Avenger just has slightly more “shock value” because it’s a lesser remembered Dodge. The Neon also has a .Cd of 0.33 though, so the two could’ve easily tied for 5th place.