Dodge Magnum.(Product/Service Evaluation)

HIGHS | Rear seat room. LOWS | Visibility, braking, turning circle, modest cargo area.

The bold styling of the Magnum has drawn a lot of attention, but the car didn't stand out in our testing. On the positive side, the 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers good performance. We also liked the secure handling, roomy interior, and comfortable ride and seats.

The styling, however, compromises outward visibility and some of the interior trim is insubstantial. The suspension is noisy and the car suffered in braking and handling tests because of average tire grip. We don't have reliability information on this new model.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The ride is firm and ride motions are controlled. Most bumps are muted, but the suspension and body shudder over some diagonal bumps and ruts. The engine is a bit noisy under hard acceleration.

In corners, the Magnum is responsive but unremarkable. The steering isn't particularly quick, and some drivers wished for more feedback. The wide 41-foot turning circle is a nuisance when parking. On our track, the Magnum was limited by a lack of tire grip. It struggled through our avoidance maneuver, though its ESC system kept it under control.

The 250-hp, 3.5-liter V6 delivers responsive performance, and returned 19 mpg overall. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts responsively and smoothly. Braking performance was unimpressive. The low-beam headlights had good distance ...