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2026 Chevrolet Tahoe ReviewDodge Magnum SRT-8 is Muscle Wagon Perfection
Don’t let the odd proportions fool you, this Dodge Magnum SRT-8 is the ultimate sleeper wagon with a Hemi under the hood and cargo room to spare.
The Ultimate Mopar Wagon
Car journalists and automotive writers have universal soft spots for two specific cars, the Mazda Miata and the Mercedes-Benz E-class wagon. The latter is beloved by the cognoscenti because it represents the ultimate no compromise vehicle. It’s both brutally quick and capable of doing all the kid hauling and grocery getting that your typical muscle car makes next to impossible. Way back in 2019, when I first wrote about the Dodge Magnum, I was only dimly aware of the car’s niche appeal. It’s basically an American E-wagon, right? A muscle car with a load of cargo space.
It quickly became clear upon publishing that initial article that the Magnum was so much more. The Magnum fanbase, it turns out, is a deeply devoted cohort. Comments poured in not only extoling the Magnum’s perfect balance of power and practicality, but also its unique Mopar character. The Magnum shares its basic DNA with the Chrysler 300 and sixth-gen Dodge Charger, and yet its lead sled low profile and long rear end give it a distinctive profile all its own.
Today, most Dodge Magnums on the used market will run you about $7,000 to $8,000. A select few, however, are significantly more expensive, commanding prices five times higher. Those few are the Hemi-equipped SRT-8s. They are basically the last word in Dodge Magnums, both literally and figuratively. It turns out we had only a few SRT-8s on Carsforsale.com but there was one we felt was worth highlighting, a 2016 model in fantastic condition and sporting a few key modifications.
What Makes the Dodge Magnum SRT-8 Special
The Dodge Magnum is instantly recognizable. That probably accounts for my intuition that there are a lot of them out there. It feels like I see them all the time. And yet the Magnum saw only four years of production from 2005 through 2008 (not to be confused with the original 1970s Dodge Magnum). Like many other cars and even brands of the time, the Magnum ended up as collateral damage as the Great Recession upended the automotive industry.
Those versions of the Magnum that now cost $7,000 today are mostly V6s. In fact, the Magnum’s standard motor was a 2.7L V6 with a mere 190 horsepower; no thank you, sir. The SXT has a slightly larger 3.5L V6 and optional all-wheel drive courtesy of Mercedes-Benz lending their 4Matic system to the Dodge wagon. The R/T was powered by the 5.7L Hemi which was good enough for 340 horsepower, decent but not proper Mopar numbers.
That’s why for the second model year Dodge bored and stroked the Hemi to 6.1L for the new SRT-8. In addition to greater displacement, Dodge tweaked the motor with a new forged crank, a billet cam, a unique oil pan, and hollow valve stems. The mods allowed the Hemi to now make a Mopar-worthy 425 horsepower from the factory.
The 2008 model was poised to take the Magnum to the next level with a facelifted front end that included new headlights and an air-gulping hood scoop for the SRT-8, but, thanks to the financial calamity, it instead proved a worthy swan song for the Mopar muscle wagon.
This Magnum SRT-8
Though increasingly rare, you can still find Magnum SRT-8s in good condition, some, like this 2006 even sport major upgrades. This car runs the original 6.1L Hemi V8. Its original 425 horsepower is supplemented by a Vortec supercharger, which we assume adds significantly to the car’s overall output (the seller declined to specify in the listing).
Other performance features include dual exhaust and Brembo brakes. Added tech includes a Boston Acoustics stereo and touchscreen navigation. The car comes in a “Brilliant Black Crystal” (a.k.a. black) with a “Dark Slate/Light Graystone” (a.k.a. gray) interior. Note the SRT-8’s heavily bolstered leather seats and spacious interior that includes 27 cu.-ft. of cargo, which expands to 72 cu.-ft with the rear seats folded down.
Priced at $32,995, this 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 calls out to those who refuse to compromise or capitulate by settling for an SUV. The SRT-8 says no, you can have your cake and eat it. Go fast, make that Costco run, take the family street racing if it moves you. The Magnum SRT-8 is here for it.
