2008 Dodge Magnum Review: Exterior

However, it's not called a station wagon, at least not officially. The EPA classifies it as a sport utility. Dodge calls it a sport tourer. We call it a station wagon. But that doesn't accurately describe it. Some call it a sport wagon, and that's really what it is, a cross between muscle car and station wagon, a hot rod hauler for grown-ups who haven't grown up, or haven't needed to.

For 2008, the grille has been lowered and stretched horizontally to reduce the truck influence. The grille is clearly from the Dodge Ram truck family, but it's smaller, softer and classier. The headlamp units are a nice integrated wedge shape. We like them better than those on the Chrysler 300, a Magnum sibling, which try harder to be retro. The air dam/bumper cover wraps up under the headlamps and grille, and looks impressively beefy and functional. The SRT8 gets a mesh grille insert surrounded by a blockier fascia with a more aggressive air dam and enlarged, brake-cooling ducts.