Muscle cars have been dabbling in yoga lately. These are the powerhouse vehicles that go from point A to point B as fast as a rocket but that in the past have handled curves about as well as a buffalo on roller skates. Other niceties have always been subordinate to what's under the hood. Why worry about a quiet ride or a slick interior when that's money that could kick horsepower up a few notches?

Evidently, muscleheads expect more these days. Pontiac was panned when its new GTO turned out to be little more than a big engine in a cheap suit. Ford learned that lesson. Its new Mustang GT roars like a lion and races like a gazelle, but it also handles the curves nicely and has some retro styling that sets it apart. And now the Dodge Charger adds a bit of grace to the class. This is Dodge's version of the hugely successful Chrysler 300, though it's a smart knockoff: Instead of just tweaking a few corners and slapping a different badge on the body, Dodge developed an original exterior that is fresh and bold and complements Dodge's image as the bad-boy carmaker that tried to sponsor the "Lingerie Bowl" on Super Bowl Sunday a couple of years ago.

And there are some subtle surprises. First, the Charger is a well-mannered tenant of the highway. The ride is quiet, of all things–evidence of good engineering and attention paid to finer points like engine insulation and vibration damping. The seats are comfortable. The armrests are soft and inviting. The interior shies away from pretense, with a crisp dash that contains only what's needed. That's a welcome respite from some of the flimsy gadgets meant to evoke Indy or Le Mans on a lot of other so-called sports cars.

The nod to the track is mostly beneath the sheet metal. Speed demons can get whatever fix they need by opting for one of Chrysler's popular "Hemi" V-8 engines, offering either 340, 350, or 425 horsepower. (Hemi prices start at about $30,000) The base engine is pretty feisty, too. The 250-horsepower V-6 that I tested qualifies as a fit middleweight, as powerful as some V-8s. For a relatively big car, the Charger holds curves well, and a tight turning radius gives it a pliant feel. It holds its power well, giving the driver a solid sense of control. Your mother, or grandmother, probably would never go shopping for this car. But she'd enjoy driving it–whenever she could talk the men in the family into handing over the keys.