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630
1 speed, Automatic
Electric
All Wheel Drive
The Dodge Charger always comes to mind when you think of a muscle car. Indeed, this storied nameplate had some challenging moments in the 1970s and '80s, when fuel efficiency took precedence. However, I prefer to remember the iconic Hemi-powered coupes from the late 1960s or the high-performance supercharged Hellcats from a few years ago. Now, there is an exciting future for the eighth-generation Charger, which continues the iconic style and performance with a powerful, efficient electric powertrain, making this modern-day muscle car even more impressive.
Photo: Perry Stern
Dodge introduced the new Charger Daytona just a few years ago, and for the 2026 model year, a four-door sedan joins the two-door coupe lineup. The more affordable R/T is no longer available; all variants are now high-performance Scat Packs.
The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona comes in two versions: the Scat Pack two-door and the Scat Pack four-door. The starting price is approximately $62,000, including the destination charge, with the four-door model adding $2,000 to this amount.
For this 2026 Charger Daytona review, Dodge provided a test vehicle equipped with the Scat Pack trim in Dexter, Michigan (outside of Detroit). It had the following significant options:
The test vehicle's manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $80,455, including the $1,995 destination charge to ship the electric sedan from the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant to your dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Dodge manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Perry Stern
There is no mistaking the Charger Daytona for anything else on the road. Styling cues from its historic past blend with modern lighting and aerodynamics to create a true contemporary muscle car. Surprisingly, the new four-door has nearly identical interior and exterior dimensions as the two-door, with the same roofline. The only difference is the addition of rear doors.
With the expectation of a performance-focused interior to match the exterior design, I was not disappointed. The steering wheel immediately grabs your attention with its flat top and bottom, contrasting stitching, and straightforward controls and buttons. The stitching extends onto the dashboard, seats, doors, and center console, with carbon-fiber-like appliques and suede accents that enhance the sporty, premium appearance.
Pressing the Start button on the center console powers up the Charger, with customizable ambient lighting that surrounds the cabin. The 16-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen illuminate, giving the Charger a modern, high-tech feel. There are soft-touch controls located below the screen for quick access to climate settings, however it is disappointing that the entire panel shifts when you press a single button.
Most controls are located on the screen or dashboard, and the center console provides space for a wireless smartphone charger, cupholders, and extra storage for smaller items. A sizable storage bin located below the armrest enhances the cabin's practicality.
My test vehicle featured high-back performance seats upholstered in a combination of leather and suede. With a stylish pattern that enhances the car's sporty look, the seats provide excellent support through supportive bolstering. Although they are a bit stiff at first, the multiple power adjustments and good padding make them comfortable on long drives.
With the addition of rear doors, entering the sedan's back seat is much easier than doing the same in the coupe. The seats feature styling similar to those up front. With ample legroom and headroom, the rear seats offer plenty of space for at least two adults. The middle seat is functional, but it might feel cramped due to limited legroom.
The Charger Daytona has a large power-operated rear hatch that opens for easy access to the cargo area. With nearly 23 cubic feet of storage, there is plenty of space for a few suitcases or a week's worth of groceries. The rear seats fold flat to increase the cargo capacity to 37.4 cubic feet. The optional frunk is relatively small, making it probably best suited for carrying the charging cord.
Photo: Perry Stern
All variants of the 2026 Charger Daytona come equipped with Uconnect 5, Dodge's latest infotainment system. Shown on the large 12.3-inch touchscreen, Uconnect 5 features a clean design that is easy to use.
Uconnect 5 offers:
There is enough real estate to display multiple tiles on the easily programmable Home page. Swiping left or right brings up additional customizable pages, or all apps can be accessed via the shortcut on the left side of the screen. Shortcuts to vehicle settings, navigation, climate, media, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay also remain static on the screen. I was pleased to see that there are physical knobs for volume and tuning.
Connecting my Samsung Galaxy S23+ via Bluetooth was quick and easy, and Android Auto started immediately. The system integrates smoothly, and I appreciate that the native shortcuts stay on the left.
For drivers eager to fully explore the dynamic abilities of the Challenger Daytona, Dodge provides Performance Pages. These screens show various performance metrics, including gauges, a g-force meter, and propulsion information, along with an engaging timer page. Drivers can measure acceleration to 60 and 100 mph as well as braking distance, adding an element of fun to the driving experience.
Photo: Perry Stern
A dual-motor electric drivetrain powers the Charger Daytona Scat Pack, delivering a standard 630 horsepower (670 with the Power Shot button; more on that later) and 627 pound-feet of torque. Dodge says that this is enough power to accelerate the sedan to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, and the Charger Daytona will pass the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds. The top speed is limited to 135 mph.
For comparison, the previous-generation Charger Hellcat Redeye produced 797 hp, and although it was slightly slower to 60 mph, it had a top speed exceeding 200 mph.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Sedan is estimated to achieve 72 MPGe, with an anticipated driving range of 223 miles. With a full charge of its 100.5-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack, my test vehicle reached a range of 212 miles. During my test, the trip computer indicated 0.4 kWh/mile, or 84 MPGe. By comparison, that 200-mph Charger Hellcat Redeye had a fuel economy rating of 15 mpg combined.
The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system is one of the features designed to distinguish the Charger and position it as an electric muscle car. While it does not replicate the deep V8 exhaust sound typically associated with muscle cars, it provides a roar at startup, a burble at idle, and a sound that varies with the vehicle's speed.
As a fan of a true exhaust note, I appreciate the concept behind this system, but it did not work for me. The sound is too much like a video game, and passersby even mocked the sound when I started the Charger. Some owners will love the soundtrack, but for those who do not, there is a Stealth Mode setting that silences the exterior sound.
However, the Charger Daytona does not need simulated sound to act like a muscle car. Full throttle from a stop will spin all four wheels briefly before the big sedan surges forward with incredible acceleration. I had to be careful getting on the highway, as the Charger would quickly surpass the posted limit. Throttle response is immediate, and even from 70 mph, a quick stab of the right pedal will throw you back in the seat.
With grippy tires and all-wheel drive, the Charger Daytona Sedan displays fairly good handling, and the steering response is quick and direct. However, the large sedan weighs over 5,800 pounds, and at higher speeds, it can be challenging to get that much mass to turn quickly. Luckily, the six-piston Brembo brakes (four pistons in the rear) provide excellent stopping power, easily bringing the Charger down from higher speeds.
When I first climbed into the Charger Daytona, I noticed the Power Shot button on the steering wheel. For enthusiasts who enjoy vintage arcade-style driving games, this is like the turbo boost button. One press of the button grants you 40 extra horsepower for 10 seconds, for a total of 670, accompanied by fun graphics on the screen that display a countdown until the effect is gone. There is already so much power available that the additional 40 hp is barely noticeable, but it is still a fun party trick.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona is equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include:
The Charger Daytona also comes standard with Active Driving Assist, the brand's semi-autonomous driving system. Active Driving Assist utilizes ACC and lane centering to maintain the Charger at a set speed and a predetermined distance from the vehicle ahead, while providing steering input to keep the car centered in its lane.
While driving toward Detroit on Interstate 94, I activated the system using the steering wheel controls and set the speed to the posted limit of 70 mph. The steering wheel icon on the driver display indicated that the system was active.
While Active Driving Assist lacks advanced features like automatic lane change or hands-free operation, it functions smoothly. It gently slows the vehicle when approaching a slower vehicle and quickly returns to the set speed once that car is out of the way. The system kept the Charger in its lane even through curvy highway sections with minimal corrections.
At the time of writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crashworthiness ratings for the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona.
While the four-door Charger Daytona stands alone, the Ford Mustang and Tesla Model S can be considered its competitors.
According to verified owners, the Charger Daytona earns an award as the highest-ranked model in its segment in the 2025 ALG Residual Value Awards.
