2026 Dodge Charger Overview: The American Muscle Car Reborn
The 2026 Dodge Charger isn’t a refresh — it’s a full reinvention. Named the 2026 North American Car of the Year, the eighth-generation Charger arrives with twin-turbo gas power, an all-electric flagship, and the return of the four-door body style for the first time in years. For Ontario, CA shoppers who grew up with the Charger nameplate or are discovering it for the first time, this is the most ambitious version Dodge has ever built. Here’s what the 2026 Charger is, where it fits in the muscle-car landscape, and what makes it worth a second look.
At Jeep Chrysler Dodge RAM FIAT of Ontario, our team has been working with the new Charger since launch and can help Inland Empire shoppers cut through the noise. This overview covers what’s actually new for 2026, how the gas and electric variants compare at a high level, and the real-world numbers that matter — range, performance, technology, safety. When you’re ready to go trim-by-trim, that’s a separate conversation we’re glad to have on the showroom floor.
The 2026 Charger Lineup: Pricing and Trims
For 2026, the Charger is offered in six trim levels across two distinct powertrains. Every trim is available as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan — the sedan returns to the Charger lineup for the first time in years, making this the rare muscle car you can actually use as a family vehicle.
Starting MSRP by Trim and Body Style
| Trim | Powertrain | 2-Door MSRP* | 4-Door MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charger R/T | 3.0L SIXPACK S.O. (Gas) — 420 hp | $49,995 | $51,995 |
| Charger R/T Plus | 3.0L SIXPACK S.O. (Gas) — 420 hp | $54,990 | $56,990 |
| Charger Scat Pack | 3.0L SIXPACK H.O. (Gas) — 550 hp | $54,995 | $56,995 |
| Charger Scat Pack Plus | 3.0L SIXPACK H.O. (Gas) — 550 hp | $59,985 | $61,985 |
| Charger Daytona Scat Pack | Dual-Motor EV — 670 hp peak | $59,995 | $61,995 |
*Estimated MSRP excludes $1,995 destination charge, taxes, title, registration, and dealer fees. Pricing is subject to change. See dealer for current details.
The R/T is positioned by Dodge as the most affordable AWD muscle car in America. The Plus variants of the R/T and Scat Pack add premium content — eight-way power seats, 64-color Attitude Adjustment lighting, premium LED headlamps, head-up display, surround-view camera, and additional convenience features — without changing the underlying powertrain. The Daytona Scat Pack is a single EV trim for 2026, with optional packages (Track Pack, Blacktop, Carbon & Suede) used to tailor the configuration.
Engines and Drivetrain: Gas, Electric, and the Smartest AWD in Muscle
The 2026 Charger’s powertrain story is the biggest news on the lineup. There are two paths — and within the gas path, two power levels.
Powertrain Specs at a Glance
| Trim | Engine / Motor | Horsepower | Torque | Transmission | 0–60 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R/T / R/T Plus | 3.0L Twin-Turbo SIXPACK S.O. I6 | 420 hp | 468 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic | 4.6 sec |
| Scat Pack / Scat Pack Plus | 3.0L Twin-Turbo SIXPACK H.O. I6 | 550 hp | 531 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic | 3.9 sec |
| Daytona Scat Pack | Dual-Motor 400V EV | Up to 670 hp* | 627 lb-ft | Single-speed (EV) | 3.3 sec |
*Daytona Scat Pack delivers 630 hp standard and up to 670 hp with the PowerShot button or Drag Mode for short bursts.
AWD When You Need It, RWD When You Want It
Every 2026 Charger comes standard with all-wheel drive — not four-wheel drive. The distinction matters: AWD distributes torque between front and rear axles automatically based on traction, with no high/low transfer case. What makes the SIXPACK Charger unique in the muscle segment is the Direct Connection RWD button — push it on the steering wheel and the system sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels for traditional muscle-car burnouts and drift-mode dynamics. The standard front-axle disconnect on AWD models also helps with everyday fuel economy when full traction isn’t needed.
The Daytona Scat Pack uses a different setup: dual electric motors (one per axle) producing standard AWD with adaptive damping. Drag Mode, Track Mode, Drift Mode, and even Donut Mode are all selectable from the drive-mode menu.
Two-Door Coupe or Four-Door Sedan (A 2026 First)
The single biggest practical change for 2026: the Charger sedan is back. After more than a decade as a four-door-only nameplate, then a two-door-only EV, the eighth-generation Charger is offered in both body styles across every trim. The four-door adds $2,000 to the base MSRP.
| Body Style | Max Cargo Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Door Coupe | 37.4 cu ft | 22.8 cu ft seats up; 37.4 cu ft seats folded |
| 4-Door Sedan | 38.5 cu ft (Best-in-Class) | Achieved with rear seats up — Dodge’s headline cargo figure |
The “hidden hatch” liftback layout is one of the Charger’s best-kept secrets — the rear isn’t a traditional sedan trunk but a hatchback that opens to a usable cargo area. Dodge calls the four-door’s 38.5 cu ft seats-up volume Best-in-Class — 133% more cargo room than the previous-generation Charger sedan. (Worth noting: the 4-door’s seats-up cargo volume exceeds the coupe’s seats-folded volume, which is why Dodge leads with the seats-up figure as the headline number.) For Inland Empire families weighing whether a muscle car can replace a daily driver, the 4-door sedan is the configuration to look at.
Inside the Cabin: Tech and Comfort
The 2026 Charger’s cockpit is built around a free-standing 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen angled toward the driver, paired with a 10.25-inch standard digital instrument cluster. Plus trims upgrade the cluster to a 16-inch display and add a head-up display projecting key info onto the windshield.
Interior Tech Highlights
| Feature | Standard | Available |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen | All trims | — |
| 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster | R/T, Scat Pack, Daytona Scat Pack | — |
| 16-inch digital instrument cluster | R/T Plus, Scat Pack Plus | Available on Daytona Scat Pack |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | All trims | — |
| Wi-Fi hotspot | All trims | — |
| 64-color Attitude Adjustment lighting | R/T Plus, Scat Pack Plus | — |
| Head-up display | R/T Plus, Scat Pack Plus | — |
| Alpine 18-speaker premium audio with subwoofer | — | R/T Plus, Scat Pack Plus, Daytona Scat Pack |
| Panoramic glass roof | — | R/T Plus, Scat Pack Plus, Daytona Scat Pack |
| Carbon & Suede package | — | Scat Pack Plus, Daytona Scat Pack |
Every Charger seats five and shares the same 206.6-inch overall length, with the 4-door sedan sitting marginally taller than the coupe. The pistol-grip shifter, flat-top/flat-bottom heated steering wheel, and tiered dash carry the muscle-car DNA into a modern interior.
Performance Packages and Track-Ready Hardware
For Inland Empire shoppers who want to push the car beyond stoplight launches, Dodge offers performance packages that meaningfully upgrade the chassis.
| Package | Available On | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Handling Group | R/T, R/T Plus | Brembo six-piston front brakes, performance suspension, 20×10-inch wheels with wider rubber, Launch Control, Line Lock, Performance Pages, rear spoiler |
| Track Package | Daytona Scat Pack | Red Brembo six-piston front / four-piston rear calipers, Dual-Valve Adaptive Damping, 20×11-inch satin carbon wheels, gloss-black performance spoiler, Launch Control, Drive eXperience Recorder, heated 12-way power performance seats |
| Blacktop Package | All trims | Dark exterior badging, Blacknoise wheels, black exhaust tips |
The Track Package on the Daytona Scat Pack is the most aggressive setup in the lineup — 380mm front rotors, staggered 305/325 wide tires, and adaptive damping tuned for circuit work. Independent tests have measured the Daytona Scat Pack at 3.5 seconds 0–60 with consistent 11.5–11.7 second quarter-mile times, in line with Dodge’s own claims.
Daytona Scat Pack: EV Range and Charging
If you’re considering the all-electric Daytona Scat Pack, the practical numbers matter as much as the horsepower headline.
| Spec | Standard | With Track Package |
|---|---|---|
| EPA-Estimated Range | 241 miles | 223 miles |
| Battery Capacity | 100.5 kWh (93.9 kWh usable) | 100.5 kWh (93.9 kWh usable) |
| DC Fast Charging Peak | ~183 kW (400V architecture) | ~183 kW |
| 20%–80% DC Fast Charge | ~24 minutes | ~24 minutes |
| Level 2 Home Charging | Up to 11 kW | Up to 11 kW |
EPA-Estimated range; actual range will vary based on driving conditions, climate, vehicle configuration, and driving habits.
For Ontario-area commuters who can charge at home, the Daytona’s range comfortably covers daily driving and weekend trips around Southern California. The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system — the Daytona’s signature synthesized soundtrack — adds the auditory presence muscle-car buyers expect from a Dodge.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Every 2026 Charger comes standard with a comprehensive driver-assistance suite, no upgrade required:
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning
- Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Drowsy Driver Detection
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- Multiple front, side, and curtain airbags
- Electronic Stability Control with hill hold
A surround-view 360-degree camera system is standard on Plus trims. NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores for the 2026 model year had not been published at the time of writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the SIXPACK and the Daytona?
SIXPACK refers to the gas-powered 2026 Chargers — R/T, R/T Plus, Scat Pack, and Scat Pack Plus — all of which use a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. Daytona refers to the all-electric Charger, sold for 2026 as a single trim — the Daytona Scat Pack — with optional Track, Blacktop, and Carbon & Suede packages. If “Daytona” is in the name, it’s electric.
Does every 2026 Charger come in two-door and four-door?
Yes. Every trim — R/T, R/T Plus, Scat Pack, Scat Pack Plus, and Daytona Scat Pack — is offered in both two-door coupe and four-door sedan configurations. The four-door adds approximately $2,000 to the base MSRP.
Is the AWD system the same on the gas and electric Chargers?
The drivetrain hardware differs, but the principle is similar. SIXPACK trims use a mechanical AWD system with a Direct Connection RWD button that sends 100% of torque to the rear axle on demand — Dodge calls these the world’s only AWD muscle cars with selectable RWD. The Daytona uses dual electric motors (one per axle) for AWD with electronic torque distribution.
What’s the EPA-estimated range on the Daytona Scat Pack?
The 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack is EPA-Estimated at 241 miles of range in standard configuration, dropping to 223 miles when equipped with the Track Package and its wider, stickier tires. Actual range will vary with driving conditions and configuration.
Why Shop the 2026 Charger at Jeep Chrysler Dodge RAM FIAT of Ontario?
The 2026 Charger lineup is genuinely complex — five trims, two powertrains, two body styles, and a long list of optional packages. Our team can walk you through the differences in person, line up a test drive across the trims you’re considering, and help you figure out whether the SIXPACK R/T, the Scat Pack H.O., or the Daytona EV fits your driving life.
We serve customers across Ontario, Corona, Norco, Claremont, West Covina, and Riverside, with the full Dodge muscle lineup on the lot at 1202 Auto Center Dr. When you’re ready to see the new Charger in person, give our sales team a call or stop in.
Visit us at 1202 Auto Center Dr, Ontario, CA 91761.
Pricing shown reflects manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and excludes $1,995 destination charge, taxes, title, license, registration, and dealer fees. MSRP is subject to change. EPA-Estimated range figures shown for the Daytona Scat Pack; actual range will vary with driving conditions, climate, vehicle configuration, and driving habits. Performance figures (0–60 mph, quarter-mile) are manufacturer claims under ideal test conditions; actual performance will vary. Financing is subject to credit approval; see dealer for terms. See dealer for complete pricing, specifications, and current incentive availability.