I’ve been waiting for this moment. In my hot little hand, the keyfob to the first 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack available in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The first time I’ve been allowed to drive one. No salesman coming with me. Just myself and the very polarizing yet very potent heavy-hitter within Stellantis’ offerings.
I had video in my hands before the embargo lifted when this version of the Dodge Charger debuted in Detroit as the all-electric muscle car. I saw it in person at the SEMA show. I wrote it off entirely – an electric muscle car? It had to be the dawn of the second Malaise era, I resolved, but it would be okay. I’ve got my barge to work on, and there are plenty of Scat Packs, R/Ts, Hellcats and even final-year 300C SRTs out there if I really want that fix, plus the Mustangs and Holden imports that GM brought over. We all watched as Carlos Tavares seemed to be gutting the soul out of Dodge, one Hemi at a time. It was difficult to not breathe a sigh of relief when we ordered a Hemi-powered Ram 1500 a couple of years back, aware that the company that had been leading the charge for modern muscle was about to be neutered. Getting the twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six instead of the electric powertrain was a step in the right direction, and the rumor mill is busy about a V8 returning sooner than later.
No more waiting. No more guessing. Time to see what it is really like.
How big is the 2026 Dodge Charger?
Right off the bat, let’s address the size of the car. It’s big. Properly big. In fact, it’s big enough to compare it to my 1976 Dodge Charger Daytona:
- My Charger is 77.8 inches wide. The 2026 Charger is 79.8 inches wide.
- My Charger is about 214 inches long. The 2026 Charger is 207 inches. Please keep in mind that difference could simply be adjusted by ditching the railroad bumpers on my car.
- My Charger is 77.8 inches wide. The 2026 Charger is 79.8 inches wide.
- My Charger weighs in at (roughly) 4,200 pounds. The 2026 Charger with the inline-six is about 4,800 pounds. A 2023 Challenger with the 392 is pushing 4,300 pounds. The electric Charger weighs in at nearly 6,000 pounds.
I’ve driven modern Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers, Challengers, and the Holden imports. The Mopars and the Holdens fit well, while the Mustang and Camaro feel like smaller sports cars. Compared, the new Charger is roomy beyond roomy, yet it doesn’t quite feel like you drown in the interior like you would any 1970s-era personal luxury coupe. The seats are great, they adjust as much as you could possibly want, and the tilt/telescopic wheel helps. I’m not a fan of the tablets functioning as gauges and the infotainment center look, but I’ve seen worse. The big size is more impressive when you move rearward: a useful backseat in a 2-door and a huge hatchback area:
Buyers will be able to pick between 2-door looks and four-door utility, but the seating and space arrangement is the same in either format. The backseat is just fine for adults, but I’m looking at how big that space is with the seats folded. Say it with me: f**k your SUV. That alone chalks up a win for the Charger.
What is the 2026 Dodge Charger like to drive?
There may have been a cheer when Dodge agreed to shove in the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter “Hurricane” inline-sixes into the Charger, but that cheer came with an asterisk. It’s not a Hemi. It’s not a V8. The internet peanut gallery spoke: “We’re glad it’s not electric-only, but a six cylinder can’t replace Hemis and Hellcats. It just can’t.” And while I know it’s possible, even I have to admit that it just isn’t quite the same going from that thumping bassline to the rorty hum of the Hurricane.
That being said, don’t write this engine off. This tester has the 550-horsepower H.O. version of the engine. Given the fact that I got the keyfob with no resistance (and not believing my luck), I didn’t spend time messing around with things like Sport Mode or any of that. There are plenty of reviews and YouTube videos if you want to hear the car at full performance. As it was, I couldn’t help but hear a little bit of cammed-up Buick Grand National in the tone – it’s a six, sure, but there is a gravelly edge to the exhaust note that your ears pick up. Around town at lower speeds, the automatic pops through the gears with purpose and other than that little edge to the sound and some quiet turbo noise, it’s gentle. Inside, the car doesn’t feel as big as the dimensions suggest. If it wasn’t for Friday night traffic looky-loos who kept trying to merge into me for a better look at the newest car in traffic, I would’ve been perfectly comfortable.
Soon enough I found myself at my favorite on-ramp, the same one I used on my Hellcat Charger drive years ago. At half-throttle, I was disappointed – where’s the turbo shove? Where’s the wheelspin? Where’s the six-cylinder yowl? Then I looked at the speedometer, realized I was beyond “expensive ticket” and deep into arrest and felony charges territory, and gave the Brembo brakes a test. This entire paragraph, from turning onto on-ramp to “Oh, f**k, slow down!” was done in about fifteen seconds. It might not have involved the half-life of the rear tires and didn’t sound like Satan’s favorite metal concert in the process, but I assure you that the new Charger gains speed with alarming calmness. 3.9-second 0-60 MPH with all-wheel-drive engaged? Believe it.
Final Thoughts
The latest Charger’s gestation has been very rocky. The electric version was received with a Bronx cheer. The internet pundits have blasted it from every direction – too big, still too many doors, etc. – and for many, the lack of eight cylinders is enough to say no. I understand their points. But until I drove this car I wasn’t going to say anything professionally about it. Now I have and here’s where I’m at: I’d buy it. Straight-up. Even with the high likelihood of a Hemi showing up, I wouldn’t kick this car out of my driveway at all. Per the Monroney, this car’s MSRP comes to $59,480 (yet another peanut gallery bitching point) after adding the only two options on this car: the Blacktop appearance package ($1,295) and the 20-inch wheel/tire package ($1,195), plus the $1,995 destination charge.
My only regret is that I only got eight miles with this beast. Hey, Dodge: any chance we can get a long-term loaner?
