2026 Dodge Charger

Sixty years ago, Dodge introduced the first-generation Charger a sporty two-door, four-seat, long-hooded transport. The mid 1960's proved a joy ride as the traditional Big Three American automakers played 'can you top this' with the introduction of classic muscle and pony cars. 

Ford Motor Company introduced its diminutive Mustang in 1964 with Chevrolet's Camero in hot pursuit debuting in the 1967 model year. The Sporty Charger, a product of the Dodge division of Chrysler Corporation at that time, arrived sandwiched in the middle (1966) in the battle of affordable horsepower measuring 22 inches longer than Mustang with a gauntlet of V-8 powertrains delivering up to 425 horses.  

A second-generation Charger popped up just two years later as a 1968 selection. A fifth-generation effort ended production in 1987 before the two-door Charger went silent for almost two decades.  

Fast forward to 2026 and the petro-powered Dodge Charger returns in eighth-generation form now offering both two and family-friendly four-door body styles. While the 2026 comeback lacks V-8 punch under hood, a sturdy six cylinder awaits, in the form of a 3.0-liter, inline twin-turbo six-cylinder Hurricane affectionately known as a Six Pack.  

This 3.0-liter engine boasts a rugged audible tone not dissimilar from that of a recently tested 2026 Dodge Durango crossover sporting a 392 Hemi V-8 engine. Both vehicles featured dual exhausts.  

Charger's a head turner. Minutes after arriving for a week's testing, a random, Gen Z traveler got caught circling our no outlet cul-de-sac, but inspiration ensued as she shouted, 'nice car.' Friendly comments and quality queries continued throughout the week.  

Two-door models arrive with a $49,995 starting price while the four-door variant adds $2,000. Potential buyers get to surf through a wide assortments of options and packages. Both look strikingly similar, sharing a common roofline, 206-inch overall length, liftback rear opening, engine choices and front-rear design elements. All trims come standard with all-wheel drive designed with a rear-drive bias capable of delivering 100 percent torque to the rear axle.  

Four trim levels break down as follows: Road and Track (R/T), R/T Plus, Scat Pack and Scat Pack Plus. Two six-cylinder variants await with the standard output 3.0-liter pumping out 420 horsepower in the R/T and R/T Plus and a punched up high output version upping horses to a six-cylinder impressive 550. This high output variant powers Scat Pack and Scat Pack Plus. The standard output powertrain recommends premium 91-octate fuel for optimal performance while the high-output version requires the 91-octane variety.  

Expect below average fuel economy with a six-cylinder engine on board especially if piloting the high-output 550 horsepower engine delivering 16 miles per gallon city and 23 highway. The standard output engine ups those numbers to 17/26 respectively. Gas tank capacity checks in at 17.5 gallons. 

The 2026 incarnation borrows more than a few visual cues from the mid-1960's Gen One classic including a roof reaching its apex just beyond the front A pillar before gently driving downhill and reducing side window length along the way. The long, wavy hood meets up with a brimmed front end where headlights tuck inside a long narrow rectangular lip. Sporty details include flat, flush-mounted door handles and an optional black spoiler at the liftgate's edge enhancing the short deck lid look. The hood includes a non-functioning but visually pleasing scoop with 'six pack' embossed atop. Its uni-body (carlike) underpinnings include a lightweight aluminum hood.  

Side-view mirrors include an optional projection of the 'Dodge' brand name to the pavement when the sunsets and front doors open. The long hatchback includes a power opening feature via a button near the rear-view mirror, but the rather hefty backside requires a manual thump to close. 

Also of note, a returning, three-point, delta-like Fratzog emblem first shown on Charger in 1966 appears in many sizes, forms and functions within this eighth-generation version. In front, a nighttime white illuminated version centers the narrow rectangular front grille while a red rear ring of fire design centers the backside. The triangle designate also adorns, in repeating fashion, an available satin black center stripe stretching from hood to deck lid with pinstripe red outline. 

Our R/T Plus four-door trim with triple nickel exterior paint (a variant of blue-sliver) and 420 horsepower engine started at $51,995. A series of stand-alone and packaged options plus the $1,995 destination charge upped the bottom line to $67,160.  

Stand-alone options include the aforementioned exterior paint ($695), recommended full-glass roof ($1,395) and 18-speaker upgrade ($1,795). Packages include a $4,995 Customer Preference Package (heated front/second-row seats, 16-inch color instrument display, heads up display and front/rear park sensors; $1,295 blacktop package (dual rear exhaust with black tips, dark exterior badging and finally $2,995 performance package- (Brembo brakes, 12-way power front bucket high-back seats with lumbar support and performance suspension).  

The race-car-inspired steering wheel includes a flat bottom and top connected via semi-circular side grabs. Radar-enhanced cruise control, allowing the vehicle to automatically slow and speed with minimal driver input based in part measuring the distance of the vehicle ahead, activates from the wheel's 3 o'clock spoke. The left, 9 o'clock wing includes a button activating multiple window choices within the animated 16-inch instrument panel. Below this wing resides a separate tab for selecting one of several modes (Sport, Auto, Custom and Wet/Snow). 

These options appear in the multi-function center screen when selecting via the steering wheel appendage. When ordering up rear-wheel drive, one selects the 'sport' mode from the screen, then hit the 'rwd' option to engage the high-performance front axle disconnect system utilizing an electromagnetic clutch inside the transfer case to manage torque split. This rear-wheel drive opportunity provides Charger the necessary muscle car performance without sacrificing all-wheel drive when needed during Chicagoland's snowfall season. Plus, it's seamless and simple to operate.  

The digital IP features hot rod red highlights along with a digital speedometer in all layouts. In one selection the digital readout ensconces inside a circular analog-style version. A secondary optional navigation map also runs through one panel selection in addition to the duplicate inside the tough-sensitive infotainment screen. 

The eight-speed automatic transmission shifter between front buckets dons a pistol grip design with bright red illuminated reminders (PRND-L) atop. The electronic start-stop oval-like button resides just to the rear. To the right, dual inline cup holders. An optional, single, flat-resting wireless Smartphone charger resides upfront under a row of buttons including traction control deactivation and engine start/stop idle deactivation.  

Also in this area, Charger's 'launch control' motivating straight-line drag-race-style performance. Best to call up the sport mode from the steering wheel tab, press the launch control button, hold the brake with the left foot and rev the six-banger with the right. A prompt within the instrument panel guides drivers as to proper time to lift the left foot and enjoy some zero to 60 mph G-force in under five seconds.  

With the rear latch open, the long, flat floor accommodates a standard size golf bag without the need to manually fold down second row seatbacks. Row two seatbacks manually fall flat upon the cushions with a 60/40 split once topside tabs activate. While row one includes ceiling handles above doors, row two goes without. Those entering/exiting the second row need to duck as the sloping roof line comes into head play. 

Dodge classified this eighth-generation Charger as a full-sizer with row two able to handle three folks (if needed) thanks in part to a small vertical transmission hump down the floor's middle. Think of Charger as the family sedan for the roaring 20s.  

Optional black high-back leatherette/suede front seats incorporate the headrest into the seatback framing, narrowing towards the top featuring dual red stitching as does the higher plains of the multi-level dashboard. The lower levels include white and red dual stitching.  

Uconnect 5, Jeep's fifth-generation (and newest version) U-connect, promises five times faster processing speed (thanks to six gigabytes of Random Access Memory) welcoming wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay interactivity and sharper graphics than previous generations. A 12.3-inch In-dash multi-function, rectangular flat touch screen arrives standard and jets up from a mid-section platform. The HVAC controls build into screen selections or for quicker results, a below-screen sill includes press-sensitive icon commands summoning dual front temperature selections, front/rear window defrosters along with fan speed and direction.  

A horizontal icon menu framing the screen's left side quickens the pace. Press the 'Vehicle' icon and three options, including an 'attitude adjustment' selection welcoming a spectrum of huge color swaths onto side doors and the upper dash. It's a bolder statement compared with conventional, narrow pen-lighting.  

Built into the system, the industry's best secondary steering wheel controls with finger-tip managed toggle-like buttons on the wheel's 'behind' side making volume and station selections simple while letting fingertips do the walking. It's one of the industry's best secondary-audio adjustment designs. 

During our time together, Uconnect 5 performed as advertised with little lag from selection to reaction sporting a relatively logical nesting design. 

The steering column simplifies efforts utilizing just one stalk which protrudes from the left side controlling the front windshield wiper and turn signal blinkers. Charger continues sans a rear wiper clearing the sizeable and pound-heavy liftback window.  

All four doors open from the inside via an electronic push button along the lower portion. All doors carry a little extra weight compared to conventional sedans and sedan-like competitors (as the number of sedan selections continues to narrow). 

This ninth-generation Dodge Charger earned the highly coveted 2026 'North American Car of the Year' award handed out every January prior to the start of the Detroit International Auto Show. This honor carries additional prestige as 50 independent jury of journalistic professionals throughout the Unites States and Canada collectively cast their votes. Scores of other annual honors from for-profit web sites or publications can't match the cache.  

For those thirsting V-8 oomph inside Chargers, loosely guarded plans center around a Charger SRT Hellcat returning with a 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 in the 2028 model year. It's also of note that prior to the inline six-cylinder Charger 2026 launch, an all-electric EV version entered the fray starting in the 2024 model year born as the two-door Dodge Charger Daytona EV.  

Quick Spin: 2026 Dodge Charger Six Pack four-door 
Price as tested: $67,160 
Engine: 3.0-litre inline twin turbo 
Horsepower: 420 
Wheelbase: 121 inches 
Overall Lenth: 206.6 inches 
Overall Width: 79.8 inches 
Overall Height: 59.0 inches 
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city, 26 mpg highway 
Curb Weight: 4,741 pounds 
Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles 
Assembly: Winsor, Canada