2026 Dodge Charger review: An emotional drive

I swore I’d never drive a Dodge Charger again.

My dad worked at Stellantis’s Brampton Assembly Plant for nearly 30 years, which means he helped build thousands of Dodge Chargers and Challengers. After he died in 2017, I decided I’d never drive one again that I knew without doubt hadn’t been touched by his hands.

I made one exception when Stellantis let me spec the last Dodge Charger media fleet car that rolled off the Brampton line. It was a beautiful way to honour my dad and his thousands of hardworking colleagues.

In this 2026 Dodge Charger review, you’ll read about my first time behind the wheel of the new eighth-generation car. It’s still assembled in Canada, though now it’s built in Windsor, Ontario. This Charger, launched for 2025 in electric vehicle format and in the gas-powered form seen here for 2026, has almost nothing in common with the version built in Brampton. I therefore decided it’s not at all the same car as the Charger my dad built, so it was time to get back behind the wheel. (But driving it still brought up plenty of emotions, of course.)

For one very entertaining summer week, I drove the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack Scat Pack Plus on roads near my home in Toronto as well as on a road trip to a race weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The car was provided on temporary loan for the purpose of this review by Dodge Canada. Have questions about the 2026 Dodge Charger? Ask the automotive experts in our Road Trips in Canada Facebook community!

2026 Dodge Charger review: pros and cons

Pros

• Excellent power and delivery
• Practical as a daily driver
• Standard all-wheel drive

Cons

• Steering could be tighter
• Some tech is mildly frustrating
• No longer a budget-friendly offering

What’s new on the 2026 Dodge Charger?

The Dodge Charger was fully redesigned for 2025 when it was released as an electric vehicle under the name Dodge Charger Daytona. The V6-powered version, known as the Dodge Charger Sixpack, is new for the 2026 model year.

For the eighth generation, the Charger nameplate covers both the two-door coupe and four-door sedan. The Challenger nameplate that was used previously for the two-door version has been retired, at least for now (not that you’d know it from the number of times I reflexively typed and deleted it while writing this review).

What competes with the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack?

With the Chevrolet Camaro on hiatus, the Dodge Charger’s only direct competitor is the Ford Mustang. While the new Charger is offered with both two and four doors and as an EV, the Mustang remains two-doored and gas-powered only with turbocharged four-cylinder and naturally aspirated V8 engines. (That is, unless you want to count the Ford Mustang Mach-e — which is a rather fraught discussion.) The Camaro is reportedly due to make a comeback before the end of the decade, potentially also with a four-door version.

How much power does the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack have?

The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack uses Stellantis’s Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder engine. It has two different levels of power output: 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque in standard-output format as seen in the R/T, or the high-output 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque equipped in the Scat Pack as tested here. A 600-hp Charger Super Bee is slated for 2027. Regardless of engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD) are standard.

To put those power figures into perspective: Ford’s 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder in the Mustang EcoBoost produces 315 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, while the 5.0-litre V8 in the GT generates 480 hp and 415 lb-ft (or 486 hp and 418 lb-ft with the optional active valve exhaust). The Mustang Dark Horse bumps that horsepower stat up to 500 hp. A six-speed manual transmission remains available in the Mustang in addition to a 10-speed automatic, and rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the default.

As for the previous-generation Charger/Challenger, power figures ranged from 292 hp and 260 lb-ft from the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 to 370 hp and 395 lb-ft from the 5.7-litre Hemi V8, 485 hp and 475 lb-ft from the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the 392 versions, and between 717 hp and 807 hp or 650 lb-ft and 707 lb-ft from the supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 in the Hellcat variations. The brand initially denied any plans for higher-powered V8 versions, but it will be surprising if there isn’t at least one eventually.

2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack driving impressions

I wanted to be disappointed by this car. I really did. I’d hoped to be able to declare that it could never live up to the Charger name and that the legacy created by dad and Brampton Assembly would be secure.

But my job first and foremost is to be honest. And if I’m doing that, I can’t claim to be disappointed by the new Charger Sixpack at all.

The truth is… I kind of love it.

It’s not perfect, of course. No car ever is. The steering is looser than I’d prefer, for example. And the lack (so far) of a RWD variant will burn the performance purists almost as hard as the lack (so far) of a V8 option does.

There’s no lack of outright power, though, and this Charger’s easily modulated throttle and well-balanced AWD connect it to the pavement so cleanly. Sport mode lets the lead out a little more, sharpening responses and disabling stability control.

Does it feel or sound as raw and beastly as even the previous generation’s V6, never mind the V8 models? No, not at all. But I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. The new Charger is far easier to live with as a daily driver than any of those cars were, and I suspect we’ll see fewer of these wadded up in guardrails.

The fundamental question is this: if you don’t have to wrestle with it constantly to keep it in a straight line, is the new Charger really a muscle car? The critics will tell you it’s not. If that’s what you want, buy a used Charger or Challenger while you still can. There are fewer cars on the road every day that provide that kind of experience.

But if you want a tough-looking car with plenty of power that’s not likely to run out of limits before you run out of talent, that’s exactly where the 2026 Dodge Charger delivers.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack?

With the standard-output Hurricane engine equipped in the R/T trim, Natural Resources Canada lists estimated fuel consumption figures for the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack at 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 9.0 on the highway, and 11.8 combined. From the high-output Hurricane engine in the Scat Pack, expect 14.5 L/100 km city, 10.0 highway, and 12.5 combined.

My real-world testing figure came back better than that at 11.2 L/100 km over 320 km, including just over 200 km of highway running to and from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Given that the Charger’s high-output engine requires 91-octane fuel, I was grateful to achieve that figure. Any muscle car tends to be an expensive plaything once you get to the pumps.

For comparison, combined figures for the Ford Mustang range from 9.1 L/100 km combined for the EcoBoost to 13.0 automatic/13.4 manual for the GT and 13.9/14.2 for the Dark Horse. Put succinctly, you do get more power for less fuel consumption here. Previous-generation Dodge Chargers and Challengers ranged from 10.3 L/100 km combined for the base V6 (or 11.0 with AWD, which is the more apt comparison figure) to 12.3 to 15.6 L/100 km combined for the various V8s.

Size and exterior design

Despite its many changes, the 2026 Charger retains its muscle car looks. The grille and headlight housing lifts more from the classic Charger than the more recent one with its straight-line design, but it’s the right move to my eye as it looks dramatic and striking. The curves play with the light without being ostentatious and, as is common with Stellantis vehicles, an excellent array of colours is available (although I hope they bring back Hellraisin at some point). Someone came over to comment on its great looks every time I parked this car, and I’m inclined to agree.

If you’re considering the two-door and don’t expect to need the second row on a regular basis, I say go for it. The doors are not overly long and are easier to manage in tight parking lots than the Challenger’s were, so the coupe doesn’t come with all that severe a penalty.

The only aspect of the new Charger’s exterior design I don’t enjoy is the electronic door handles. I managed to continually pinch my fingers on them when opening the driver’s side door. Interestingly, Stellantis is moving to this feature for many of its new vehicles, including the new Jeep Cherokee I test drove right after this, and the Charger is the only car that’s given me this issue. It may just be caused by the Charger’s height and my own 5-foot-6 height relative to it.

Interior design

Those who enjoyed the interior layout of the previous-generation Dodge Charger will feel well-served by the new one. The layout is similar in certain ways such as the driver isolation and tall centre console, while it’s improved in others like better screen integration and more refined details.

The trigger-style gear shifter is appropriately satisfying, and the steering wheel feels suitably substantial in the hands. (I was pleasantly surprised to find the fact that the wheel isn’t a perfect circle didn’t register with me as an issue despite the steering being somewhat loose as I mentioned above.)

This test unit came with the Carbon and Suede Package, a $2,495 add-on in Canada that bolts on carbon fibre mirrors caps with puddle lights, carbon fibre inserts on the dash and doors, 12-way power-adjustable leather and suede performance front seats, and a suede headliner. It also requires the $7,495 Scat Pack Plus package that upgrades the centre touchscreen and driver information display and adds wireless phone charging, ventilated front seats (heat is standard) and heated outboard rear seats, heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors, and a lot more. Most Canadians will value the latter and want to budget for it. The former is entirely a matter of taste.

How much interior storage does the 2026 Dodge Charger have?

Interior storage is average in the 2026 Charger. There’s a centre console bin large enough for a wallet or small clutch plus some loose items. The cupholders are well positioned and out of the driver’s way. On two-door models, the door pockets are sizeable and include an extra drink holder. Second-row passengers have a pair of cupholders in a pulldown armrest, a bottle holder on the side, and standard seatback pockets.

Seat comfort

The Charger’s optional 12-way power-adjustable leather and suede performance front seats I tested were very comfortable, and front-row occupants have plenty of space. There’s plenty of adjustability to accommodate a variety of body types. Even the second row is surprisingly roomy, enough that smaller adults shouldn’t feel like they’re in purgatory. I also didn’t find the Charger to be so low to the ground that getting into or out of the seats was a challenge.

How many car seats fit in the 2026 Dodge Charger?

The 2026 Dodge Charger can accommodate a single car seat mounted in the second row middle position or two car seats in the outboard rear positions. A full set of LATCH connectors is present for either layout.

How much cargo space is in the 2026 Dodge Charger?

One thing I love about the new Charger’s design is that the trunk has been replaced with a liftback. With the rear seats upright, there’s already a very spacious 644 litres of cargo space. But fold the second-row seatbacks down and the liftback allows the Charger to carry up to 1,059 litres of stuff with much better access to the full capacity. The liftgate is quite tall at its highest setting, but Dodge has integrated a height adjustment button to make this easy to customize.

Infotainment and technology features

The Uconnect infotainment system has long been regarded as one of the industry’s best, and that continues with the fifth iteration installed in the 2026 Charger. The volume and track toggles mounted on the back of the steering wheel let you make easy adjustments without taking your eyes off the road. I also appreciate the clear icon-based layout and that there are separate touch points for front seat heating and ventilation as well as the heated steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

The audio system in this test car was the optional 18-speaker Alpine premium audio system with a subwoofer. With its crisp audio and deep bass, it’s well worth the $1,995 upgrade.

I have only two minor frustrations. One is that phones take quite a while to connect to the system as it starts up, so it takes a bit of patience if you need to use CarPlay to enter a destination into Google Maps, for example. The other is the blind spot camera system: unlike competitor systems, this one overlays the camera view in the centre touchscreen rather than the instrument cluster. You lose access to functions like directions as it takes over the screen, and it’s also a fair bit more distracting.

Where is the 2026 Dodge Charger built?

Since 2025, the Dodge Charger has been assembled at Stellantis’s Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

How much is the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack in Canada?

The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack starts in Canada at $62,290, including the $2,295 destination charge, for the two-door R/T. The four-door R/T kicks off at $65,290. The starting price is $72,290 for the two-door Scat Pack and the $75,290 for the four-door.

With the Scat Pack Plus Package ($7,495), Carbon & Suede Package ($2,495), panoramic sunroof ($1,495), Alpine 18-speaker audio system ($1,995), and all fees, the as-tested price for this 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack is $86,583.

Is the 2026 Dodge Charger worth buying?

One thing is for sure: the new Dodge Charger has abandoned its budget positioning. That leaves the Ford Mustang alone in the affordable muscle car space with EcoBoost models priced below $50,000. By the time the Mustang gets up to its V8 GT models, though, the power output is more comparable and so is the price point.

As a result, we may not see quite as many of these around as we did with the previous Charger and Challenger. On the other hand, any type of car is becoming a more niche buy these days as opposed to the ubiquitous SUV, especially a brawny muscle car like this. And as those go, Stellantis has struck a remarkable balance here between daily driving comfort and outright performance. For those with the wherewithal and the budget, the new Charger is both fun and practical in all the right ways.

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