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Text by Tom Appel
2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Plus
Class: Premium Large Car
Country of manufacture: Canada
Seating capability: 5
Color: After Dark
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | A |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Value grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Consumer Guide’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | A- |
| Big & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Big” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 550-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged 6-cylinder |
| Transmission | 8-speed automated |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Miles Driven: 191
Observed gasoline financial system: 21.8 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 16/23/19 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Fuel sort: Premium gasoline
Base value: $56,995 not together with $1995 (vacation spot cost)
Options on check automobile: Special paint ($695), Customer Preferred package deal ($4995), Highback Performance Seat Package ($1150), Blacktop Package ($1295), 20-inch wheel and tire package deal ($1195)
Audio-System Brand
Alpine
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The nice: Surplus of energy, higher dealing with than previous-generation Charger
The good: Roomy and cozy cabin, helpful liftback design
The not so good: May journey too firmly for some people
Review
Because of its legacy identify, and maybe partly due to its acquainted form, the Charger has been tasked by Dodge with protecting the model’s muscle-car flame alive. In current years, that mission was completed largely by the set up of huge V8 engines, all a part of the “Hemi” household, below the hood of the automobile. Not solely did the Charger look the half, when correctly geared up, its efficiency was, certainly, in line with muscle-car custom.
Charger History
New for 1966, the Charger was made out there its debut yr with the 426-cubic-inch Hemi, a racing-developed engine that carried out particularly nicely at excessive speeds. The enormous 7.0-liter V8 was rated at 425 horsepower, and shortly grew to become the stuff of legend. Note that a fair bigger 440-inch engine (7.2-liters) was additionally supplied within the Charger, although it by no means loved the fame of the 426 Hemi.
Dodge would go on to cram hemi engines into a variety of fashions, making a household of muscle mass vehicles fashions, together with the Challenger and Coronet.
Sadly, for a variety of causes, the muscle-car period ended, and the Charger identify was utilized to a number of totally different autos, none of which was particularly sporty, and none of which was fitted with any type of Hemi engine. At least not till 2006…
Charger Returns
Skip forward to 2006, and the rollout of a brand new, rear drive, Charger, which, evoking model heritage, stirred up recollections of quick vehicles, and a time earlier than high-insurance charges and unleaded gasoline. A 2-door Challenger would be a part of the Charger on Dodge showroom flooring, and collectively the vehicles stored the Dodge identify on journal covers and on on-line message boards.
2024 Redesign
Stellantis utterly redesigned the Charger for the 2024 mannequin yr, transferring the sporty sedan to all-new structure, and dropping the companion Challenger alongside the way in which. The new Charger, now supplied in 2- and 4-door type and geared up with a helpful rear hatch, rides on the dad or mum firm’s “STLA Large” underpinnings, which it would share with future Alfa Romeo fashions, together with different Stellantis merchandise.
But the large eighth-generation Charger information got here as heresy to many long-time muscle-car aficionados. For 2024, the Charger was supplied solely with an electrical drivetrain. And whereas gasoline engines returned to the Charger for 2025, the No Hemi V8s have been supplied.
Engines
Instead, the non-electric Charger was supplied with one in all two turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engines, every of which packed a critical horsepower punch—generally out performing the Hemi engines of yore. The new “Hurricane” engines, which have been additionally supplied in Jeep and Ram merchandise, have been additionally extra gasoline environment friendly than the V8s they changed.
Charger gross sales
Shoppers demurred, nonetheless, and Charger gross sales suffered. Have a glance:
Calander Year Sales
- 2022 78,000
- 2023 76,000
- 2024 35,000
- 2025 9600
- 2026 8800 (by way of Q3)
The disgrace right here is that the current-generation Charger is well one of the best but, and regardless of the absence of a V8 engine, is among the many greatest performing.
Electric Charger
For 2026, the Charger is once more supplied in gasoline or electrical type. The two EV trim ranges, dubbed Daytona, vary in value from $61,990 to $68,985. All electrical Chargers include a pair of electrical motors rated at a mixed 630 horsepower. The Charger Daytona comes with a 94-kWh battery pack, commonplace AWD, and could be had with 2 or 4 doorways. We’ll speak extra in regards to the Daytona is a separate evaluation.
Prices and Trim Levels
Gas-powered Chargers are supplied in 4 trim ranges, every out there with 2 or 4 doorways. Prices as follows (2-door/4-door):
- R/T ($51,900-$53,990)
- R/T Plus ($56,990-$58,990)
- Scat Pack ($56,990-$58,990)
- Scat pack Plus ($61,990-$63,990)
Hurricane Engines
The Charger R/T is powered by a 420-horsepower model of the Hurricane six, whereas Scat Pack examples are fitted with the High Output Hurricane mill, which is rated at 550 horsepower. And like the electrical Daytonas, all gas-powered Chargers include commonplace AWD. Note that the High Output engine requires premium gasoline.
Test Car
Consumer Guide just lately spent every week behind the wheel of a 2026 Charger Scat Pack Plus in After Dark (colour) and fitted with the non-obligatory Highback Performance Seat Package. Including vacation spot cost, our check automobile got here to $68,320.
Room and Comfort
Chargers of current classic have boasted loads of passenger area, and this latest era of the mannequin continues to supply loads of room for 4 adults. The non-obligatory sport seats complicate considerably entry ease to the entrance seating row, although that is possible solely a problem for bigger drivers. Once located, the seats themselves are snug and supportive, and certain wonderful for lengthy drives.
Controls and Connectivity
Controls come principally by way of the Stellantis Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which works nicely and feels acquainted. Thankfully, local weather controls are comprised of actual bodily switchgear, and are easy to make use of. The Scat Pack’s commonplace 9-speaker Pioneer-brand audio system is ok, serving up first rate sound replica and loads of clear energy.
Cabin
The Charger cabin is fashionable and feels upscale. The textured door inserts, ambient lighting, and stylish double seat stitching give this sporty Dodge a decidedly premium ambiance.
Ride and Handling
Underway the Charger fulfills the edicts of its sporty constitution, with agency, meaty feeling steering, and dealing with that’s a lot improved versus the earlier era automobile. We particularly recognize the quick-responding, robust feeling brakes, and managed lean in corners.
Ride high quality might show a problem for customers not totally dedicated to the Charger’s efficiency mission. We discovered the Dodge’s suspensions setup, with its sporty bias, agency, however snug, within the European custom, however some people might discover there to be an extreme quantity of street really feel.
Power and Performance
The star of the Scat Pack present is, in fact, the superb Hurricane H.O. engine. The robust six delivers excellent straight-line energy, in addition to close to speedy response when tasked for passing of merging muscle. The engine is quiet is common use, probably too quiet for conventional muscle-car followers. We discover the sounds from the engine and exhaust refined and stylish, attributes which can really flip off some customers.
Fuel financial system
Also spectacular is our gasoline financial system. Despite the engine’s energy, and every week of aggressive driving by the Consumer Guide staff, we noticed almost 22 mpg, which s, frankly, wonderful.
Cargo Space
And if sensible muscle is your factor, you’ll recognize the Charger’s giant rear hatch. It’s cool to assume that your muscle machine may, if wanted, accommodate a hot-water heater.
Value
We like the brand new Charger, and haven’t any qualms with the brand new 6-cylinder engine. That mentioned, gradual gross sales counsel that many Charger intenders nonetheless desire a V8 engine, and, excellent news, one is rumored to be on the way in which for 2028. But for those who can reside with out a V8, the brand new charger has so much to supply, together with wonderful street manners, and stunning gasoline financial system.
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