2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD - Bottom Line Review

CASE FOR THE SIX-PACK : In classic American muscle-car lore, locomotion has perennially been eight cylinder or secretary's car. Internal combustion engineering takes issue with that trope, asserting that what is superior in V cylinder count isn't necessarily inherently better balanced than inferior inline numbers.

Three years and a model update after the Dodge Boys 1966 introduction of the Coronet based Charger coupe, it was inspired by a previous generation General Motors A-Body Pontiac LeMans GTO 389 Tri-Power to offer a two-barrel carbureted V-8 of its own, the 1969 440 ci Magnum Six Pack.

Though the Charger name eventually devolved to a front-drive four-cylinder compact sport hatchback, in 2006 the model moniker was restored to rear-drive available Hemi V-8 glory, with a Daimler-Benz underpinned LX , LD series. That collaboration ultimately unleashed the most potent production muscle car ever, the Charger SRT Hellcat.

According to then brand chief, Tim Kuniskis, the survival of the Dodge nameplate would depend on a next generation mid-size performance car. When a stylistically authentic next generation battery electric Daytona EV debuted in 2024, Stellantis kept its promise to squeeze petrol power under the bonnet of the same platform, nodding to tri-carbureted nostalgia in designating forced induction inline-six cylinder power as the 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Six Pack.

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WHAT: 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Four Door Six Pack AWD performance sport hatchback coupe. The eighth generation Charger, is built on the STLA foundation, featuring "Six Pack" petrol and "Daytona" battery electric propulsion options. Configurations include two door and four door liftbacks. The Six Pack nomenclature references the 1960's available big block OHV V-8 engines fed by three two-barrel carburetors.

Standard Charger R/T Power: "Hurricane" engine family. Longitudinal direct injected 3.0L twin-turbocharged DOHC 24 V petrol inline-6 cylinders + TorqueFlite ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic torque converter planetary transmission + viscous clutch all-wheel drive, e-limited slip rear differential

• 420 hp @ 5200 r.p.m. / 468 lb-ft @ 2500 r.p.m., 6500 r.p.m. redline
• Dual mode active exhaust
• Drive modes x 4: Eco, Automatic, Sport, Custom
• Performance Handling adds Line Lock & Launch Control
  • Scat Pack model increases turbochargers boost
    • 550 horsepower, 531 lb-ft. @ 3500 r.p.m.

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: Ralph Gilles' re-design set out to create a street package with mid size utility, on a new flexible platform suited to petrol and battery electric power, while retaining greater fidelity to the second generation 1966 muscle car out of Auburn Hills.

Utility and optional traction battery fitment dictated a liftback design for the new Dodge Charger. A standard new electronic all-wheel drive system necessitated greater length. Enhanced width over the predecessor obviated the need for a wide body option. With the Challenger name retired (for now) a two-door liftback option is offered, for those aspiring to revive a Bo and Luke Duke style window aperture entry in Hazzard County.

A traditional sloping bonnet with center power dome rises near the leading edge, hosting a an embedded non-functional dark plastic "SIXPACK" housing, imitating the old "Shaker" air scoop. A darkened, full width slim rectangular upper grille incorporates segmented LED lamps and trimmed in lower corner directionals and white LED lower light bar and center heritage "Fratzog" tri-star emblem. A slimmer mid grille descends to a dark solid bar, then a lower air intake with shutters, flanked by corner folds with straked dark inserts. A lower splitter is finished in piano black, matching side skirts and rear deck flap.

While the beltline body crease front to rear wheel arch top is retained, the cheatline crease is lost for a full Coke bottle shape. Owing to greater rear quarter panel flaring the lower side spats also gain in flaring. The roof retains the same tandem twin cowl bumps and sharp raked shape, frameless door windows, pillars and C-pillar kink included. The high arch fender meets a subtly flared barrel fuselage with upper crease and tall beltline. From the tall windshield the roof rolls off parabolically. Retention of a fastback D-pillar, ala the first generation Charger, camouflages the liftback configuration.

As sloped as the backlight is, the outward concave flared rear deck, with dark spoiler, presents a slimmer appearing version of the previous LD generation. Raceway lighting returning in a slimmer full span housing, adding the center Fratzog tri-star. For liftgate protection, the bumper cover extends out, with an inverted U license plate bowl below, flanked by dark filled corner folds. Darkened bottom rear quarter panels rise to meet a lower rear fascia with "CHARGER" embossing, followed by a dark valance with flare cut chrome dual corner exhaust tips.

FRATZOG - Is The [meaningless] Word - made up by designers for the Tri-Star logo in 1962.

• Illuminated tri-star emblems in center upper grille and center rear deck lid
• Fratzog stars imprinted on available panorama full-glass roof
• Fratzog stars imprinted on available contrasting tandem racing strips (which resemble tire treads)

WHY: Straight Six Pack piston MOPAR muscle car from Auburn Hills comes in versatile two or four door liftback coupe configurations.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since late Spring 2026

WHERE: Dodge new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

WHERE TO: The 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Six Pack AWD might be a performance grand tourer, and the low ground clearance certainly won't clear rocky terrain, but a snow drive mode's 50:50% front-rear torque split and all season tires, mean it won't flinch when the surfaces become powdery white.

HOW ROADWORTHY: Low end torque managed by the stout 8-speed TorqueFlite slushbox dispatching power with a nominal rear wheel bias is the recipe for the new Dodge Charger R/T Six Pack AWD. Individual turbochargers assigned per each pair of three inline cylinders reduces lag to vestigial. Despite some artificial cabin enhancement, an invigorated exhaust purrs, then emits throttle braking back pressure pop. A high revving plant the Hurricane engine ain't. However, the low end grunt reserves are impressive.

As with other MOPAR applications of the ZF 8HP transmissions, there is little wasted gear hunt, and shifts are executed swiftly. As a bonus, Line Lock launch control is included, and the all-wheel drive can be set to de-couple the front axle for some shenanigans. Drive modes are easily accessible and suitably customizable. While Dodge Performance Pages are the standard for useful enthusiasm monitoring, the wide-screen gauge cluster lacks the variability found in the latest Ponies from Dearborn.

• Drive Modes x 5: Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Custom
• Performance Pages: Acceleration, Braking + Lap timer, Lap timer, G-Force + Steering Angle display, Power & Torque graph, Traction & wheel slip display,
  • Race Options - Line lock, Launch control

The unavoidable enigma is that the 2026 Charger R/T Six Pack AWD is a mid-size muscle car tips the Toledos at nearly a third of ton more than Dearborn's Pony Car. Stiffer springs have been dictated to level attitude, while monotube dampers absorb most, but not all, of abrupt jolts. That results in a slight rocking rather than crashing effect on neglected roads. Smooth pavement is where the Charger R/T Six Pack is satisfyingly smooth.

Steering, from the oddly shaped squared top and bottom rim, is adequately responsive for such a large machine. Yet the rack is a bit sedate in feedback, while the touring tires aren't suited to really aggressive turn-in. Fitted with the optional Brembo front big brakes, pedal reaction is a little slow to throw down the drag-chutes. All-in-all this street bruiser is primarily suited as an express cruiser, with a cool pistol grip center console transmission shifter.

HOW FAR: 22 combined miles per gallon fuel economy; 368 highway miles range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: While the new Charger's STLA Large footprint is more than half a foot longer than the outgoing LX, LD series, wheelbase is up less than inch. A deeper dash, thicker B pillars, and the sloping roof make things snugglier in the 2nd Row.

HOW USEFUL: A tall cargo bay floor, (for housing part of the Daytona EV's battery pack), and the lower roof make hatch loading tricky in the new Dodge Charger. However, that greater length adds 38% cargo bay space, fully expanding into the 2nd Row with split folding seatbacks.

√ Liftback cargo bay - available variable power operation; √ 60:40% split folding 2nd Row seat backs - integrated releases

• +1 Large 1st Row door pockets
• -1 High liftover cargo bay; Small center stack lower shelf; Shallow center console armrest bin; No cargo bay 2nd Row seat back releases

HOW SAFE: √ 8 airbags; √ IIHS - Not tested; √ Surround view cameras; sonar front & rear park warning;

• Active Driving Assist: √ Forward vehicle emergency + Pedestrian avoidance braking; √ Blind spot & lane departure warning; √ Adaptive cruise control - full stop + go; √ Lane Keep management; √ Rear cross traffic warning; √ Auto high beam headlamps; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers
  • Optional (included on test vehicle) - Active Parallel + Perpendicular Park Assist; Traffic sign detection

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: Whereas the outgoing Charger LD had to share its cockpit instrumentation and controls with the more stately Chrysler 300 sedan, Dodge's latest muscle car embraces a decidedly more performance themed cabin. The single cowl with rising door switch panel has two tiers for enhanced depth and an upper ambient lighting ring, stretching to parametric etched middle door cards, called "Attitude Lighting." When viewed from the 2nd Row, the panoramic glass roof, imprinted with Fratzog emblems, is very cool indeed.

Dash panels, door cards and the center console saddle are swathed in red contrast stitched padded leatherette, upper pillars & headliner are covered in ballistic mesh fabric and even the cargo bay upper wall is carpeted. Seating features grippy microsuede with leatherette edges, and the front bucket upper shoulder bolstering and integrated headrest, with hollowed upper frame, look & feel much like Recaros. Frameless door windows are a nod to classic Charger coupes, while push button electric door latch actuators (with redundant mechanical releases only up front) mark unnecessary progress.

The upgraded 16.0" inches rectangular full color LED instrument cluster includes a few hardly inspiring visualizations with little customizing, and includes navigation map projection. Yet it doesn't quite pull at classic muscle heart strings in the way of the old axial needle twin dials. The driver canted center stack smartly blends a couched touch landscape infotainment screen with audio volume + tuning knobs, beset by a panel for soft kernel climate controls. Yet accurately tapping small icons on the crowded 12.3" inch screen is daunting, even if response is dramatically quicker than of old.

√ Microsuede + leatherette 12-way power cooled & heated front sport bucket seats; √ Heated rear seats; √ 4 power windows, full express; √ 2-Zone automatic climate control; √ Heated power tilt, telescoping leather steering wheel; √ Comfort approach access keyless entry

Cool Gizmo(s): ♦ Pistol grip center console transmission selector; ♦ Square top + bottom steering wheel; ♦ 16.0" inch panorama tablet LCD digital instrument cluster; ♦ Performance Pages; ♦ Push button cabin electronic door latch releases ; ♦ Variable color ambient cabin attitude illumination; ♦ "DODGE" front entry puddle lamps

Details Done Right: ♦ Aluminum wide pedal covers; Micro-suede, red contrast stitched simulated leather seating; ♦ Padded dash top, upper door cards, center console saddle + red tandem contrast stitching; ♦ Parametric pattern illuminated middle door cards + upper dash panel; ♦ Panoramic glass roof with Fratzog emblems

Nearly Non-Descript: Some large panel gaps; Little cabin material color contrast

HOW CONNECTED: √ Uconnect 5.0 center dash embedded 10.1"-inch tri-pane landscape capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications x 2 operated devices (10 stored); √ Wireless charging pad - center stack; √ TomTom GPS HDD Navigation - 3-D map, voice guidance, cloud routing; √ Voice to text SMS messaging; √ USB-C x 4, 12V x 1

HOW AUDIBLY: √ 18-speaker, 900 watt, 12 channel DSP Alpine audio; √ Streaming audio^{(via bluetooth)} ; √ HD Radio

• +/- Audio playback not soulfully deep and slightly shrill

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: ♦ wireless Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; ♦ UConnect 5.0 Apps and App Market; ♦ Amazon Alexa commands, remote; ♦ Over-the-Air updates

• +1 Extensive Uconnect voice commands for climate, audio, voice to text SMS and navigation inputs
• -1 UConnect 5.0 App Market limited to streaming audio apps

By Subscription: ♦ Sirius XM (90 days, included); ♦ Connect Wi-Fi Plus hot spot (by AT&T) - 30 day trial;

• ♦ Dodge ConnectOne live navigation traffic, weather, telematics, S.O.S, maintenance, Over-the-Air updates, remote start - 10 yr. trial

HOW MUCH: $67,160 = as tested 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Plus AWD-4-Door (includes Performance Handling Group - including high back front bucket seats, microsuede, Line Lock & Launch Control, Brembo monobloc front brakes, 20" wheels, Z-Rated touring tires - Full glass roof).

• Warranty - 3 years / 36,000 miles comprehensive; 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain + roadside service; 5 years / unlimited miles corrosion

WHAT'S MISSING: Traditional cabin door latch releases; Greater instrument cluster variability; More inspiring cabin finish

ANY COMPETITION: Audi S5, BMW 440 Grand Coupe: +1 build, finish, steering, fuel economy