Dodge plans to bring one to market<\/a>, but the rumor mill suggests the only option with eight cylinders will be a Hellcat\u2014and that car surely won\u2019t be cheap.<\/p>\nIf a Charger shopper can get past the lack of aural enjoyment, they\u2019ll realize that even the R\/T delivers great power. In fact, it crushes the prior version with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. You have 50 more horsepower, 73 more pound-feet of torque, and the new Charger shaves half a second off its 0-60 mph dash and 0.6 seconds off its quarter-mile time.<\/p>\n\n \n \n <\/svg>Photo by: Dodge<\/p>\n<\/section>\n
Cons: Weak Engine Noise, Too Close To Scat Pack Price-wise, Standard Seats Are Better<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBeyond the car’s powertrain evolution, it\u2019s somewhat intriguing to consider this car a hot hatchback. That powered rear glass lifts up to reveal tons of interior volume. Fold the rear seatbacks down and revel in just over 38 cubic feet of cargo space. You\u2019re limited height-wise due to the shape of the car, but it feels like you could haul plywood in the back of this thing.<\/p>\n
Since the Charger was developed to be either a two or four-door vehicle, passenger volume is wonderful as well. Real full-size adults can comfortably sit in the back seats of the coupe. It\u2019s not just for children or all you short kings out there.<\/p>\n\n\n \n \n <\/svg>Photos by: Dodge<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n \n \n <\/svg>Though you have screens front and center, Dodge still has a physical volume knob\u2014an odd, rare treat these days in modern cars. I\u2019d like real buttons for the HVAC controls as well. Dodge uses a sort of capacitive-like touch bar set below the center screen. It works well enough, but real-deal buttons would work better.<\/p>\n
While you can spec the car with its standard seats, Dodge does offer more aggressive optional seats on the Scat Pack. And that\u2019s the one area the R\/T actually wins\u2014after spending a few hours hustling on Vermont and New Hampshire highways and b-roads, I find the standard seats to be quite a bit more comfortable.<\/p>\n\n \n \n <\/svg>Photo by: Dodge<\/p>\n<\/section>\n
Those B-roads lead me to the Team O\u2019Neil Rally School, which is where Dodge has three courses laid out to explore the capabilities of the AWD system in the Charger. There\u2019s a donut course, a slalom section, and a small rally stage. All three are covered in a mix of snow, slush, and ice, and each one allows me to have a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
Controlling the Charger on the donut course requires throttle modulation and a light hand on the steering wheel. Put the car in Sport mode, fully disengage stability control, and have at it. On the slalom course, however, I get a quick lesson in the physics of weight transfer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Charger is happy to rotate through the course, but it needs a lift of the throttle to get it moving to one side. Once it starts to rotate, I\u2019m back on the throttle with a dab of oversteer. You repeat the process in the opposite direction to get through the course.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/section>\nFinally, on the short rally stage, all these learned lessons are put into practice. And the Charger rips through the course without issue. Part of this snowy success is owed to the proper winter tires, but the Charger’s AWD system deserves plenty of credit as well. Dodge has built a true four-seasons fun mobile.<\/p>\n
<\/svg><\/span>Dodge Charger R\/T Verdict<\/h2>\n\n \n \n <\/svg>Photo by: Dodge<\/p>\n<\/section>\n
I fully understand the desire for a V8-powered Charger, and when it finally gets here, it will be the one to have. But both versions of the inline-six-powered Charger are surprisingly good fun. A large part of that is owed to the drivetrain and your ability to run the car in AWD or RWD, as well as to the fact that the SIXPACK Chargers should heavily undercut the cost of the V8.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I do think it\u2019s worth the jump to the Scat Pack version of the car for the extra power, better brakes, and upgraded suspension components. You have to start at $56,990 for a Scat Pack versus $51,990 for the R\/T. But I\u2019m happy to report that even the entry-level Charger R\/T easily put a smile on my face as I slid the car through snow-covered trails.<\/p>\n <\/section>\n <\/p>\n
\n
\n
2026 Dodge Charger R\/T<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/svg>
Engine<\/span>
Twin-Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Transmission<\/span>
Eight-Speed Automatic<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Output<\/span>
420 Horsepower \/ 468 Pound-Feet<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Drive Type<\/span>
AWD (Selectable RWD)<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Speed 0-60 MPH<\/span>
4.6 Seconds<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Maximum speed<\/span>
127 Miles Per Hour<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Seating Capacity<\/span>
5<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Cargo Volume<\/span>
22.0 \/ 37.0 Cubic Feet (Coupe); 23.0 \/ 38 Cubic Feet (Sedan)<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Weight<\/span>
4,741 Pounds<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
Base Price<\/span>
$51,990 (Coupe) \/ $53,990 (Sedan)<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/svg>
On Sale<\/span>
Now<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n