The Dodge Charger has faced major setbacks. Can it recover? For the first redesign in over a decade, Dodge started with battery-electric powertrains, yet the car built around bold V-8 muscle-car performance struggled to adapt to electric power. Sales fell sharply from 75,920 units in 2023 to 9,562 last year. For 2026, gas-engine Chargers have joined the range under the Sixpack name (unlike the EV Daytona label), honoring their turbocharged inline-six Hurricane engines. The six-cylinder Charger offers two outputs: the flagship Scat Pack at 550 horsepower and this base R/T at 420. Although the top powertrain shapes the image, the base engine usually accounts for most volume.

Another factor in the sales decline may be that the new model launched only as a two-door. That issue has been addressed with a four-door option across the lineup. Subjectively, the four-door matches or exceeds the two-door in evoking the classic second-gen late-1960s look. Dodge keeps access open: the R/T can be styled fully. The car driven in New York featured dual racing stripes with the revived Fratzog logo along the hood, optional glass roof, and decklid. The tested Michigan car lacked this detail. Our R/T filled its wheel wells with 20-inch wheels ten inches wide. It avoids a rental appearance, and positive reactions from a late-model Challenger driver suggest it connects with the intended buyers.

Four-door and two-door Chargers share the same large dimensions. The latest model uses a 121.0-inch wheelbase, slightly longer than before, while the body extends more than eight inches in length, nearly five inches in width, and one inch in height over the prior version. The gas Charger shares its platform and body with the EV model.

The R/T's 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque rank lowest in the range yet exceed the prior Hemi V-8 model. The 2023 Charger R/T 5.7-liter produced 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet, with a V-6 base as low as 292 horsepower. The 50-horsepower and 73 pound-feet gains appear positive, but weight has risen too. Our 2026 Charger R/T weighed 4,921 pounds, 540 pounds more than a 2015 V-8 R/T. Sharing one platform for EV and gas versions leads to added size and mass.

All-wheel drive comes standard, unlike the prior V-6 limit. Optional launch control helped the 2026 R/T reach 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, better than the prior 5.1 seconds. Without the launch edge, the new car shows no gain: 5.7 seconds from 5 to 60 mph versus 5.6 for the old model. The new car's 3.0-second 30-to-50-mph and 3.8-second 50-to-70-mph times each trail the V-8 by 0.4 second.

Even without clear acceleration gains, the car remains quick. Its 13.3-second quarter-mile at 105 mph nearly matches the current base Mustang. The higher-output Charger Sixpack posted 12.1 seconds at 116 mph, close to the Mustang GT. Drivers can select RWD in Sport mode for potential dramatic exits.

Much of the Hemi appeal lies in its V-8 sound. Dodge aimed for similar presence from the Hurricane six, yet the result lacks the classic rumble. The engine fires with a loud brapp and sounds rough at low speeds. It improves under throttle but drones on the highway at 70 decibels. Rather than imitate a V-8, the smoother six might suit a refined sound like that in the Ram pickup.

Two chassis options exist: standard Touring and firmer Performance suspension. Our car included the latter via the Performance Handling Group. The $2,995 package adds high-back Performance seats, launch control, line-lock, Brembo brakes, and more. The setup delivers a firm yet tolerable ride. Even so, the Charger feels heavy in tight turns and understeers. The 275/40ZR-20 all-season tires yielded 0.89 g on the skidpad. Summer tires arrive for 2027.

The weight and all-season tires contribute to a 181-foot stop from 70 mph, 11 feet longer than the prior V-8 R/T. The pedal feels soft initially, complicating smooth stops, much like the soft accelerator spring. Steering offers good weight and customization, yet the car drives larger than its size suggests.

Outward visibility adds to the sense of size. The hood power bulge limits forward view, worsened by the low mirror and large camera panel above it.

HIGHS: Looks the part, is quick enough, infotainment works well.

We tested the self-driving features on a holiday trip from New York to Maine. Adaptive cruise with stop-and-go and Active Driving Assist are standard. The system managed traffic stops on I-84 but needed accelerator nudges to resume and sometimes hugged the right lane edge.

On the highway, the high-back Performance seats proved comfortable in suede-like material. The pistol-grip shifter recalls old Mopar muscle cars, and the flattened steering wheel adds a modern touch. Door and dash panels feature illuminated patterns in hard plastic. Rear legroom is ample, though headroom is limited and the wide sill complicates entry. The hatch reveals 23 cubic feet of space with seats up, expanding to 38 with them folded.

LOWS: Trying to see out of it, doesn't sound like a Hemi, carries a heavy burden.

The center touchscreen functions smoothly with physical knobs. It pairs two phones for navigation and music, displaying song details on the cluster. The optional 16.3-inch cluster offers extensive Performance Pages data including timers, g-forces, and boost readings.

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

The R/T starts at $53,990 for the four-door. The R/T Plus adds seats, lighting, cameras, and wheels for $58,985 before options. Our car reached $64,565 with discounts applied. The prior final-year R/T listed at $46,660.

VERDICT: Dodge tries for wider appeal.

The entry Charger costs more than before and carries compromises from its EV-shared platform. Still, in an SUV-heavy market, this gas performance car remains welcome, and the R/T Hurricane six offers credible appeal over the electric version. Recent shifts at Stellantis suggest Hemi power could return, potentially becoming the model's strongest option.

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Specifications

Specifications

2026 Dodge Charger R/T 4-Door
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear/all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $53,990/$64,565
Options: Quick Order package 21A R/T Plus (heated front and outboard rear seats, 16.0-inch driver display, Performance Pages and shift indicator, head-up display, ambient lighting, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, 360-degree camera system, wireless charging pad, enhanced security alarm, power rear hatch, exterior mirror lamps with logo projection, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, connected traffic and travel services, rain-sensing wipers, Amazon Alexa connectivity, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking assists), $4,995; Performance Handling Group (12-way power-adjustable performance seats in leather/microfiber with 4-way lumbar, black performance spoiler, line lock, launch control, Custom drive mode, sport-tuned suspension, Brembo high-performance brakes, 20-inch Diamond Cut/Luster aluminum wheels with 275/40ZR-20 all-season tires), $2,995; full glass roof, $1,395; Green Machine paint, $695; Mopar All-Weather Interior package (doorsill guards, all-weather trunk and floor mats), $495

ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 183 in3, 2,993 cm3
Power: 420 hp at 5,200 rpm
Torque: 468 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.0-in vented disc/14.2-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season
275/40ZR-20 106Y M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 121.0 in
Length: 206.6 in
Width: 79.9 in
Height: 59.2 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 56/47 ft