2026 Dodge Charger Buyer's Guide | Jay Malone CDJR Hutchinson MN

If you’re shopping the 2026 Dodge Charger, you’re looking at the most fundamentally different muscle car the brand has ever built. Same widebody body, two completely different powertrains: the gas 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo SIXPACK in 420 or 550 horsepower form, or the all-electric Daytona BEV in 536 or 670 horsepower form. Available as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan. Standard all-wheel drive on every trim that switches to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button. The lineup spans from a $49,995 SIXPACK R/T coupe to a $61,995 Daytona Scat Pack BEV sedan, plus a special Daytona R/T BEV factory-order trim at $61,595.

I’m Jordan Malone-Forst, Assistant General Manager at Jay Malone CDJR in Hutchinson, MN. This is the complete 2026 Dodge Charger buyer’s guide for central Minnesota shoppers — what every trim costs and includes, the honest breakdown of gas vs electric, R/T vs Scat Pack, 2-door vs 4-door, and how the Hurricane SIXPACK compares to the HEMI V8 it replaces. We don’t pressure customers toward one powertrain or the other — we order both with no locator fee. For a year-agnostic overview of the model and our dealership, visit our Dodge Charger dealer page.

What’s new for the 2026 Dodge Charger?

2026 is the most fundamental redesign in Charger history. The car celebrates its 60th anniversary with an entirely new platform (STLA-Large), new bodywork in both 2-door and 4-door configurations, and the first-ever multi-energy lineup combining gas and electric powertrains under one nameplate. Major changes for 2026 include:

• The 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo SIXPACK replaces the HEMI V8 — available in 420 hp Standard Output (R/T) and 550 hp High Output (Scat Pack) forms
• The Daytona BEV joins the lineup as the fully electric Charger, with up to 670 hp and EPA-estimated range of 223-295 miles
• Both 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan body styles on both powertrains — making the SIXPACK 4-door the world’s only production 4-door muscle car
• Standard all-wheel drive on every trim with selectable rear-wheel drive mode via front-axle disconnect
• Widebody stance standard — the new Charger is approximately 80 inches wide on a 121-inch wheelbase
• 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen standard across the lineup with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• 16-inch driver display available on Scat Pack and Daytona Scat Pack
• Track Package available on Scat Pack variants with Line Lock, Launch Control, and a Drive eXperience Recorder dashcam

What is the full 2026 Dodge Charger lineup?

The 2026 Charger comes in seven distinct configurations across two powertrain families and two body styles. All prices below are MSRP and exclude the $1,995 destination charge ($2,045 in HI).

A 4-door sedan typically adds $2,000 over the equivalent 2-door coupe within the same trim. The Daytona R/T 4-door is a factory-order-only configuration through Dodge’s EE Traders channel. The 2-door coupe arrives at dealerships first in the model year rollout, with 4-door sedan availability phasing in through 2026.

Should I buy a Charger SIXPACK or a Daytona BEV?

This is the biggest single decision in the 2026 Charger lineup, and it’s a real choice — not a marketing line. Both powertrains have legitimate cases for different buyers. The honest short version:

• Buy the SIXPACK if: you want a traditional gas muscle car experience, you don’t have home charging, you’d rather not think about range, the exhaust note matters to you, and you want the lower MSRP
• Buy the Daytona if: you have home charging, you care about quick acceleration above all else (3.3 sec to 60), you want significantly lower operating costs, you don’t mind the artificial Fratzonic exhaust sound, and you do most of your driving within ~150 miles of home

The Daytona Scat Pack at 670 hp is meaningfully quicker than the SIXPACK Scat Pack at 550 hp (3.3 sec vs 3.9 sec to 60). But the SIXPACK delivers something the EV can’t: a real exhaust note, predictable range, and the familiar muscle car ownership experience. Our complete gas vs electric breakdown walks through pricing, performance, cost of ownership, and which one fits central Minnesota driving best.

What engines does the 2026 Charger offer?

Two powertrain families, no HEMI V8, no manual transmission, no diesel option:

• 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo I-6 Standard Output (SIXPACK SO): 420 hp / 468 lb-ft — standard on Charger R/T 2-door and 4-door. Paired with an 8-speed 880RE automatic. Replaces the 5.7L HEMI R/T (adding 50 hp and 73 lb-ft over the V8).
• 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo I-6 High Output (SIXPACK HO): 550 hp / 531 lb-ft — standard on Charger Scat Pack 2-door and 4-door. Same 8-speed automatic. Replaces the 6.4L 392 V8 (adding 65 hp / 18.5% more torque over the V8). The most powerful Hurricane engine in production.
• Dual-motor electric (Daytona BEV): 400-volt architecture, 100.5 kWh battery pack. The Daytona R/T BEV produces 536 hp / 400 kW; the Daytona Scat Pack BEV produces 670 hp / 500 kW. AWD with selectable RWD mode. Single-speed gearbox per motor.

Every Hurricane SIXPACK runs on 91-octane premium fuel. The Daytona supports DC fast-charging up to 183 kW and Level 2 home charging up to 11 kW. Our Hurricane SIXPACK engine guide covers the technical details and comparisons to the V8 it replaces; our Daytona EV range and charging guide covers real-world range, charging speeds, and Minnesota winter considerations.

How fast is each 2026 Charger?

The Daytona Scat Pack BEV is the quickest production Dodge muscle car ever — quicker than every previous Charger including the Hellcat Redeye. The instant torque from the dual electric motors delivers acceleration the gas SIXPACK can’t match. But the SIXPACK Scat Pack at 3.9 seconds to 60 is no slouch either, and it delivers performance with a real exhaust note and the muscle car driving feel buyers have known for 60 years.

Should I get a 2-door or 4-door 2026 Charger?

For the first time, the Charger is available as both a 2-door coupe and a 4-door sedan within the same model year. Both share the same wheelbase, the same widebody stance, the same powertrains, and the same starting MSRP within $2,000 of each other. Key differences:

• 2-door coupe: Longer doors, lower roofline visual presence, slightly less rear-seat access. The marquee body for traditional Charger feel.
• 4-door sedan: Shorter front doors, easier rear-seat access, larger cargo capacity (22.7 cu ft expandable to 37.4 cu ft with rear seats folded) thanks to a clever hidden hatchback design.
• Pricing: 4-door costs $2,000 more than equivalent 2-door MSRP.
• Availability timing: 2-door coupe is available at dealers first; 4-door sedan rollout continues through 2026.

The SIXPACK 4-door makes Dodge the only manufacturer producing a four-door muscle car in 2026 — a unique market position. For most central Minnesota buyers who plan to use the Charger as a daily driver and occasionally carry passengers, the 4-door sedan is more practical. For buyers who want the most aggressive look and don’t carry rear-seat passengers often, the 2-door coupe is the iconic choice. Our complete coupe vs sedan comparison walks through dimensions, cargo capacity, rear-seat usability, and trim availability for both body styles.

What’s the difference between R/T and Scat Pack?

R/T is the entry trim, Scat Pack is the performance flagship within each powertrain family. The split exists in both gas and EV lineups, but the differences run deeper than just horsepower.

R/T vs Scat Pack (both gas SIXPACK):

• Power: 420 hp (R/T) vs 550 hp (Scat Pack) — 130 hp gap
• Engine tune: Hurricane SO vs Hurricane HO — HO uses forged pistons, two-chain pump, low-restriction intake/exhaust
• Brakes: Standard on R/T, Brembo six-piston front on Scat Pack
• Performance features: Scat Pack adds Launch Control, Line Lock, Track Pack availability, and a complimentary day at Radford Racing School
• Wheels and tires: 20" wheels standard on both; Scat Pack offers Track Package 305/35ZR20 tire upgrade
• Pricing gap: ~$5,000 MSRP between equivalent trims

Our complete R/T vs Scat Pack comparison walks through every standard and optional difference and helps you figure out which one fits your daily driving and weekend ambitions.

What technology and safety features come on the 2026 Charger?

Standard across every 2026 Charger trim:

• 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™
• Alexa Built-in and connected travel and traffic services
• Active Driving Assist highway assist system (semi-autonomous lane centering and adaptive cruise)
• Blind Spot Monitoring with rear cross-path detection
• Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus with automatic emergency braking
• Drowsy Driver Detection and traffic sign recognition
• 360-degree surround-view camera on Scat Pack and Daytona Scat Pack
• Standard LED lighting throughout, plus Attitude Adjustment lighting system (interior ambient)
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot and SiriusXM with 360L

Scat Pack and Daytona Scat Pack add the 16-inch driver display, head-up display, 9-speaker Alpine audio system with subwoofer, and additional performance-focused tech like the Drive eXperience Recorder (with Track Package).

What colors does the 2026 Charger come in?

Available colors for 2026 include Diamond Black Crystal (no charge), White Knuckle, Bludicrous (with Pitch Black roof option), Green Machine (with Pitch Black roof option), and Redeye (with Pitch Black roof option). Two-tone paint options run $695 MSRP. The available painted hood options include a Satin Black hood ($1,995) and a Gloss Black hood ($3,250). Specific color availability varies by trim — check the live inventory or contact us about factory-ordering a specific color combination.

Is the 2026 Charger a good fit for central Minnesota?

Honest answer: it depends on which Charger and how you’ll use it. Standard AWD on every trim is a meaningful advantage in our climate — you don’t need winter tires to get out of a snowy driveway, and the front-axle disconnect lets you switch to RWD when you want classic muscle car behavior on dry roads. A few realistic considerations:

• For a SIXPACK gas Charger: It works just like any other gas muscle car in winter. Performance tires deserve replacement with all-season or winter tires for sustained cold use, but mechanically it’s fine.
• For a Daytona BEV: Range drops in cold weather — expect 15-30% range reduction at sub-zero temperatures. Home charging is essentially required for practical year-round Minnesota use. With home charging in a garage, the Daytona works well as a daily driver.
• Charger as a primary vehicle: Both work, but the Charger’s relatively low ground clearance and performance suspension make it less suited to gravel roads or cabin driveways than a Wrangler or Grand Cherokee. It’s a road car, not an all-terrain vehicle.
• Charger as a fun second vehicle: Either powertrain works great in this role. The SIXPACK lets you store it for the off-season; the Daytona benefits from staying plugged in.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2026 Dodge Charger is a different kind of muscle car than the one we’ve sold for the last 20 years. The HEMI is gone, the lineup is split between gas and electric, and there are real decisions to make — SIXPACK or Daytona, 2-door or 4-door, R/T or Scat Pack, R/T BEV or Scat Pack BEV. Whichever combination fits your life, we’ll find it or order it — no locator fee, no markup, no pressure to take something off the lot just because it’s there. Stop in at Jay Malone CDJR in Hutchinson and we’ll walk you through the lineup, set up a test drive if we have one in stock, and help you figure out which Charger makes sense for the way you actually drive. That’s how we’ve done it since 2005.