2026 Dodge Charger Gas vs Electric: SIXPACK vs Daytona BEV Compared

The 2026 Dodge Charger is one car with two completely different powertrains. The Charger SIXPACK is gas-powered, using the new 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo Inline-Six engine in either 420-horsepower (R/T) or 550-horsepower (Scat Pack) form. The Charger Daytona is fully electric, with dual-motor AWD producing 536 horsepower (R/T BEV) or 670 horsepower (Scat Pack BEV) and an EPA-estimated range of 223 to 295 miles depending on trim and package. Same body, same widebody stance, same Dodge muscle DNA — very different driving experience and ownership math.

I’m Jordan Malone-Forst, Assistant General Manager at Jay Malone CDJR in Hutchinson. This guide is the honest, side-by-side breakdown of the 2026 Charger’s two powertrain paths — what each one costs, what each one actually does well, what the trade-offs are, and how to figure out which one fits your life in central Minnesota. We don’t pressure customers toward one or the other; we order both with no locator fee. For the full lineup picture, see our 2026 Dodge Charger buyer’s guide.

What’s the difference between the 2026 Charger SIXPACK and Daytona?

The short version: SIXPACK is gas, Daytona is electric. Both wear the Charger nameplate. Both ride on the same STLA-Large platform with the same widebody stance. Both come standard with all-wheel drive and the ability to switch to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button. The split happens under the hood.

The SIXPACK name refers to the 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo Inline-Six engine that replaces the legendary HEMI V8. It comes in two outputs: a 420-horsepower Standard Output version in the R/T and a 550-horsepower High Output version in the Scat Pack. Both pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission. There’s no manual transmission and no V8 in the 2026 Charger lineup.

The Daytona name refers to the all-electric version. It uses a 100.5 kWh battery pack (93.9 kWh usable) and dual electric motors producing 536 horsepower in the R/T or 670 horsepower in the Scat Pack — making the Daytona Scat Pack the most powerful production Dodge muscle car ever sold. The Daytona Scat Pack does 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

What do the SIXPACK and Daytona share?

A lot. The 2026 Charger was engineered as a multi-energy platform from the start, which means the gas and electric versions aren’t separate products bolted together — they’re the same car with different power sources. What both share:

• STLA-Large platform with a 121-inch wheelbase — nearly two feet of stretch from the outgoing Charger
• Widebody stance approximately 80 inches wide — visually striking and functionally beneficial for handling
• Standard all-wheel drive with the ability to switch to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button
• Two-door coupe and four-door sedan body styles offered on both powertrains
• 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard
• Brembo brakes available on both, standard on Scat Pack variants
• Track Package available on Scat Pack (gas and EV) with Line Lock, Launch Control, and a Drive eXperience Recorder dashcam
• Standard safety: Active Driving Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Drowsy Driver Detection, full LED lighting

What’s the case for the gas SIXPACK?

If you want a Charger that lives the traditional muscle car life — gas pump, exhaust note, no range anxiety, drive it like any other gas car — the SIXPACK is the answer. Honest reasons to buy the SIXPACK over the Daytona:

• Familiar ownership model. Fill up at any gas station in 3 minutes. No range planning, no charging infrastructure to think about, no software updates to fuel access. Works exactly like every Charger before it.
• Cheaper to buy. The R/T at $49,995 MSRP is $11,600 less than the Daytona R/T BEV. The Scat Pack at $54,995 is $5,000 less than the Daytona Scat Pack at $59,995. That gap can fund a lot of gas.
• Honest muscle car sound. The Hurricane has a real exhaust note — not Hellcat-loud, but mechanical, immediate, and unmistakably gas-powered. The Daytona’s Fratzonic exhaust is artificial and divides opinion.
• No cold-weather range penalty. A SIXPACK Charger gets the same fuel economy whether it’s 80 degrees or -20. The Daytona loses meaningful range in deep cold.
• Higher horsepower than the V8 it replaces. The Hurricane HO at 550 hp makes 65 more horsepower than the 6.4L 392 V8 and 18.5% more torque. The Hurricane SO at 420 hp makes 50 more hp than the 5.7L HEMI R/T it replaces, with 73 more lb-ft of torque.
• The 23-combined-mpg story is real. Dodge says the SIXPACK R/T delivers a combined 23 mpg in real-world driving — meaningfully better than the V8 it replaced, which struggled to hit 19 combined.

What’s the case for the Daytona EV?

If you want the quickest production Dodge ever, charge at home, and never visit a gas station again, the Daytona is the answer. Honest reasons to buy the Daytona over the SIXPACK:

• Faster than the SIXPACK Scat Pack. The Daytona Scat Pack does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds vs the SIXPACK Scat Pack’s 3.9 seconds. The 670-horsepower output is the highest of any Charger Dodge has ever sold.
• Instant torque from a standstill. Electric motors deliver peak torque immediately — no waiting for turbos to spool or transmissions to shift. The launch is in a different league than any gas Charger.
• Significantly cheaper to operate. Charging at home in Minnesota typically costs about $0.13 per kWh. A full charge for the Daytona is roughly $12 to $13 of electricity for 223 to 295 miles of range. The SIXPACK costs about $40 to $50 of premium gas to cover the same distance.
• Less maintenance. No oil changes, no spark plugs, no exhaust system, no transmission service. Brake life is extended because regenerative braking does most of the work. Annual service cost on an EV typically runs less than half of a comparable gas vehicle.
• Quiet daily driver experience. The Daytona can be silent if you want it. The Fratzonic exhaust can be turned down. For a daily commute, it’s a different kind of luxury.
• PowerShot button. A dedicated button gives you a brief horsepower boost for passing. Gas Chargers don’t get this.
• Federal tax credits may apply. EV buyers may qualify for federal tax credits depending on income and other factors. Check with a tax professional for your specific situation.

How does pricing compare?

Side-by-side starting MSRPs across the lineup. All prices exclude the $1,995 destination charge:

Model	Powertrain	Power	MSRP
Charger R/T 2-door	Gas SIXPACK SO	420 hp	$49,995
Charger R/T 4-door	Gas SIXPACK SO	420 hp	$51,995
Charger Scat Pack 2-door	Gas SIXPACK HO	550 hp	$54,995
Charger Scat Pack 4-door	Gas SIXPACK HO	550 hp	$56,995
Daytona Scat Pack BEV 2-door	Electric	670 hp	$59,995
Daytona R/T BEV 4-door	Electric (order)	536 hp	$61,595
Daytona Scat Pack BEV 4-door	Electric	670 hp	$61,995

A few honest observations: the SIXPACK R/T is the cheapest entry point at $49,995 and gets you the most-entry-level horsepower of any muscle car on sale today. The Daytona Scat Pack at $59,995 is the cheapest path to 670 horsepower in any production muscle car. The Daytona R/T at $61,595 actually costs more than the gas Scat Pack but produces 14 fewer horsepower — you’re paying for the EV powertrain itself, not for more raw power than the gas car offers.

How does performance compare?

Side-by-side performance benchmarks at equivalent trim levels:

Spec	SIXPACK R/T	SIXPACK Scat Pack	Daytona Scat Pack BEV
Horsepower	420 hp	550 hp	670 hp
Torque	468 lb-ft	531 lb-ft	627 lb-ft
0-60 mph	4.6 sec	3.9 sec	3.3 sec
Quarter mile	12.9 sec	12.2 sec	~11.6 sec
Drivetrain	AWD (selectable RWD)	AWD (selectable RWD)	AWD (selectable RWD)
Fuel / Range	23 mpg combined	19 mpg combined	223 mi EPA (Track Pack)

The Daytona BEV is meaningfully quicker than any gas Charger thanks to instant electric torque delivery. But beyond pure straight-line acceleration, the gas SIXPACK has a quality the Daytona doesn’t: a real engine you can wind out, gear changes you can feel, and an exhaust note that responds to your right foot. They’re different kinds of performance, and which one you prefer is genuinely a personal call.

What does cost of ownership look like over five years?

Cost of ownership shifts the math significantly. A realistic 5-year, 75,000-mile comparison for a central Minnesota driver who covers 15,000 miles per year:

SIXPACK Scat Pack at 19 mpg combined:

• Fuel: ~3,947 gallons of premium 91-octane at $3.75/gal average = ~$14,800
• Oil changes (every 7,500 miles): 10 services at ~$110 = ~$1,100
• Other scheduled service: ~$1,200
• 5-year operating cost (excluding insurance): ~$17,100

Daytona Scat Pack BEV at 2.5 mi/kWh average:

• Electricity: ~30,000 kWh at $0.13/kWh home charging = ~$3,900
• Scheduled service (no oil/exhaust/spark plugs): ~$800
• Public fast-charging occasional use: ~$400
• 5-year operating cost (excluding insurance): ~$5,100

The Daytona’s 5-year operating cost is roughly $12,000 less than the gas SIXPACK Scat Pack. That eats up most of the $5,000 sticker premium for the Daytona Scat Pack vs SIXPACK Scat Pack and then some. If you charge at home regularly, the Daytona is dramatically cheaper to live with over the long haul.

Important caveat: If you don’t have home charging and rely on public fast-charging, the math changes significantly. DC fast-charging in Minnesota typically runs $0.30 to $0.50 per kWh, which can push EV operating costs above gas. Home charging is the assumption that makes EV ownership cheaper than gas.

Which 2026 Charger fits central Minnesota best?

Honest answer: depends on your home charging situation more than anything else. A few realistic profiles we see at the Jay Malone CDJR lot in Hutchinson:

You have a garage with 240V power available:

• The Daytona makes real financial sense. Installing a Level 2 home charger typically runs $1,500-3,000 with electrician installation. After that, daily charging happens overnight at ~$2.50 per full charge.
• Range concerns largely disappear if your daily driving stays within ~150 miles round-trip.
• Cold weather range loss is real but manageable when you start each day with a full battery.

You don’t have home charging or it’s impractical:

• The SIXPACK is the right choice. Public fast-charging is available but inconvenient as a daily routine, and it eliminates most of the cost-of-ownership advantage.
• The lower MSRP and predictable refueling experience make the SIXPACK significantly less stressful to own.

You drive long distances regularly (Cities, Duluth, Fargo trips):

• The SIXPACK is more practical for trips beyond ~200 miles round-trip without charging. Highway 7, I-94, and US-12 are well-served by gas stations.
• The Daytona can do these trips with charging stops, but it adds 30-45 minutes to a 4-hour drive. Worth knowing before committing.

You want a weekend / second vehicle for fun:

• Either works. The SIXPACK can be stored for winter without battery concerns. The Daytona benefits from staying plugged in but doesn’t require constant use to maintain.
• For pure weekend muscle car feel and exhaust note, the SIXPACK Scat Pack is the closer match to traditional muscle car ownership.

How do I choose between the SIXPACK and Daytona?

Five honest questions to ask yourself:

1. Can you charge at home? If yes, the Daytona becomes dramatically more viable. If no, the SIXPACK is almost certainly the right answer.
2. How much do you care about exhaust note? The SIXPACK has a real one. The Daytona’s Fratzonic exhaust is artificial and is either a love-it-or-hate-it feature. Sit in both and decide for yourself.
3. How much do you drive per day? Under 150 miles round-trip favors the Daytona. Long highway commutes or regular trips beyond 200 miles favor the SIXPACK.
4. Do you want the absolute quickest car possible? Daytona Scat Pack at 3.3 seconds is quicker than anything else in the lineup.
5. What’s your fuel cost tolerance? 75,000 miles in 5 years means about $14,800 in premium gas for the SIXPACK vs about $3,900 in home-charged electricity for the Daytona. If that math matters to you, it matters.

Best advice: come drive both. We don’t always have both in stock at the same time, but we can usually arrange test drives within a few days if we need to bring one in. Driving them back to back makes the choice obvious for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Charger a gas car or an electric car?

Both. The 2026 Charger is sold as either a gas-powered SIXPACK model or a fully electric Daytona BEV model. Same body, same chassis, same overall design — different powertrain. You choose at order time. We sell both at Jay Malone CDJR.

Which is faster, the SIXPACK or the Daytona?

The Daytona Scat Pack BEV is quicker than any gas SIXPACK Charger in straight-line acceleration — 3.3 seconds to 60 mph vs 3.9 seconds for the SIXPACK Scat Pack. Beyond pure acceleration numbers though, the SIXPACK delivers performance with a real exhaust note and the traditional muscle car driving feel that the electric Daytona can’t match.

How much does it cost to charge a Charger Daytona at home?

In central Minnesota, residential electricity typically runs about $0.13 per kWh. A full charge of the Daytona’s 100.5 kWh battery (93.9 kWh usable) costs about $12-13 of electricity and provides 223-295 miles of range depending on trim and package. Compare that to roughly $40-50 of premium gas for the SIXPACK to cover similar distance.

Does the Daytona lose range in cold weather?

Yes — like all EVs. Expect approximately 15-30% range reduction at sub-zero temperatures, which is normal for lithium-ion batteries in cold climates. Garage parking helps preserve range significantly. Pre-conditioning the battery while plugged in (warming it up before you leave) further reduces the range hit. With home charging and a garage, the Daytona works well year-round in Minnesota.

Is the SIXPACK better than the HEMI V8 it replaces?

By the numbers, yes. The Hurricane HO at 550 hp makes 65 more horsepower than the 6.4L 392 V8. The Hurricane SO at 420 hp makes 50 more hp than the 5.7L HEMI R/T. Both Hurricane variants beat their V8 predecessors in 0-60 and quarter-mile times. The trade-off is the exhaust note — the inline-six is mechanical and immediate but doesn’t deliver the iconic V8 sound the HEMI was famous for.

Can I switch between AWD and RWD on a SIXPACK Charger?

Yes. Both the SIXPACK and the Daytona include a front-axle disconnect (SIXPACK) or rear-motor-only mode (Daytona) that lets you switch to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button. This is perfect for burnouts, drifting in a controlled environment, or just classic muscle car driving feel on dry pavement.

Will the Daytona qualify for federal EV tax credits?

Possibly — eligibility depends on your tax situation, income, the vehicle’s final assembly location, and battery sourcing rules. The Daytona is built in Windsor, Ontario at Stellantis’s Canadian plant. Check with a tax professional to confirm eligibility for your specific purchase. We don’t provide tax advice at the dealership level.

Should I order or buy off the lot?

The Charger is a low-volume car in central Minnesota. Most CDJR dealers carry only one or two on the lot at any time, and the specific configuration you want (gas vs electric, R/T vs Scat Pack, 2-door vs 4-door, specific color) is often a factory order. Jay Malone CDJR doesn’t charge a locator or factory-order fee — build times typically run 8-12 weeks. Reach out and we’ll get the order started.

There’s no wrong answer between the SIXPACK and Daytona — just different tools for different lives. If you have home charging, drive within ~150 miles round-trip most days, and want the quickest production Charger ever, the Daytona is the better choice. If you don’t have home charging, drive long distances regularly, or want a traditional gas muscle car ownership experience with a real exhaust note, the SIXPACK is the better choice. Stop in at Jay Malone CDJR in Hutchinson and we’ll walk you through both. We sell both. We order both. No locator fee, no markup, no pressure to take something off the lot just because it’s there.