There are few vehicles that carry as much emotional weight and a vocal fandom as the Dodge Charger.
For decades, it has represented proud loud V8s, smoky burnouts, and the unapologetic display of American performance. So, when Dodge announced that the next chapter of the Charger would move beyond the HEMI into the future, enthusiasts reacted exactly how you’d expect with vocal fervor and commentary.
Then I drove the 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK dressed with the Blacktop, and and fell hard for the sheer fun it, and for the fact that it isn’t a replacement pretending to be something it’s not. It’s an evolution that respects the past while acknowledging that new paths where performance is headed.
Yes, It Has Six Cylinders. No, It Doesn’t Feel Like a Compromise.
Let’s get the noisy elephant out of the way. The legendary HEMI V8 is gone from the standard Charger lineup, replaced by Stellantis’ twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. The new SIXPACK badge is a bold nod to Dodge’s performance heritage, but under the hood lives an entirely modern powertrain. The R/T (which will be in a separate review) produces 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque, while the High Output Scat Pack (this drive) amps things up with an exhilarating 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque.
Those aren’t play numbers. They are numbers that speak to the power beneath the hood, but drive it and you’ll see that it’s nimble, fun and beastly. Scat Pack reaches 60 mph in about 3.9 seconds, territory once reserved for far more expensive performance cars and beloved by Hellcat afficionados.
The Biggest Surprise? Contradicting the Manufactured Outrage, It Still Feels Like a Dodge.
Performance isn’t just measured by a stopwatch. It’s measured by how a car makes you feel when you merge onto the highway. It’s in how it handles when you dance on a winding road and that rush when you get the chance to stretch its legs. You know it’s good when you park, glance back and a grin just a bit because the stance reminds you of the delight and looks just right.
This Charger in Peel Out delivers those moments.
The twin-turbo Hurricane engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission doesn’t quite sound like the HEMI, and pretending otherwise would miss the point. Instead, it delivers immediate torque, strong mid-range acceleration, and a confidence that feels more refined than previous generations without losing its Charger personality. Its progress wrapped in familiar packaging.
Built for More Than Straight-Line Speed
One of the most interesting engineering decisions is standard all-wheel drive. For some longtime muscle car fans, that may seem controversial. It’s a smart compromise that grants confidence in less-than-ideal weather, while weekend fun hasn’t been forgotten and is quite in fact encouraged. That balance feels especially relevant, when buyers want value and one vehicle that can handle school pickup on Friday and a thrilling drive Saturday morning.
Inside, the Charger Has Grown Up
The interior is another pleasant surprise. Instead of relying solely on nostalgia, Dodge combines retro-inspired design cues with a thoroughly modern cockpit. You’ll find leather and suede performance seating, an uncluttered dash and clean details. From the driver across you’ll see a large, 16-inch full color digital display for the driver, a 12.3-inch touchscreen U-connect-enabled display on the central infotainment center.
Standard is also a 9-speaker (with an available 18-speaker) Alpine sound system, an improved tactile quality to the materials (there’s something lovely about real leather), available performance pages, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and thoughtful technology that combine to create a cabin that feels worthy of a flagship performance car rather than simply acceptable compromises because “it’s a muscle car.” It’s a place you’ll actually want to spend time—not just endure until the next stoplight.
What I Dig the Most?
As someone who spends a lot of time behind the wheel evaluating vehicles for families, commuters, and enthusiasts alike, I appreciate manufacturers that refuse to stand still and coast on the wins of the past. The easy path would have been building yesterday’s Charger forever and endless reboots of the same vehicle.
Instead, Dodge chose the harder route and brought a vehicle that can withstand the conversation. The result is a performance car that’s quicker, more technologically advanced, and more functionally usable than many of the V8-powered Chargers that came before it. It still bears the Americana spirit of generations past but is steadily paving the way to the forward.
As tested quick facts:
The vehicle that we tested is the 2026 Dodge Chart Scat Pack Plus aka the Sixpack. It bases at $54,995. As tested, it comes in at $69,455 with the optional Customer Preferred Package 22B ($4,995) which includes ventilated front seats, heated second row seats, 16-inch color driver display with a map-in display, Alexa-built in with integrated voice command, U-Connect 5 Navigation with 12.3-inch touchscreen display, a wireless charging pad, surround-view camera system, a power hatch, bright pedals, connected travel and traffic services, heads-up display, Attitude Adjustment (adjustable ambient) lighting, exterior mirror lamps with the new logo, a power-tilt steering column and rain-sensitive windshield wipers. It also had the Blacktop Package ($1,095) that brings the dual-rear exhaust tips and dark exterior badging. The Carbon and Suede Package ($1,995), the 18-speaker Alpine High-Performance Audio Package with a subwoofer ($1,495) and the 20-inch x 11-inch wheel and tire package ($1,095) rounded out the package.
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