Gas is back! Or, at least it is for those rowdy Dodge Brothers. After launching its new generation Charger as an electric car, Dodge is bringing internal combustion back to the table. That power plant comes in the form of a three-liter Hurricane inline-six. But what is the new Charger like to drive? Will an inline-six-powered Charger be any good? I’m in Vermont to find out, and I want to ask you what you would like to know about it.
Admittedly, driving a Dodge Charger and the Dodge Challenger have been on my bucket list ever since I learned more about modern Mopar muscle through the iconic Top Gear “Muscle Car Challenge” special. Yes, that’s the one where the three doofuses drove across America in a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a Cadillac CTS-V, and a Dodge Challenger SRT8. I thought Dodge nailed the modern retro look way better than the Ford Mustang, and it was so awesome that Dodge offered that muscle with four doors, too.
Now, the Challenger is gone, and the Charger has entered a new generation. The neo-retro vibes are still there, and now the Challenger can be had with two doors or four doors. The new Charger did have a bit of a bumpy start when it hit the road in 2024. The first ones in the hands of the public were of the Daytona flavor, which meant that they were all-electric. The Daytona was plenty quirky, with its clever front wing and its silly Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust sound system that makes the EV as loud as an old Hellcat.
That EV launched to mixed reviews, and some Dodge fans felt saddened by the fact that the brand that once traded in all things V8 threw away internal combustion for its flagship muscle car. Whereas a Toyota RAV4 might be America’s default car, the Charger has long been the kind of car for people who worship at the altar of the Hemi V8 and live their lives a drag at a time. Dodge has long had the weirdly charming character of solving problems with horsepower, and doing so for rather accessible prices.
For those folks, the Charger Sixpack now exists. Dodge got the internal combustion gang back together for another generation of burnouts, donuts, exhaust noise, and hooliganism. Only this time, there isn’t a Hemi V8 under the hood, but a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six. You can get it with 420 thoroughbreds in the stable in the Sixpack R/T, or with 550 horses just begging to be set loose in the Scat Pack.
I’ve already seen some of these out in the wild, but I have not driven one yet. Dodge flew me out to Stowe, Vermont, so I could experience the Hurricane through some spectacular mountains. This is my first time ever in Vermont, and I already can’t stop laughing about how much people really want me to taste some syrup while I’m out here.
I’ve also been weirded out by the fact that I’m seeing so many Vermont license plates, but you know, actually in Vermont and not on one of my cars.
Anyway, the new straight-six Scat Pack, which hits 60 mph in about 3.9 seconds largely thanks to standard all-wheel drive, is faster than the older, more powerful V8 Scat Pack. But fear not, burnout fans, because Dodge lets you kill power to the front axle and lock only the front brakes so you can kill tires to your heart’s and budget’s content.
Now, the Sixpack Scat Pack has been out long enough that it has been reviewed by everyone from Throttle House to MotorWeek. But these are the first drives of the R/T and four-door. I see myself as a fresh set of eyes here. I have not driven the old Chargers, and I’m not a card-carrying member of the “Brotherhood of Muscle.” However, I do like fast cars, I do like fun cars, and I adore cars that figure out creative ways to make their drivers smile.
I already dig the style, the interior space, and the interior design of the new Chargers. So, now it’s time to see if the drive matches the looks.
For the next day, I will have access to the 420-horsepower Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T, the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, a Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak AWD, and a Dodge Charger Daytona. Apparently, I’m going to get to drive these big ol’ Dodges like most owners probably will. [Ed note: I assume this means “As if stolen.” – Pete]
What do you want to know about them?
What’s it actually like to live with. Ya know, street parking, dodging (pun not intended) potholes, slogging through traffic, going up steep driveways, etc. It’s a big car, but does it feel like it?
Is the hood latch absolute garbage on the gas powered models too? It seems half of the ones at the dealership are broken.
One of the rare cars that looks significantly better as a four-door than a coupe. It’s still worse looking than the outgoing Charger though.
Please ask/check if they fixed the annoying bug with the rear hatch only opening once per ignition cycle.
I own a 25 Daytona RT and the hatch can only be opened once until you turn the car off, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. It just has a button on the exterior so you are completely at the mercy of the software gremlins to get your cargo out.
This car is on my list. Straight 6, twin turbo, AWD, with line lock? Sounds like a GTR. Does 550 horsepower actually make this car fast or is it too heavy? Could you daily it in a snowy climate (Maine) how easy is it to turn on the heated steering wheel and seat? These are usually done in a hurry up here. How is the rear hatch can you carry anything bulky? Could it blast through a fresh snowbank if you had to leave for work before they plow? How is visibility?
from what I saw in a YT video, an M4 Competition and RS3 would outrun a Scat Pack in a drag race, but the later just by a thin margin.
Make sure to stop at Stowe Mercantile while there.
Am I the one who thinks it’s just weird that the hood is higher than the belt line?
When are we getting the v8 with 6 speed manual rwd ? I like the body style and interior space.
Does it come with a vape pen or do I have to supply my own?
How good is it at doing “normal car” things? That is, can you drive it successfully not only as a fun car on the weekends but also a daily commuter when you’re picking up groceries and a kid on the way home from work?
I was unaware that Dodge was setting up street takeovers in VT for journalists.
Ask Dodge who thought holding a muscle car / truck jamboree for the auto press in Vermont in early March was a good idea? Must have missed someone when sweeping out appointees of the old regime. On another note, if available try soft serve vanilla maple syrup ice cream.
I’m completely unfamiliar with muscle cars, but I do appreciate a V8 engine. I’ve heard good things about the Hurricane I6…are they true?
So the mystery manufacturer was Dodge? I wonder if that missive was from Dodge management, or if it came down from the upper levels of Stellantis.
Regarding the maple syrup…I think you’re a little early for sugaring season, but yes you need to taste real Vermont maple syrup!!! Ideally, you’ll be able to sample the different grades. Some places up that way also produce birch syrup, which is best enjoyed when cooked into a dish IMO.
I am curious what it is like to enter and exit this thing in a parking lot. It seems like a wide car and also looks to have very wide doors. I would think loading and unloading could be a hassle between parked cars.
Especially loading the rear seats, which usually involves the driver or passenger opening the door, flipping the seat forward and then opening the door more to allow the rear passenger by.
How do the floormats taste?
Not a question but a suggestion: Start a Sideshow. Everyone loves them and you will be the most popular auto journalist of all time (as if you aren’t well on your way). Just block an intersection or a freeway with some sweet circular burning rubber and watch the clicks and membership numbers soar. I bet all the websites will be writing articles in your praise.
For some reason, I read this as “slideshow.” I was going to ask how you could encourage Mercedes to be so irresponsible?!?! But you typed “sideshow,” so nevermind.
I had the same misread, and thought, “What?! That’s part of what drove me here from the OLD site! Death to slidshows!”
Funnily enough, they don’t do slideshows anymore.
Not that the alternative is much better
The sad thing is I think I’d somehow be less judgy if Mercedes did a street takeover sideshow (which I do absolutely, categorically denounce just so we’re clear) than if the Autopian pulled the slideshow stunt.
Can it fly? If yes, how far?
Depends on how fast you were going?
How much rust was preinstalled at the factory?
None. It’s a dealer installed option when they sit on the lot unsold for extended periods.
Its a Dodge, not a Toyota. Geez.
I’m interested in how many times you get a check engine light while you have it.
The EV version looks a lot better. The diving hood and fake grille/wing takes a ton of bulk out of the front of the EV, and the lower grille looks much cleaner on the EV.
The added hood height and mass on this makes it looks like they just smashed together the the old Charger and Challenger and it’s just a blobby mess.
To me, it looks like a bad aftermarket hood you’d see on a clapped-out 00’s Mustang
It makes it look so much worse, which is interesting on such a big car and where the 2nd generation it tries to evoke was a marvel of balancing its ridiculous proportions.
I like how they lined all those chargers up perfectly like dominos in the photo, with the first car’s performance rear tires sitting right on a patch of clear ice.
Are they piping fake EV noises into the cabin to make the company feel better about screwing up the initial launch?
I hate it when somebody Fratzogs in the car with the windows up.
Meeeeeeeehhhhh, that was a good one!
1.) When are they getting rid of the electric door handles?
2.) When are they going to add a manual transmission option?
3.) Range Extended EV version?
Is the back seat large enough to fit all the electrical gremlins that come with it?
theres always room for gremlins
Okay, everybody wants to know how far you can do a burnout, but I want something weird.
Hypermile it. Just for a bit. Like, 10 miles or so. See just how good you can get the gas mileage.
Can’t really hypermile in VT. Too many hills.
Have to zoom and glide hills, but you can’t really hypermile. Also, you’re either going to be stuck behind slugs with nowhere to be, making zooming down grades difficult (Vermonters only speed when there’s black ice or snow conditions, then they’ll tailgate you no matter how fast you’re going).