Updated

Updated · Car and Driver · Jul 29

2026 Dodge Charger R/T Adds 420-HP Gas Engine as Dodge Tries to Reverse 75,920-to-9,562 Sales Collapse

Updated

Updated · Car and Driver · Jul 29

2026 Dodge Charger R/T Adds 420-HP Gas Engine as Dodge Tries to Reverse 75,920-to-9,562 Sales Collapse

Q: Are buyers willing to pay nearly $70,000 for a six-cylinder Dodge Charger that lacks the iconic rumble of a classic Hemi?

Not in large numbers at full sticker price, at least so far. The evidence points to clear resistance. The new gas-powered Charger is selling better than the EV, and Stellantis has said combustion versions should make up about 90% of Charger volume. Recent reports show Hurricane-powered Charger sales improving sharply year over year, which suggests buyers do want a gasoline option. But that does not mean they are eager to pay nearly $70,000 for it. Demand remains far below the old Charger’s levels, and inventory is piling up. One market report put the 2026 Charger at a 385-day supply, a sign dealers have far more cars than buyers are taking. Dodge has already leaned on incentives, reviving its “Power Dollars” program with discounts of up to $5,500 on Sixpack models. That is a strong signal the market is price-sensitive. The product itself helps explain the hesitation. The Hurricane inline-six makes more power than the old 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, and the new four-door body restores some of the practicality buyers wanted. But reviews say the car is very heavy, less agile than its predecessor, and lacks the defining soundtrack many Charger loyalists associate with the nameplate. At roughly $64,000 to $69,000 in higher trims, buyers are being asked to pay premium money for a car that does not fully deliver the emotional payoff of a Hemi-era Charger. The likely answer is that some buyers will, especially with discounts, but many traditional Dodge customers still appear unconvinced.

3 articles · Updated · Car and Driver · Jul 29

Dodge’s 2026 Charger R/T brings a 420-hp twin-turbo inline-six and a new four-door body to a lineup that had stumbled after launching first as an EV.
Sales had plunged to 9,562 last year from 75,920 in 2023, and the gas model is meant to broaden appeal with a lower-volume-seller trim and more practical body style.
Testing showed mixed results: the 4,921-pound R/T hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, quicker than the old V-8 R/T, but its rolling acceleration, 0.89 g grip and 181-foot braking reflected the added mass.
Pricing also shifts the equation, with the four-door R/T starting at $53,990 and the tested car at $64,565 before a $4,200 discount, versus $46,660 for the outgoing Charger R/T.
The review concludes the Sixpack is a more credible fit for Mopar fans than the electric Charger, though platform compromises and speculation about a Hemi return still hang over the model.