The all‑new Dodge Charger has cemented its status as the standard‑bearer of modern American muscle, capturing MotorWeek’s 2026 Drivers’ Choice “Best of the Year” award alongside the title of Best Sport Coupe. In MotorWeek’s annual evaluation of more than a hundred new vehicles across 12 categories, the next‑generation Charger rose above the field on the strength of its multi‑energy performance, bold design and everyday usability, including its clever “hidden hatch” practicality.
MotorWeek first named the Charger a repeat winner in the Best Sport Coupe category, then elevated it to Best of the Year after weighing all category champions against one another. The dual honors underscore how thoroughly Dodge has reimagined its iconic nameplate for a new era without abandoning the raw performance and attitude that made the Charger a legend in the first place.
A New Definition of the Muscle Car
For MotorWeek creator and host John Davis, the 2026 Charger represents nothing less than a pivotal moment in American performance car history. He describes the muscle car as “sacrosanct” in the national automotive story and argues that Dodge, under Stellantis, has “reaffirmed the core values of Detroit’s finest for well into the future times two” with this latest Charger. In his view, Dodge has managed an intricate balancing act: pushing imaginative engineering forward while remaining faithful to what made muscle cars global icons in the first place.
Central to that balance is a single, versatile chassis that supports both two‑door and four‑door body styles, as well as internal‑combustion and battery‑electric powertrains. Davis notes that this shared architecture lets Dodge satisfy two very different kinds of enthusiasts: those excited by the potential of electrification, and those who still want nothing but gasoline coursing through their cars’ engines. For him, the Charger Daytona proves that a battery‑electric vehicle can heighten street‑legal high performance and still hit all the sensory notes muscle‑car fans crave, while the twin‑turbocharged SIXPACK models show Dodge never forgot its obligation to preserve—and expand—the legacy of the American muscle car.
Dodge Leadership: “Next Chapter of American Muscle”
Inside Dodge, the MotorWeek sweep is seen as a powerful endorsement of the brand’s strategy. Dodge CEO Matt McAlear calls the latest Charger “the next chapter of American muscle” and describes the dual awards as an “incredible honor” for the company’s next‑generation performance flagship. He argues that the recognition validates three pillars of the program: uncompromising performance, instantly recognizable design and advanced technology that still feels authentically Dodge.
McAlear emphasizes that the team’s goal was never to chase trends at the expense of character. Instead, the new Charger had to deliver cutting‑edge powertrains and features while remaining true to the DNA that Dodge loyalists expect: aggressive styling, visceral acceleration and an unapologetically performance‑first personality. The warm reception from media and awards juries suggests that formula is resonating far beyond the brand’s core fan base.
A Growing Trophy Case
MotorWeek’s honors are the latest in a rapid succession of high‑profile accolades for the multi‑energy Charger lineup. The car has already been named 2026 North American Car of the Year by the NACTOY jury, one of the industry’s most closely watched awards, and has captured additional Car of the Year titles from TopGear.com, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Collectively, those awards reflect both global enthusiasm and strong hometown pride from Detroit‑based voices that know the muscle‑car story intimately.
These plaudits also signal industry recognition of Dodge’s willingness to take risks. In an era when many performance nameplates are either disappearing or retreating into niche status, the Charger has instead broadened its reach with multiple body styles and powertrains. The result is a car that appeals to traditional V‑8 devotees, tech‑minded early adopters and everyday drivers who simply want a fast, distinctive, all‑weather vehicle.
Multi-Energy Lineup: Powertrain for Every Fan
Behind the headlines is a remarkably diverse Charger portfolio, all of it already open for customer orders. Every model features standard all‑wheel drive and a choice of two‑door coupe or four‑door sedan configurations, giving buyers unusual flexibility in a performance segment that often forces hard compromises on practicality.
On the combustion side, the lineup is anchored by the SIXPACK family of twin‑turbocharged engines. The Charger Scat Pack uses a high‑output 3.0‑liter Twin Turbo SIXPACK powerplant rated at 550 horsepower, making it the most powerful vehicle in the industry under 55,000 dollars and a clear statement of Dodge’s intent to democratize serious performance. The Charger R/T employs a standard‑output 420‑horsepower SIXPACK engine, delivering what Dodge describes as the highest entry‑level horsepower of any muscle car on the market, yet pairing that output with standard all‑wheel drive for year‑round usability.
For those drawn to electrification, the Charger Daytona Scat Pack stands as the lineup’s technological flagship. This all‑electric model produces 670 horsepower and carries the bold claim of being the quickest and most powerful muscle car in the world. In practical terms, it shows how battery‑electric propulsion can amplify the immediacy and sheer shove that enthusiasts associate with classic muscle, while adding the silent, instant torque and efficiency benefits unique to EVs. Together, these three core variants—Scat Pack, R/T and Daytona—illustrate Dodge’s strategy of using multiple energy sources to serve one overarching mission: delivering thrilling acceleration and character in every configuration.
MotorWeek’s Testing Legacy and the Charger’s Appeal
MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Awards come with a long track record. Over 45 years of broadcasting, the show has paused mid‑season each year to assess the state of the industry and highlight the best new vehicles. Its team drives and instrument‑tests more than 150 new cars and trucks annually, then compiles a shortlist of standouts in categories tailored to reflect real‑world consumer interests and evolving market trends. Winners must not only excel in their own segments but also stand out across multiple criteria, from performance and value to practicality and innovation.
That context makes the Charger’s dual win particularly significant. In an environment where crossovers and electric SUVs increasingly dominate attention, a performance‑focused coupe and sedan range still managed to rise to the top of MotorWeek’s overall rankings. The recognition suggests that there is still robust appetite for cars that prioritize driving excitement—especially when they can also offer all‑weather capability, modern tech and body styles flexible enough to serve daily‑driver duties.
Dodge Brand: A Century-Plus of Performance
The new Charger arrives as the latest chapter in a performance story that stretches back 112 years. Since the era of brothers John and Horace Dodge, the brand has built its identity around power, durability and no‑nonsense attitude. Today, Dodge positions itself explicitly as “America’s performance brand,” and the multi‑energy Charger is the clearest manifestation of that promise in the passenger‑car space.
Beyond the Charger, the portfolio remains anchored by high‑output SUVs such as the 710‑horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat, billed as the fastest American gas‑powered SUV and now sold in all 50 states. The new Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak edition takes personalization to extremes, offering more than 13 million possible customization combinations for buyers seeking a truly individual three‑row performance vehicle. At the same time, the 360‑horsepower 5.7‑liter Durango GT HEMI AWD holds its ground as the most affordable all‑wheel‑drive V‑8 in the segment, reinforcing Dodge’s pattern of delivering big power at accessible price points.
As part of global automaker Stellantis, Dodge benefits from a broad portfolio of platforms, technologies and resources, but the brand’s focus remains tightly trained on performance‑oriented products. With the new Charger earning a cascade of top‑tier awards and the broader lineup still pushing the limits of power and choice, Dodge appears intent on ensuring that the muscle‑car spirit not only survives the industry’s transition, but thrives in the multi‑energy future.
