2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD Road Test and Review

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

You may be wondering why anyone would romp in the snow behind the wheel of a muscle car. Prudent thought, except that the subject of this test is the 2026 Dodge Charger, which is now available in a choice of gas-powered or battery-electric models, each equipped with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). One of the biggest digs against sedans in recent years has been their less-than-optimal cargo flexibility and lack of AWD. After all, these are both major selling points for SUVs and crossovers.

It’s safe to say that owners of older nose-heavy, rear-drive muscle cars would keep them safely tucked away from the elements. So to dispel the notion that the rejiggered all-wheel-drive Charger is a different kind of performance sedan, Dodge invited media to experience its latest offering on the slippery stuff of a New England winter.

Starting out in Stowe, Vermont, Autoweb had the opportunity to evaluate the winter-weather suitability of gas-powered versions of the all-wheel-drive 2026 Dodge Charger over approximately 150 miles of snow- and slush-covered New England public roads, with an afternoon stop to do spirited off-highway driving on packed snow at the Team O’Neil Rally School in the foothills of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Four-Door Convenience, Coupe Style

Long, low, wide, and dripping with curb appeal, the new Dodge Charger sedan presents a striking counterpoint to the vast selection of tall and squarish SUVs and crossovers in the market. Its sleek, angular lines are inspired by second-generation 1968-1970 Chargers you may have seen in the Steve McQueen-starring car-chase thriller flick "Bullitt," or the campy "Dukes of Hazzard" television show.

By today’s standards, the Charger is a large car. Stretching more than 17 feet (206.6 inches) from nose to tail, it’s more than a foot longer and nearly a half foot wider than the Cadillac CT5-V performance sedan.

While channeling the 1968-1970 Charger’s sporty fastback roofline, Dodge designers managed to pull off a pair of body styles – a two-door coupe, as with the 1966-1978 models, and a four-door sedan variant, like the most-recent 2006-2023 iterations. And offering a feature uncommon in big sedans, the Charger has a hidden hatchback that adds crossover SUV-esque cargo space and versatility.

Including the rather hefty $1,995 destination charge, base prices for the two-door coupes start at $51,990 for the 420-horsepower gas-powered Charger R/T, $57,685 for the 550-hp gas-powered Charger Scat Pack, and $61,990 for the all-electric, 670-hp Charger Daytona. Four-door Chargers are a $2,000 upcharge over two-door models.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

It's a Gas

Despite the fact that the battery-electric Charger Daytona is lightning quick, right up there in Hellcat country, the Charger’s strong base of muscle car enthusiasts will be drawn to the more traditional gas-powered Charger Sixpack models. It’s what’s under the hood that counts with this crowd. Dodge had both R/T and Scat Pack Sixpack versions with the Hurricane six-cylinder available for comparison during different legs of the evaluation.

The 2026 R/T model’s standard Sixpack 3.0-liter twin-turbo Inline six develops an ample 420 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 468 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm, good for a tidy 4.6-second sprint from rest to 60 mph. EPA estimates are 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway/20 mpg combined. Premium fuel is recommended. It’s notable that the new R/T’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo six generates an additional 50 horsepower and 73 pound-feet of torque than the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 in the previous-generation Charger R/T model.

Unavailable with the R/T model, the Charger Scat Pack comes with the High Output version of the Sixpack 3.0 twin-turbo six-cylinder with bigger turbos and higher boost pressure, increasing output to 550 horsepower at a loftier 6,200 rpm and torque to 531 pound-feet at 3,500 rpm. Zero-to 60 mph sprints drop to 3.9 seconds, and EPA estimates are shaved to 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. Premium fuel is more than a recommendation with the High Output engine—it's a requirement. The Scat Pack also gets a more talkative dual-mode active exhaust that is freer-flowing at wider throttle openings.

Both engines are mated to a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters available in higher trims.

Basically derived from the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with two more cylinders added, the Hurricane inline six is an exceptionally smooth engine due to its balanced firing pulses. Instead of the lusty baritone rumble of a Hemi V8, the Sixpack twin-turbo six has a higher-pitched, more European-sounding but no less-compelling, exhaust note.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Roomy and Modern Cabin

Inside, the R/T Plus four-door test car offers a contemporary blend of full-size sedan roominess, modern conveniences, and tech. Materials look and feel premium, from the heated, flat-top and flat-bottom sport steering wheel to the ergonomically optimal, leather-wrapped pistol-grip shifter that falls neatly into hand and within easy thumb-reach, the engine start/stop pushbutton.

Switchgear is an easy-to-live-with mix of hard buttons. On the dash, you have knobs for dual-zone climate control, while on the steering wheel, you have buttons for adaptive cruise control, drive modes, and driver display modes. You have electronic touchscreen icons for accessing media, Tom Tom navigation, seat heating and cooling, phone controls, vehicle settings, and more on the bright and crisp standard 12.3-inch center display.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all models, with a six-speaker stereo in the base R/T and a nine-speaker Alpine system in higher trims. Dodge equipped all of the test cars with an optional immersive 18-speaker Alpine premium audio system which brings the additional benefit of active road-noise suppression via the Charger’s speakers. Wonder of wonders, all audio systems retain easy-to-use rotary analog knobs for tuning and adjusting volume.

The R/T Plus test car was fitted with optional 12-way power-assisted front seats. The leatherette-covered high-back buckets were both supportive during testing at the rally school and premium to the touch with their suede inserts.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

All-Wheel Drive and Drive Modes

Driver-selectable drive modes in the Charger R/T can be accessed via the vehicle settings tab on the center infotainment screen and can be used to independently vary the percentage of available engine torque sent to the front and rear wheels. For both Auto and Eco modes, the torque split is 40 percent front/60 percent rear, while Wet/Snow mode revises that to 50/50 front/rear torque split, and Sport mode directs 30 percent to the front wheels and 70 to the rears. As the name implies, RWD/Line Lock mode sends everything to the rears just like a vintage muscle car. A mechanical limited-slip differential handles side-to-side traction at the rear axle. Launch control and line lock included with the optional Performance Handling package add further old-school muscle car fun on dry pavement. Also included with the Performance Handling package is a Custom drive mode, which lets the driver tailor throttle response, shift characteristics, and steering effort to individual preferences.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Charging Through the Snow

Standard all-wheel-drive traction takes the Charger out of the realm of being a three-season muscle car rarely taken out of the garage during winter months to a car that can be used year round. Equipped with the Performance Handling package and all-season 275/40ZR20 tires, the Charger R/T Plus test car handled the snow- and slush-covered New England roads in stride. The car’s solid structure, wide-track stance, monotube gas shocks and performance suspension delivered a stable but comfortable ride quality, and the steering was accurate and nicely weighted. Even though the added high-speed fade resistance of the Brembo High-Performance brakes wasn’t a factor during this drive, the crisp top-of-pedal response and pinpoint linearity of the electronic power brake booster added to the good overall feeling of control. The rather wide 41-foot turning circle diameter experienced during driver stops along the way necessitated some back and fill, but that's a small price to pay considering the new Charger’s long 121-inch wheelbase and wide stance.

At the rally school, Dodge swapped the all-season tires for meaty Pirelli PZero snow tires on all four wheels. Here, the snow was deeper than on the highways but fairly well-packed. Wet/Snow drive mode was selected and exercises began with circling a skidpad, where I learned to push the R/T Plus test car harder than I imagined. The key was mastering the technique to use the throttle, steering, and 50/50 all-wheel-drive torque split to rotate the direction of the car as desired. After more practice, this time weaving through autocross cones, it was time to drive the rally course through the woods, complete with elevation changes, slushy stretches, off-camber sections, and some decreasing-radius curves. Of course, Dodge set up a course they knew the car was capable of tackling, but the grinning takeaway was if the Charger’s 55 percent front/45 percent rear weight distribution and smart all-wheel-drive hardware enabled a muscle car to slice through a small rally course, then it would likely be up for an occasional snow-covered road surface back home. The Charger’s 5.5 inches of ground clearance, while not bragging rights territory for an SUV, was more than enough for real-world usage.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Rear Seat Convenience

As for the practical side of things, the back seat space is ample for full-grown adults in both the Charger sedan and coupe body styles. According to Dodge, the 2026 Charger provides four inches more rear legroom than the last-generation model did. That said, the four-door shown here is hands-down the best for ingress and egress and should be much easier than the two-door coupe for loading kids, pets, and child safety seats. Like the now discontinued Dodge Challenger, the 2026 Charger coupe is roomy, even for my 6-foot, 2-inch frame, but squeezing past the front seat and waiting for it to leisurely motor forward and then back again will slow down even the most fervent Chinese fire drill advocates.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Hidden Hatch

Stylish as a coupe, yet nearly as roomy for cargo as a small crossover SUV, the 2026 Dodge Charger is full of surprises. With a hatchback door in place of a traditional trunk lid, the new Charger offers over 22 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seatbacks up, more than in a BMW X4, for example. Lower the 60/40 split rear bench seatback and more than 37 cubic feet is available for that next Costco run. Because the Charger’s hatch space is taller than a traditional trunk allows if you don’t mind stacking stuff above the belt line, it’s more flexible for bulky items. Who knew?

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Which to Buy?

So what Charger should you put in your garage? The answer is twofold. If your checkbook is fat and you’re looking for something that will draw attention at the corner "cars and coffee" gathering and probably be collectible someday, go for the check-all-boxes Scat Pack Plus coupe. It’s the next best thing to a brand-new 1969 Charger (well, better actually), has the big-output 550-hp engine, the nicest interior fitments and a long list of standard equipment.

My money would go for an R/T Plus four-door, yours for a $5,690 upcharge over the base R/T. The four-door is brilliantly practical yet has that coupe profile. The Plus version of the R/T has the same sweet, 420-hp version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six engine and adds sport suspension, illuminated Dodge Fratzog emblems, full-width LED front light bar, a power lift gate, upgrades from 18-inch to 20-inch alloy wheels and 10.25-inch to 16-inch driver cluster, gets fatter 255/45R20 rubber, shift paddles, 64-color interior ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, 8-way power front seats, a heated power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, a 9-speaker Alpine stereo, Tom Tom navigation, a head-up display, and a surround-view backup camera. Plus it is available with some options, such as a full-length panoramic glass roof, that are not selectable in the base R/T.

2026 Dodge Charger ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

All-Weather Muscle Car

Long, low, angular, and wide, with clean surfacing, a long hood, and a fastback roofline, the 2026 Dodge Charger conjures up excitement from the muscle car glory years of the late 1960s. But sixty years later, the 2026 iteration is more than just a throwback replica, offering near-SUV roominess and traction in a muscle car body. Now with standard all-wheel drive, a choice of two-door coupe or four-door body styles, the cargo flexibility of a hidden hatch, and the option of two potent twin-turbo gas engines or lightning-quick electric propulsion, the 2026 version of the storied Dodge Charger is the muscle car for everyday use – even if it snows.

2026 Dodge Charger R/T AWD sedan ・ Photo by Ron Sessions