2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T First Drive Review

Dodge's all-new muscle car is a brute-force attack on the electric-vehicle segment.

John Coyle | 

Dec 12, 2024 | 6 min read

John Coyle

The platform that carried the Dodge Charger through its last two generations was a relic from a long-dissolved partnership with Mercedes-Benz.

Now, this iconic model is all new, and the bones under its wide body are pure Detroit (by way of Windsor, Ontario, Canada). The 2024 Dodge Charger is a paradigm shift, as the snarling V8 engines that defined the Charger are gone. Going forward, a pair of electric motors and a 100.5-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery will propel top-spec Daytona models. To a muscle car audience raised on a steady diet of octane, that's akin to heresy.

But after spending some quality time with one of the newest battery-electric vehicles (BEV) in the United States, I came away with the opinion that the Charger hasn't been redesigned. It has been reborn.

John Coyle

The Dodge Charger Has Been Reborn

Visually, the 2024 Charger takes more cues from the legendary second-generation model than its recent brethren. And like that historic Charger, it's a two-door. All initial 2024 Chargers will be coupes, though a four-door option will be available in 2025.

The front is a minimalist rectangle flanked by LED headlights, and between them, there's an aerodynamic passthrough dubbed the R-Wing. At the center, there's an illuminated Fratzog badge — a 1960s emblem repurposed to brand Dodge's electric offerings — and the crisp fender lines give it a purposeful stance. The rear roof pillars now house a hatchback, and full-length LED taillights accentuate the Charger's width. In keeping with current electric-vehicle (EV) fashion, a glass roof is optional.

Along with the move to electric power, Dodge has also courted controversy by equipping all Charger Daytonas with a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust — a fake exhaust note.

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Two flavors of the electric Dodge Charger will be available at launch. The base model will be the Charger Daytona R/T, which packs 496 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque, and features Auto, Eco, Sport, and Wet/Snow drive modes. On a full battery, Dodge says it will have a range of 308 miles.

The lineup-topping Charger Daytona Scat Pack delivers a whopping 670 horsepower and 627 lb-ft, and features Drag, Track, and Drift/Donut drive modes. Scat Packs have a range of 241 miles. Both Charger Daytonas get a steering wheel-mounted PowerShot button, which gives a 10-second, 40-hp boost. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.

The Charger Daytona R/T Is Swift, Surefooted, and Spacey

For this review, I drove a Charger Daytona R/T with a base price of $59,990 including the destination charge. Options such as After-Dark paint ($795), the Plus Group ($4,995), and the Sun and Sound package ($2,495) helped bring the as-tested price to $70,970.

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I spent most of my time behind the wheel on the congested roads of Phoenix and a twisty stretch of desert blacktop — neither ideal environments for a muscle car. That said, this vehicle is a hoot to hustle.

Hit the throttle in any drive mode, and the Charger Daytona R/T moves forward with authority but not ferocity. Because while it has 496 ponies on tap, it also tips the scales at a colossal 5,838 pounds. While electric vehicles are generally heavier than their conventional counterparts, it's notable that the hulking Ford F-150 Raptor is lighter than the new Charger. But the thrill of instant torque makes open straights a joy.

Thanks to the weight of the batteries under the floor, the center of gravity is low. That, and the AWD system, make the Charger feel more sure-footed than previous generations I've tested. According to Dodge, the chassis is 50% stiffer, and the suspension soaked up nasty pavement with aplomb.

John Coyle

I also found the regenerative brakes to be excellent. There are three settings, and the most aggressive one will bring the Charger to a stop. That gamifies the EV experience and, along with the noticeable boost from the PowerShot button, ups driver engagement.

When it comes to electric cars, I think quiet is the new loud, making the Fratzonic exhaust a curious, if entertaining, party trick. Sonically, it evoked what George Jetson's car might sound like if it was powered by a tiny Hemi, with the exhaust note remixed by T-Pain. At "idle," Battlestar Galactica fans will recognize a pulsing, Cylon-like tone.

According to Dodge, the Charger Daytona can go from a 20% to 80% charge in less than 25 minutes when hooked to a Level 3 charging station. Over the course of 24 miles of mixed driving, I saw an average of 2.9 miles per kWh.

John Coyle

The 2024 Charger Daytona Is an Airy Hot Hatch With Solid Tech

I was impressed with the cabin. There is plenty of room up front, and the squared-off wheel felt fantastic in my hands. I'm more than 6 feet tall and happy to report I didn't feel like a circus bear jammed in the back seat.

I also loved the sculpted look of the wraparound interior lighting, even if the textured plastic it reflected on was hard. While I prefer standard door handles to push-button units, I was happy to find a traditional pistol-grip shifter — not some funky contraption like some EVs sport — in the center console.

The secret sauce here, however, was the space under the hatch. Drop the rear seats, and 38.5 cubic-feet of cargo space is available, plus an additional 1.5 cu-ft in the frunk. From a practicality standpoint, this is a slam dunk.

John Coyle

My tester had numerous standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go, Active Lane Management, and Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection.

The various driver aids I tested performed admirably. On jam-packed Interstate 10, the adaptive cruise never failed to detect an abrupt slowdown or sudden lane incursion, and though overly "helpful" lane-keeping assist is a personal pet peeve, I didn't find the Charger's intrusive.

John Coyle

Voice commands were a mixed bag. Asking for directions to a hospital brought up a dermatology office and a few spas. Inquiring about directions to a park led me to a gated community, and requesting alternative rock brought up the Beatles. But it reliably found my hotel, adjusted the temperature, and found a fast-food restaurant.

Dodge's Uconnect 5 infotainment is intuitive, and I appreciated how designers positioned the 12.3-inch center touchscreen below the dashboard's horizon. Connecting to Apple CarPlay — Android Auto is also available — was a snap, and the large wireless charger would have accommodated two examples of my iPhone 13 Pro Max. While the climate controls aren't physical dials, the haptic setup under the screen was well positioned.

John Coyle

The Bottom Line on the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T

The Charger Daytona doesn't face the easiest road. Traditionalist muscle car fans are fuming that it's electric. Green-focused folks might sniff at driving a Charger — and the coupe segment is contracting. Plus, it's significantly more expensive than the average new vehicle.

The bright spot, however, is that I think Dodge hit it out of the park. Between the driving dynamics, spacious cabin, sharp looks, and hatchback practicality, the Charger Daytona is an electric car for people who don't care about electric cars. I don't think there's anything like it on the market.

Dodge provided the vehicle for this 2024 Charger Daytona R/T review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

John Coyle

John has been in the automotive industry for nearly two decades. Over that time, he's driven Jeeps through Moab, tackled Fuji Speedway in a Lexus LFA, experienced the insanity of the Gumball 3000, and survived daily driving a 1978 Jaguar. He has served as editor-in-chief for AutoNation Drive, managing editor for Internet Brands Automotive, and events editor for CarDomain. When he rides his beloved Triumph Bonneville, he wears all the gear, all the time. He lives in Los Angeles with the coolest girl in the world and three black cats.