The Dodge Charger Daytona is the most significant reinvention of an American muscle car in decades. It keeps the attitude, the presence, and the performance that made the Charger an icon - but delivers it through an entirely new platform with both electric and gas powertrain options. For Jericho, Westbury, and Nassau County drivers who love performance but want modern technology, the 2026 Charger Daytona is worth understanding in detail.
Bottom Line:
- The 2026 Charger Daytona is built on Stellantis’s new STLA Large platform - a clean-sheet design, not a retrofit
- Available with the Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six (gas) or a 400V/800V BEV powertrain - both deliver serious performance
- The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust gives the EV version a muscle-car soundtrack that no other electric vehicle attempts
- Interior technology, build quality, and daily livability represent a generational leap over the previous Charger
The New Charger Platform: What Changed and Why
The previous-generation Charger rode on an architecture dating back to the mid-2000s. It was beloved, but it was old. The 2026 Charger Daytona is built on Stellantis’s STLA Large platform - an entirely new foundation designed from day one to support both internal-combustion and battery-electric powertrains.
What this means in practice: the chassis is stiffer, the weight distribution is better optimized, the suspension geometry is more sophisticated, and the body structure is lighter despite being stronger. The car drives differently from the old Charger in ways that matter - tighter handling, more precise steering, and a more planted feel through corners on the Northern State Parkway.
The styling is unmistakably Charger - wide, aggressive, and designed to look fast standing still. The new R-Wing front design, full-width rear light bar, and muscular proportions make it one of the most visually commanding sedans on the road. In a Jericho parking lot or cruising through Westbury, this car gets noticed.
Powertrain Options: Hurricane I6 and Electric
Hurricane Twin-Turbo Inline-Six
For buyers who want internal combustion, the Charger Daytona offers Stellantis’s Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six - the same engine family earning praise across the Stellantis lineup. Two output levels are available:
Hurricane S.O. (Standard Output): Approximately 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque. This is more than the old 5.7L HEMI V8 produced, from a smaller, more efficient engine. The twin-turbo six delivers power linearly with virtually no turbo lag - it pulls hard from low RPMs all the way to redline.
Hurricane H.O. (High Output): Approximately 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. This is supercar-adjacent power in a four-door sedan. The H.O. engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive, and it accelerates with a ferocity that the old SRT 392 couldn’t match.
Both engines are paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available. Fuel efficiency is meaningfully better than the old HEMI V8s - the turbo-six architecture simply extracts more energy per gallon.
Battery-Electric Powertrain
The Charger Daytona EV runs a 400-volt electrical architecture (with an 800-volt option on higher trims) powering electric motors with output starting around 496 horsepower in the base configuration and climbing to over 670 horsepower in the top Scat Pack variant.
The torque delivery is instantaneous - a characteristic of all EVs, but one that Dodge has leaned into aggressively. The Daytona EV in Scat Pack configuration targets a zero-to-60 time in the low 3-second range, making it one of the fastest American sedans ever produced regardless of powertrain type.
Range targets are competitive - expect approximately 300+ miles on a full charge depending on configuration. The 800-volt architecture on higher trims enables faster DC charging speeds, adding meaningful range in shorter charging stops. For Nassau County daily driving - commuting the LIE, running errands in Jericho and Syosset, weekend trips to the South Shore - even conservative range estimates cover several days of typical use between charges.
Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: The Sound Question
Dodge knew that an electric muscle car without sound would feel incomplete. The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust is an amplified exhaust system that creates a visceral, physical sound experience for the EV - not through speakers in the cabin, but through an actual chambered exhaust-like system that produces sound you can feel and hear from outside the vehicle.
Is it the same as a naturally aspirated HEMI? No. Is it dramatically better than the silence of every other performance EV? Yes. Dodge has found a middle ground that acknowledges what made muscle cars emotional while embracing new technology. It won’t satisfy every purist, but it’s a bold and creative solution that no other manufacturer has attempted.
"The new Charger Daytona is the car that brings everyone into the showroom - even people who think they're not muscle car buyers. The Hurricane engine sounds incredible, the EV is shockingly fast, and the interior quality is a genuine leap forward. We're seeing buyers who never considered a Dodge before taking test drives and leaving amazed."
General Manager, Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
Trim Levels and Configurations
The 2026 Charger Daytona lineup follows Dodge’s performance-tier naming convention:
| Trim | Powertrain | Approx. Output | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytona R/T | Hurricane S.O. I6 | ~420 hp | Standard performance, 8-speed auto |
| Daytona R/T EV | Battery Electric | ~496 hp | Electric, Fratzonic exhaust |
| Daytona Scat Pack | Hurricane H.O. I6 | ~550 hp | High-output turbo six, performance suspension |
| Daytona Scat Pack EV | Battery Electric | ~670 hp | Maximum EV performance, 800V architecture |
All trims include a modern interior with a large central touchscreen running Uconnect 5, a digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features.
Higher trims add performance-focused upgrades: larger Brembo brakes, adaptive damping suspension, performance seats with enhanced bolstering, and carbon-fiber interior accents. The Scat Pack tiers - both gas and electric - represent the no-compromise performance configurations.
Interior: A Generational Leap
The previous Charger’s interior was functional but showed its age. The 2026 Daytona is a different world. The cabin is built around a driver-focused cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen running the latest Uconnect 5 software.
Material quality is sharply upgraded - soft-touch surfaces, genuine metal accents, and available leather and Alcantara seating. The flat-bottom steering wheel, performance seats, and ambient lighting create an atmosphere that feels premium without losing the Charger’s aggressive personality.
Rear-seat space is generous for a performance sedan - this is still a Charger, and it still seats four adults comfortably (five in a pinch). The trunk is reasonably sized for daily practicality. It’s a car you can live with every day, not just drive on weekends.
Daily Livability in Nassau County
The Charger Daytona’s new platform makes it a meaningfully better daily driver than its predecessor. The ride quality - even in Sport mode - is more composed over Long Island’s inconsistent road surfaces. Highway cruising on the LIE and Northern State is quiet and refined, with road noise suppression that the old Charger couldn’t approach.
For Jericho and Westbury commuters, the Charger Daytona handles suburban driving duties without drama. The Hurricane six is smooth and quiet at low speeds, only revealing its full character when you press the accelerator. The EV version is naturally silent in routine driving - ideal for early-morning starts in residential neighborhoods.
Parking a car this size in Nassau County shopping centers requires awareness - the Charger is a big sedan. But visibility is good, and the available 360-degree camera system and parking sensors make tight spaces manageable.
For buyers also considering an SUV from the CDJR lineup, our Jeep Wrangler vs. Gladiator comparison covers the off-road side, while the Grand Cherokee vs. Durango guide handles the family SUV question.
Ready to experience the new Charger Daytona? Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram in Jericho has the latest inventory.
Browse Charger Daytona inventory at Westbury Jeep CDJR →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona come with a gas engine?
Yes. The 2026 Charger Daytona is available with both the Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six (in Standard Output and High Output configurations) and a battery-electric powertrain. Dodge is one of the few manufacturers offering both ICE and EV versions of the same performance car on the same platform, giving buyers the freedom to choose the powertrain that fits their lifestyle without compromising on performance or design.
How fast is the Dodge Charger Daytona EV?
The Daytona Scat Pack EV - the highest-performance electric configuration - targets a zero-to-60 time in the low 3-second range with over 670 horsepower. Even the base Daytona R/T EV produces approximately 496 horsepower with instant electric torque delivery. Both configurations are among the fastest American sedans ever produced, regardless of powertrain type.
What is the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust?
The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust is Dodge’s proprietary system that gives the Charger Daytona EV a physical, audible soundtrack. Unlike cabin-speaker-based sound systems used by other EV manufacturers, the Fratzonic system uses an actual chambered device mounted at the rear of the vehicle to create sound you can feel and hear both inside and outside the car. It’s designed to preserve the emotional, visceral muscle-car experience that defines the Charger brand.
Is the Charger Daytona practical for daily driving?
Absolutely. The new STLA Large platform delivers a significantly more refined ride than the previous-generation Charger. Highway noise suppression is excellent, the ride is comfortable over imperfect roads, and the interior technology is thoroughly modern. The Charger seats four adults comfortably - five in shorter trips - and offers competitive trunk space. The Hurricane engine is smooth and quiet at cruising speeds, and the EV version is near-silent during routine driving. It’s a genuine daily driver that happens to be extremely fast when you want it to be.
How does the 2026 Charger Daytona compare to the previous-generation Charger?
The 2026 Daytona is a clean-sheet redesign - new platform, new engines, new interior, new technology. The Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six produces more power than the old 5.7L HEMI while delivering better fuel economy. Interior quality, technology, and ride refinement are generational improvements. The styling is evolutionary - unmistakably Charger, but modernized. Buyers who loved the old Charger’s character will find it preserved and enhanced in the Daytona; buyers who were put off by the old car’s rough edges will find a fundamentally different level of polish.