Charger R/T Or Scat Pack: What The Extra $5,000 Buys In The Sixpack Era
A new age of muscle cars is upon us. Most American marques have dropped the V8 for powerful alternatives, and while that has understandably put some muscle fans off, Dodge is rewriting the rules with the gas-powered 2026 Dodge Charger.
It is nowhere near being the best-selling Dodge this year, but the Charger lineup offers two very appealing trims: the R/T and the Scat Pack. The question is, is the extra money worth it for the fully kitted-out model?
Dodge’s New Charger Is Rewriting The Muscle-Car Rulebook
Dodge has churned out some of the best muscle cars in the U.S. for six decades. The OG ’66 Dodge Charger hit the scene with big-block V8 options; the iconic ’68 Charger R/T followed with the 426 Hemi V8; the SRT-10 Viper rewrote muscle/supercar history in the 2000s; and the Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat of the mid-2010s brought along a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 good for 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
We think it is only right that Dodge be one of the brands that tries something different in the modern era with performance cars. They wrote most of the rules anyway.
The V8 Is Gone, But The SIXPACK Brings Serious Power
The V8 is perhaps the best engine configuration, and while we do miss the 2023 Charger and its V8 options (a 370-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 485-horsepower 6.4-liter 392 HEMI V8, and a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI good for up to 807 horsepower), the auto landscape has changed.
It is nice to hear the rumble of a V8, and it is nice to know you have eight cylinders pumping away for you, but the SIXPACK-branded Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six that Dodge has replaced the Charger’s HEMI with is more powerful than the outgoing V8 in the 2023 base trim. From just three liters, Dodge has squeezed over 400 horsepower out of it, and the new Charger certainly makes the most of it.
The Charger R/T Has More Muscle Than Its Price Suggests
Considering the iconic nameplate and the abundance of available power, the 2026 Dodge Charger R/T can be considered an affordable performance car this year. Available as a coupe and a four-door sedan, the R/T has starting prices (excluding destination fees) of $49,995 for the two-door and $51,995 for the four-door. There is also the two-door R/T Plus, which has a starting price of $54,990, and the four-door R/T Plus, which costs $56,990.
420 HP And 468 LB-FT Make The R/T A Serious Performance Car
At the heart of all Charger R/T models is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo SIXPACK inline-six good for 420 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 468 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. The engine’s redline is a healthy 5,800 rpm. Power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and sequential shift control, regardless of whether you opt for the coupe or the sedan.
The V8-equipped ’23 Charger R/T can hit 60 mph in 4.3 to 5.5 seconds, and tops out at 149 mph. The new inline-six-equipped Charger R/T can hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. So, losing two cylinders has not made a huge difference to sprint times.
Standard AWD Adds Proper Traction
The new Charger R/T gets all-wheel drive as standard, so you can make the most of the low-end grunt the SIXPACK is good for in most sensible conditions. For those of you who like a bit of heritage in a modern Charger, the system is switchable to on-demand rear-wheel drive when you want to put the back end out.
As standard (Auto/Eco Mode), the AWD system is 40:60 front:rear split; Sport Mode gives you a 30:70 front:rear split; Wet/Snow Mode is 50:50; and RWD gives you 100 percent to the back for old-school muscle fun.
The Scat Pack Adds 130 HP For Another $5,000
Then there is the new Charger Scat Pack. Also available as a two-door and a four-door, the Scat Pack coupe has a starting price (excluding destination) of $55,690, and the Scat Pack sedan has a starting price of $57,690. The Charger Scat Pack Plus coupe has a starting price of $59,990, while the four-door flavor has a starting price of $61,990. So, in terms of modern-day muscle cars, somewhere between the 2026 Mustang GT Premium Fastback and the Mustang Dark Horse.
Its 550 HP And A 3.9-Second Sprint To 60 MPH Raise The Stakes
That extra $5,000 to $7,000 gets you the same engine configuration, but in high-output (H.O.) form. Horsepower output is 550 at between 5,700 and 6,100 rpm, and there is 531 pound-feet of torque available.
The H.O. SIXPACK runs 30 psi of boost, and gives the Scat Pack a rest-to-60 time of 3.9 seconds. Dodge says it can dash the quarter mile in just 12.2 seconds, and top speeds are 177 mph.
Like the R/T, the Scat Pack gets AWD as standard, and you can still push a button to make it RWD on-demand. However, that extra bit of money also gets you a few more performance goodies. Six-piston front/four-piston rear Brembo brakes provide more substantial stopping power, and you get Line Lock and launch control. Both make a big difference, especially if you want to generate some smoke.
Launch control in the Scat Pack sets and calibrates wheel torque off the line, minimizing slip, and helps to spool up the turbo so you get the most controlled but fast start possible. Line Lock holds the front brakes while leaving the rear ones released, so the back wheels are free to spin. This can help warm up the tires before you take the car around the track, or, more likely, it is used for performing burnouts and wearing out some rubber.
Which SIXPACK Charger Is Worth Your Money?
If you are looking for the most power, it has to be the Scat Pack. If you are looking for the most aggressive rig and fastest 0–60 mph times without stepping even further away from muscle car heritage, with the electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack (3.3 seconds), it is also a yes to spending more money on the gas-powered Scat Pack.
However, if you are not quite sold on a six-cylinder taking the place of an eight-cylinder, then opting for the more affordable R/T does not mean you are missing out. It still has sub-five-second 0–60 mph times, a limited-slip differential, fun drive modes, plenty of turbo power, a modern Mopar twist, and it still looks the part.
There are also some differences inside. The R/T base trim gets a 10.3-inch digital driver display; the Scat Pack base trim gets a 16-inch one. The R/T gets cloth upholstery, while the Scat Pack gets a more performance-oriented setup with a flat-top and flat-bottom performance steering wheel and paddle shifters, as well as integrated performance tracking systems like Performance Pages.
The R/T Plus is upgraded with 12-way power-adjustable leatherette performance seats, a HUD, a 360-degree Surround-View Camera, a 16-inch driver display, and “Attitude Adjustment” ambient lights that change with drive modes. The Scat Pack Plus is by far the most kitted-out, with heated and ventilated seats, available Demonic Red leather, carbon-fiber accents, a suede headliner, and an available 18-speaker Alpine High-Performance Sound System with a subwoofer.
Neither model is fuel-efficient by modern standards: FuelEconomy.gov states the Scat Pack can achieve 19 combined mpg, costing you $4,200 a year for gas, while the R/T can achieve 20 combined mpg, costing you $3,200 a year for gas. However, if you want more money to spend on gas and tires, going for the cheaper R/T still offers a lot.
Sources: Dodge and FuelEconomy.gov.
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