2026 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: Manahawkin Buyers Guide

An electric muscle car that still looks like a Charger

Dodge's approach with the Daytona EV wasn't to reinvent the Charger, it was to keep almost everything that made the old one recognizable and swap what's under the skin. The sixth-generation Charger ships on one body, two doors or four, and Dodge sells that same body two ways: as the gas-powered Charger with the twin-turbo Hurricane six, and as the Daytona EV. From the curb they look nearly identical, R-Wing front fascia, full-width LED light bar, the same silhouette whether you're loading kids into the back seat on Route 9 or lining up at a stoplight. What's different is everything you don't see: two electric motors, a battery pack under the floor, and a rear-mounted subwoofer that pipes in Dodge's Fratzonic exhaust note so it still sounds the part, up to 126 decibels of it, tuned to mimic a V8.

For a family shopping an EV that doesn't feel like an appliance, that's the pitch. It seats four in real comfort, the trunk swallows 22.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up (37.4 with them folded), and the driving experience underneath the theater is genuinely quick and genuinely all-wheel drive, which matters on the Garden State Parkway in a January sleet storm. Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram sits at 188 Route 72, the road that dead-ends at the LBI causeway, and it's a family-run store: the DiFeo family has been in the car business more than 60 years, and this location has sold Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles under one roof for close to a decade. Browse the new inventory before you drive down if you want a shortlist ready.

One powertrain, two trims

Here's the part that trips up shoppers cross-shopping against the old Charger lineup: Scat Pack and Scat Pack Plus make identical power. Both run the same dual permanent-magnet motor setup, 630 horsepower and 627 lb-ft standard, with a 670-hp "Power Shot" available for ten-second bursts when you want the full show. Both are all-wheel drive only, there's no rear-drive or single-motor version to step down to. The difference between the two trims is comfort and tech, not speed: Scat Pack Plus adds an 18-speaker Alpine sound system in place of the standard nine-speaker setup, a wireless phone charging pad, 64-color interior ambient lighting Dodge calls Attitude Adjustment, and an available head-up display. If a bigger stereo and a phone charger matter more to you than saving five grand, that's the whole decision.

Range depends on which wheels are underneath you more than which trim you picked. The EPA rates the Scat Pack at 267 miles on its standard 20-inch wheel and tire package. Order the optional Track Pack, competition suspension and staggered summer performance tires, and that number drops to roughly 223 miles because the tires are built for grip, not efficiency. A DC fast charger can take the battery from 20 to 80 percent in about 32.5 minutes at up to 183 kW, and a home Level 2 charger tops it off overnight.

Pick your 2026 Charger Daytona EV

What local buyers say

Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram carries a 4.7-star average across more than 2,100 Google reviews, and the Charger nameplate comes up in them often, current buyers, not just old ones. Joe Gatos, who bought a used Charger, put it plainly: "Very pleasant transaction, met my offer and had the deal done in minutes rather than hours... I highly recommend speaking with Mike if you're in the market for a new or used Dodge." Brian McDonough's version was shorter: "Got a 2022 Dodge Charger from Erik, he was awesome. Very helpful and courteous." That's the same sales team, Erik Kristoffersen among them, still on the floor today handling Daytona EV deliveries.

Owning one at the Shore

An EV changes the maintenance conversation, no oil changes, no spark plugs, and regenerative braking that stretches pad life, but salt air and beach traffic still take their toll on tires, wheels, and 12-volt electronics the way they would on any car parked ten minutes from the water. The Charger Daytona EV service & repair guide covers what to watch for and how charging habits factor in. Money questions, MSRPs by body style, New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax, and how the recent $5,000 price cut happened, live in the pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dodge Charger Daytona EV discontinued?

No. What's discontinued is the lower-power R/T EV trim that Dodge sold for 2024 and 2025; Scat Pack is now the starting point for 2026, and it actually costs $5,000 less than last year's Scat Pack did. The Daytona EV itself remains an active part of the Charger lineup alongside the gas-powered Charger.

What is the range of the Charger Daytona EV?

Up to 267 miles EPA-rated on the standard 20-inch wheel and tire setup. Choosing the performance-oriented Track Pack trades some of that range away, down to roughly 223 miles, in exchange for stickier summer tires and a firmer suspension tune.

Is EV charging actually cheaper than gas?

For most home-charging households, yes, meaningfully, since overnight Level 2 charging typically costs less per mile than gasoline even at New Jersey electricity rates. DC fast charging on a road trip narrows that gap but still tends to come out ahead of premium fuel, which the Hurricane-powered gas Charger prefers.

Do the two trims perform differently?

No. Scat Pack and Scat Pack Plus make identical horsepower, 630 standard, 670 with Power Shot, and both are all-wheel drive. Scat Pack Plus is a comfort and technology upgrade, the stereo, wireless charging, ambient lighting, and available head-up display, not a faster car.

Where can I see one near LBI?

At Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Route 72, about ten minutes from the causeway. Sales runs until 8 PM Monday through Thursday, and the sales team can walk you through both trims back to back.

Two trims, one very different Charger

The Daytona EV asks a fair question of anyone who grew up on the gas Charger: can an electric version still feel like one? Sitting in a Scat Pack with the Fratzonic exhaust turned up and the Power Shot button under your thumb answers it pretty quickly. The trim guides ahead go deeper on each one, but the short version is that both are the same quick, all-wheel-drive car, and the choice comes down to how much you value a bigger stereo and a wireless charging pad.