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2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T First Drive: No Hemi Needed?

The gas 2026 Charger R/T swaps its Hemi V-8 for a 420-hp twin-turbo inline-six. Here are Dodge’s performance claims, price context, AWD modes and first-drive impressions.
Entry716 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The gas-powered 2026 Dodge Charger R/T trades its former 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 for a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged SIXPACK S.O. inline-six. Dodge rates it at 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque—50 hp and 73 lb-ft more than the outgoing Hemi R/T—and pairs it with an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. That makes a strong case on paper, but whether it makes a Hemi unnecessary depends on what you want from a muscle car.

What the Charger R/T’s SIXPACK engine delivers

The SIXPACK S.O. (“standard output”) is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six, not the electric powertrain used in the Charger Daytona. Dodge lists 420 hp and 468 lb-ft for the R/T and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The company says those figures exceed the outgoing 5.7-liter Hemi R/T by 50 hp and 73 lb-ft. Dodge’s March 9, 2026 announcement and its Charger FAQ distinguish the gas Charger’s SIXPACK engines from the electric Daytona.

Dodge claims a 0–60-mph time of 4.6 seconds and a 12.9-second quarter mile for the R/T. These are manufacturer performance figures, not results from an independent instrumented test. The same distinction matters for the headline: the output comparison supports the argument that the R/T no longer needs a Hemi to be quicker and more powerful on paper, but it cannot settle whether a buyer prefers the sound, response or character of a V-8.

How it drives, according to the first drive

MotorTrend’s Christian Seabaugh drove the R/T in snowy New England and reported a firm ride that could feel borderline flinty on poor pavement. He found the steering well weighted and easy to place. His account also notes some turbo lag below 2,000 rpm, followed by strong pulling response once the engine comes on boost. These are impressions from that drive, not universal measurements or an instrumented test. MotorTrend’s March 9, 2026 first drive is the source for those observations.

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AWD is standard, with a rear-drive option

The R/T comes with all-wheel drive, and drivers can select rear-wheel drive. Dodge says the rear-drive mode can send 100% of torque rearward. MotorTrend describes the selectable system’s Normal mode as allowing up to a 40:60 front-to-rear split, Wet/Snow as 50:50, and Sport as up to 30:70, alongside the full rear-drive mode. Dodge also lists Sport, Auto, Eco and Wet/Snow drive modes. Dodge’s performance page lists the R/T’s system and performance figures.

MotorTrend reports that Sixpack Chargers ride on all-season tires. Standard AWD can help put power down, but it does not establish that all-season tires are suitable for every winter condition or make dedicated winter tires unnecessary. Tire choice still matters for the roads and weather you actually encounter.

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Two doors or four: price and everyday practicality

Dodge’s March 2026 announcement lists U.S. starting MSRPs of $49,995 for the two-door R/T and $51,995 for the four-door, before tax, title and fees. The same release lists the two-door Scat Pack at $54,995 and the four-door at $56,995. Those are manufacturer announcement prices, not a promise of a dealer’s current transaction price. Dodge’s FAQ also describes the four-door Charger as technically a sedan.

Other published prices are not directly interchangeable with Dodge’s announced starting MSRPs. MotorTrend’s March 9, 2026 first-drive article reports a $51,990 R/T starting price and a $56,985 R/T Plus. Car and Driver’s July 29, 2026 test lists a four-door R/T with a $53,990 base price and a $64,565 as-tested price; its test car included the R/T Plus package, Performance Handling Group, glass roof, paint and all-weather interior package. The publication’s tested configuration is useful context for how options can move the price, not a new base price for every R/T. Car and Driver’s July test details that car.

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The four-door uses a hidden-hatch layout, and its rear seats fold. Dodge says the four-door has 37.4 cubic feet of cargo volume with the seats folded, as well as 38% more rear cargo volume than the outgoing Charger (127% more with the seats folded). Those are manufacturer-published comparisons. The body-style choice is therefore not only about rear-seat access: buyers who often load bulky items may value the hatchback configuration, while those who prefer the two-door can save the $2,000 difference in Dodge’s listed starting prices.

R/T versus Scat Pack and Daytona

The gas Scat Pack is the next comparison for shoppers who want more output from a gasoline Charger. Dodge lists its SIXPACK H.O. (high output) engine at 550 hp and 531 lb-ft, above the R/T’s 420 hp and 468 lb-ft. The electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack is a different proposition: it uses a battery-electric powertrain rather than either SIXPACK engine. Dodge’s performance page separates the R/T and Scat Pack figures, while the March 2026 announcement gives the gas trims’ starting prices.

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Model Powertrain and output Dodge’s March 2026 U.S. starting MSRP
Charger R/T, two-door SIXPACK S.O. 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six; 420 hp, 468 lb-ft $49,995, before tax, title and fees
Charger R/T, four-door SIXPACK S.O. 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six; 420 hp, 468 lb-ft $51,995, before tax, title and fees
Gas Charger Scat Pack, two-door SIXPACK H.O.; 550 hp, 531 lb-ft $54,995, before tax, title and fees
Gas Charger Scat Pack, four-door SIXPACK H.O.; 550 hp, 531 lb-ft $56,995, before tax, title and fees
Electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack Battery-electric; these sources do not state an equivalent SIXPACK engine output Not stated in the March 2026 announcement for this comparison

The published R/T fuel-economy figures also need their attribution: MotorTrend reports an EPA rating of 17 mpg city, 26 highway and 20 combined. Dodge’s March announcement separately says the R/T achieves 23 mpg combined. The sources present different combined figures, so neither should be silently substituted for the other. Check the specific vehicle’s current window sticker for its certified rating.

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Cabin features and options to know about

Dodge lists a 12.3-inch center screen and a 10.25-inch instrument cluster for the R/T, with a 16-inch cluster available as an option. A Performance Handling Group is available, but it is not standard equipment on every R/T. Car and Driver’s tested four-door included that group and an optional Mopar All-Weather Interior package, among other equipment; its $64,565 as-tested price reflects that specific configuration, not the trim’s starting MSRP. Car and Driver’s test configuration identifies the options and Goodyear Eagle Sport all-season tires in 275/40ZR-20 size.

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What this first drive can—and cannot—settle

Car and Driver called the four-door R/T credible while pointing to compromises in mass and packaging associated with the Charger’s shared EV platform. That is the publication’s editorial judgment, rather than a measured verdict that applies to every buyer. Its July 29, 2026 test supplies a detailed four-door configuration; MotorTrend’s March drive supplies the snowy-road impressions. Neither changes the boundary between Dodge’s claimed acceleration figures and independent test results.

Dodge CEO Matt McAlear described the R/T as a muscle car that can double as an everyday driver and said it “significantly outperforms the previous 5.7-liter HEMI Charger R/T.” That is the manufacturer’s case for the new engine, not an independent finding. The practical evidence—more published power and torque, selectable AWD and rear drive, a hatch-equipped four-door, and the ride and turbo response reported by MotorTrend—gives buyers concrete trade-offs to weigh against the appeal of a Hemi V-8.

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