2024 Dodge Charger Daytona First Look Review: All-Electric All-American Muscle

Word of the Dodge Charger and its Challenger sibling's retirement wasn't happily received, and the muscle car-loving public didn't necessarily like the idea of the iconic cars going electric, either. The Charger SRT Daytona concept previewed an electric alternative with stunning good looks and no performance compromise.

So is the arrival of the all-new, all-electric (for the time being - a gas-powered variant will follow next year) 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona with up to 670 horsepower and a 3.3-second benchmark sprint - all courtesy of battery electric propulsion - enough to appease the masses? Two models make up the range, the R/T with as much as 496 hp and the Scat Pack with up to 670 hp, and both will eventually be available in two-door or four-door configurations, all based on the STLA Large architecture.

The first-ever electric vehicles from the brand won't just be arriving on the scene later this year; expect a smoky entrance, complete with burning rubber and Hellcat-like uproar.

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When Is The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Coming Out?

A specific release date for the Dodge Charger Daytona hasn't been stipulated, but the automaker said that production of the two-door coupe models will begin mid-2024, with those arriving first before the end of the year - as 2024 model year vehicles. Four-door models will arrive in 2025, alongside gasoline-powered equivalents using a Hurrican twin-turbo inline-six gasoline engine.

2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Estimated Price and Competition

There is no word on a starting price for the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona lineup. The current gas models have a base MSRP of over $35k, but the top-spec models can cost as much as $100k. The performance specs, standard features, and unique electric muscle car designation of the new Dodge Charger Daytona ensure that it will cost quite a bit more than the existing gas range, and a sticker price closer to $50k isn't unlikely for the base R/T model. Scat Pack versions could easily breach $70k.

Rivals to the 2024 Charger Daytona are hard to pin down; this is the first electric car aimed at performance in the vein of the muscle car, and since it's available in two-door and four-door format, it's rather niche. Still, some may consider the four-door BMW i4 M50. It comes with 536 hp and will set you back $69,700 to start - the Daytona will outperform it in Scat Pack guise.

New Dodge Charger Daytona Exterior and Colors

The idea of an electric muscle car has had fans up in arms, but we're pleased that the electrification of an icon has yielded positive results. The exterior of the new Dodge Charger Daytona in sedan and coupe form leaves no doubt about its heritage - it's all muscle, with a wide body appearance and classic styling up front that is pure Challenger to our eyes.

The nose bears a distinctive white full-width LED lighting strip, and the logo is laser-etched into the headlamps. There's also a patent-pending front R-Wing pass-through above the grille that is designed to enhance aerodynamic downforce. Central to this is the iconic Fratzog logo, revived for this new era of muscle. At the rear, the lower fascia is blacked out and debossed with the logo and Fratzonic text near the exhaust system. The red "ring of fire" LED taillamps are arresting, with the illuminated Fratzog logo in the center.

A gloss black painted roof comes standard, but all models have the option of a full-length glass roof instead. Paint colors for the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona include some familiar favorites: After Dark, Bludicrous (late availability), Destroyer Grey, Diamond Black, Peel Out, Redeye, Triple Nickel, and White Knuckle.

R/T models get 18-inch Tech Silver wheels as standard, while 20-inch items in Satin Carbon are equipped with the Scat Pack. There are a total of nine new wheel designs with the Fratzog logo on the center caps. Customization by way of the Blacktop Package will also switch out the wheels for 20 inches in black.

Dodge Charger Daytona Dimensions

The dimensions of the Dodge Charger Daytona are close to those of the current charger, but it's built on the new STLA Large platform. A wheelbase of 121 inches is common to two-door and four-door models, and length is 206.6 inches. R/T trims stand 58.9 inches tall, while the height of Daytona Scat Pack models maxes out at 59 inches. Width comes to 79.8 inches if you don't include the mirrors.

The curb weight listed for the Charger Daytona is 5,838 pounds - a far cry from the sub-4,400 lbs previous gen Chargers with their internal combustion engines.

Dodge Charger Daytona Powertrain and Performance

Here is where the numbers matter, and the automaker makes a big deal of the fact that the electric Dodge Charger remains the quickest and most powerful muscle car. The base R/T models come with 456 hp and 404 lb-ft as standard, while the Scat Pack has 630 hp and 627 lb-ft. These numbers are good enough for the Dodge Charger Daytona to dispatch the 0-60 sprint in 4.7 seconds in the case of the R/T and 3.3 seconds for the Scat Pack. Both models also have access to an extra 40 hp for up to 15 seconds by way of the PowerShot feature. The top speed for the R/T is 137 mph, while the Scat Pack maxes out at 134 mph.

All models are all-wheel drive as standard and feature a limited-slip rear differential. 16-inch Brembo rotors will bring the car to a stop when you've had your fill, and with Line Lock and Launch Control as standard, there's no shortage of opportunities for traditional muscle car shenanigans. To that end, the carmaker has also added a Drive Experience Recorder so you can keep track of the fun.

The expected standard drive modes are in place but Scat Pack cars come with Donut and Drift mode, and two unique Race Prep Options: Track and Drag mode are only standard on the top trim. The brand says that the Daytona Charger represents Charger Hellcat Redeye performance in EV format. To further that idea, Hellcat levels of sound intensity have been synthesized using a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which, together with a host of cool features, sets this car apart from the more ordinary BEVs.

At launch, all models will feature standard Direct Connection Stage kits for maximum performance (Stage 1 on the R/T and Stage 2 on the Scat Pack), but in the future, customers will need to pay extra for this.

Using the paddle shifters, drivers will be able to choose from three levels of regenerative braking, which means this muscle car can actually replenish some range while still being all about performance.

As standard, the Charger Daytona is equipped with multi-link front suspension and fully independent rear suspension, but an adaptive damping setup with a dual valve system is available optionally.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The electric range for the R/T is 317 miles, but Scat Pack models can do just 260 miles.

A 93.9 kWh battery does duty in the Daytona, with a peak charging rate of 350 kW. On a Level 2 charger, you'll need about five and a half hours to refill the battery, but a DC fast charger at 175 kW should replenish it in under 42 minutes. The charging time drops to less than 30 minutes at 350 kW. In ideal conditions, that means buyers will be able to add 9.9 miles of range per minute on the R/T and 8.1 miles for the Scat Pack when using a fast charger.

Dodge Charger Daytona Interior and Cargo

Stellantis says the interior of the Dodge Charger Daytona is a driver-focused and immersive place to spend time. The cabin textures and layout hark back to older models - the 1968 Dodge Charger being specifically mentioned in relation to the instrument panel - but it still looks ultra modern with all the amenities expected of a tech-forward vehicle.

There's ample space up front with headroom of almost 40 inches and 42.6 inches of legroom, which naturally decreases in the back. Still, the Dodge Charger Daytona seats five and has sufficient cargo space to carry all your luggage for a weekend away. Specs for cargo storage start at 22.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, increasing to 37.4 cubes with the seats stowed. There's also a frunk with an extra 1.5 cubic feet of space. The automaker says this is still the best in the class.

As seen in the pictures below, the Charger Daytona features a new 64-color interior lighting scheme called the Attitude Adjustment lighting setup; the ambient lighting runs from the driver's door across the dashboard and includes the passenger door for a full 270 degrees. This lighting system reacts to vehicle events and driver inputs, like revving the motor while idling or opening the doors.

As standard, all Charger Daytona models come with cloth and vinyl seating upholstery, but buyers can pay for premium Nappa leather options in Black or Demonic Red. Seat heating and high-backed seats with fixed headrests are available as package enhancements. The standard steering wheel is a performance item with a flat top and bottom; it's heated on all models. New to the Charger is a pistol-grip shifter.

Infotainment is managed by the Uconnect 5 system and lives on a standard 12.3-inch center display. Base models get a free-standing wide format 10.25-inch gauge cluster as standard, with an available 16-inch item on the menu. The software is imbued with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Performance Pages can be viewed on the system, with info for timers, G-force, propulsion, and more available at a glance.

The standard sound system is a nine-speaker Alpine unit, but buyers can tick the box for an 18-speaker premium version by Alpine. An augmented head-up display is also available.

Standard features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, active lane management, active driving assist, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring, while package upgrades make 360-surround view monitoring and front/side/rear distance warning available, among others.