Dodge slashed $5,000 off its 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV, but challenges remain in convincing muscle fans it belongs.
Dodge has trimmed $5,000 from the price of its 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV, dropping the sticker from $64,995 to $59,995. At first glance, the eight percent reduction looks like a welcome bargain. But beneath the headline is a complicated sales story that reveals the challenges Dodge faces as it shifts its iconic muscle car into the electric era.
The price cut follows the quiet discontinuation of the Charger Daytona R/T trim, once the entry point to the lineup at $57,995. Dodge has promised the R/T will return for 2026, but for now, the Scat Pack effectively serves as the base model—leaving it more expensive than its predecessor, even after the discount.
Compounding matters is the expiration of the $7,500 federal lease credit for EVs on September 30, which has helped mask the Charger Daytona’s high MSRP since launch. Without that subsidy, the recent price reduction may carry little real impact for buyers.
Adding to the uncertainty is competition from Dodge’s own gasoline lineup. The new Charger Sixpack, powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, offers up to 550 horsepower for a base price of $54,995—undercutting the discounted Scat Pack EV by $5,000 while delivering the visceral experience muscle car loyalists crave.
The Daytona EV counters with performance figures that are hard to ignore: dual motors, all-wheel drive, and up to 670 horsepower with the PowerShot upgrade, good for a 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph. Dodge even touts it as the “world’s most powerful muscle car,” though purists bristle at the claim, questioning whether a car without a V8 soundtrack can truly carry the title.
Sales numbers hint at the uphill battle. In early 2025, Dodge sold more of its retired Charger and Challenger models than the brand-new Daytona EV. For a car meant to usher in a new era, that reality underscores the skepticism surrounding it.
For now, Dodge insists electrification is the future of American muscle. But with the HEMI’s legacy looming large and competition growing stronger, the Charger Daytona EV still feels like it has something to prove.
