The Dodge Charger Daytona EV stands out with its unique blend of classic and modern elements. It takes inspiration from 1960s muscle cars and 1970s form factors while marking Dodge's entry into the electric era. With its two-door fastback body and various trims, it offers a range of performance options.

Dodge's Charger Daytona EV: Blending Nostalgia and Electric Power

Charger Daytona: Fake Sounds, Muscle Car Rumble

The day began with a drive in the base R/T model. As soon as the start button behind the shift lever was pressed, the sound from the R/T's Fratzonic "chambered exhaust" became evident. Instead of the typical EV whir, a V-8-inspired rumble filled the air, reacting to the throttle position with a proper muscle car note. It felt and sounded realistic inside, thanks to a little vibration. During Power Shot stints, activated via a button on the steering wheel, the rumble became lower and louder, and the power hit harder. The R/T can reach 308 miles of range on a charge and has a 400-volt battery that can charge at up to 183 kw on a 350-kw plug, reaching 5-80% in 32.5 minutes.On the return trip in the Scat Pack model, the willing power was even more noticeable, and the Fratzonic sound was louder. The Scat Pack ups the output to 630 hp and 627 lb-ft, with the standard Stage 2 tune increasing horsepower to 670. The Fratzonic note can reach 126 decibels, as much as an outgoing Hellcat. While it's a cool sound, some drivers may be tempted to turn it off and run in stealth mode.

Charger Daytona: Comfortable on the Street

The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona is a large car, measuring 206.6 inches long on a 121.0-inch wheelbase, 5.8 inches longer than the model it replaces and 1.6 inches wider than a Charger SRT Wide Body. It weighs 5,698 pounds for the R/T and 5,767 pounds for the Scat Pack. The R/T tester was equipped with the Blacktop Package, which upgraded the tires to 275/40R20 Goodyear Eagle Sport all-seasons. It rode smoothly on city streets and mountainous twisties, with direct steering responses but an overly light touch and too little feel through the steering wheel. When cornering, the R/T felt a bit top-heavy with a little too much lean, but it rotated well. In Sport mode, the throttle response was a bit too quick mid-corner, but easing off brought the car back in line. The R/T comes with 13.9-inch front rotors and 13.8-inch rear rotors, which have enough stopping power for short runs. The regenerative and friction braking are well integrated, providing a natural pedal feel. Dodge offers three levels of regen, providing roughly 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g of deceleration.

Charger Daytona: Compromised on the Track

Laps in the Scat Pack with the Track Package on a small road course revealed some interesting characteristics. The $3,495 Track Package upgrades the tires and includes upgraded brakes, dual-valve adaptive dampers, a stiffer suspension tune, and a larger rear spoiler. During track time, running in Track mode led to the stability control kicking in too often, settling the body motions and cutting power. Turning off the stability control completely revealed the car's natural handling character, with more lean and push on the mountain road and less control of oversteer. Sport mode was the best way around the track, as the stability control's targeted braking kept the understeer in check without cutting power. The track allowed the Charger Daytona to reach triple-digit speeds, and the big brakes were up to the task. However, the weight makes the car a handful, and the steering needs more feel.

Charger Daytona: Drift Machine

The Charger Daytona Scat Pack comes with a Drift mode that requires a series of steps to activate. Dodge's drift exercise involved a simple three-cone slalom followed by a long left-hand turn. The goal was to load up the suspension and move the weight to the right side before the turn. It took a few attempts to get it right, but when done correctly, the car could ride a glorious drift. All the issues were due to driver error, as the Scat Pack has plenty of power and balance to perform well.

Charger Daytona: Drag Chops

Surprisingly, drag racing the Charger Daytona Scat Pack was a straightforward process. Before taking it to the strip, it's best to check the high-voltage battery level and temperature in the infotainment system. Choose the Drag mode to slow down the steering and adjust the suspension and regenerative braking. Launch control can be activated in the Performance Pages, with different settings for torque release. Hitting the launch control button while staging the car is the most difficult part. On the first run, the car performed admirably, with all-wheel drive and 670 hp, building speed down the strip. Other journalists put up times in the 11.70s, likely due to better traction. Dodge quotes a quarter-mile time of 11.5 seconds, which seems feasible with better conditions.

Charger Daytona: Interior and Equipment

Dodge gives the Charger Daytona a typical dark interior that can be brightened up with Demonic Red upholstery. Ambient lighting highlights the design flourishes, including crosshatched plastic on the door panels and a tiered dash with big screens. The cockpit is modern, with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can expand to 16.0 inches. The touchscreen uses Uconnect 5 software and incorporates Performance Pages and EV Pages for monitoring. Front seat occupants sit on low-back or high-back bucket seats, which are supportive and comfortable. The three-door body style doesn't significantly affect passenger comfort, and the hatchback provides more cargo space than a trunk. Oddly, buyers have to pay extra for a tiny 1.5 cubic-foot frunk. The Charger Daytona R/T starts at $61,590 including destination charge, and the Scat Pack adds more power and features for $75,190.In conclusion, the Dodge Charger Daytona EV combines nostalgia and speed in an electric package. While it has some compromises on the track, it offers a unique driving experience with its fake sounds and muscle car rumble. It may not be cheap, but it improves upon the power and efficiency of its predecessors while delivering a classic look and sound.