2026 Dodge Charger R/T
6/10/202648 min
In this episode, we share our first impressions of the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger. The Charger features new styling and a hatchback design, a twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, and an updated interior that feels small, despite the vehicle's overall size. We also discuss what Dodge got right, where the Charger falls short, and whether we'd recommend it over other enthusiast-focused vehicles. Plus, we answer a question about the differences between racing fuel and premium gas, and how octane ratings and ethanol-free fuel can affect performance in regular vehicles.
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Intro
0:19 - 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Blacktop Overview
1:18 - What we like about the 2026 Dodge Charger
04:51 - Ride, Performance, Comfort & Daily Driving
17:46 - The Downsides: Interior, Controls & Practicality
36:05 - Would We Buy the New Dodge Charger?
41:12 - Audience Question: Is Racing Fuel Worth It?
LINKS:
Review: 2026 Dodge Charger R/T: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/sports-cars/dodge-charger-review-a9212537968/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: 2026 Ford Mustang: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/mustang/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Why You might Not Need Premium Fuel: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/fuel-economy-efficiency/why-you-might-not-actually-need-premium-gas-a6382185831/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMike Quincy· Host0:00
[theme music] Hi, and welcome back. I'm Mike Quincy.
Jon Linkov· Host0:12
I'm Jon Linkov.
Mike Monticello· Host0:13
And I'm Mike Monticello.
Mike Quincy· Host0:15
So on today's Talking Cars, we are going to talk about the 2026 Dodge Charger. This is a blast from the past. Uh, the Mopar spirit is still kicking. I mean, this car, uh, you gotta admit, it's, it is visually striking, but I suppose you either like it or you don't. [laughs] But it's no mistaking that this thing has a presence. The big news is the Charger comes as a very lengthy four-door hatchback as well as a two-door model, which is not called the Challenger, by the way. Uh, both electric and old-school internal combustion power are offered. We bought an all-wheel drive four-door RT model, which comes with a twin-turbo 420 horsepower, three-liter straight six-cylinder engine hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission. We also added the Blacktop Package, which includes a whole bunch of features that I'm not gonna list right now. Uh, another few odds and ends, and the $1,995 destination charge, our car came to $57,700. So Mr. Monticello, let's start with you, and let's talk about what you like about the new Charger.
Mike Monticello· Host1:23
Well, first of all, how did you not mention one of the options, the Bluetacris paint? [laughs] I mean, how do you, how do you talk about options and not