Can an American muscle car take on a European performance icon like the BMW M3? Equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive, the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack matches the M3’s mechanical blueprint on paper at a fraction of the cost.
Performance
Engine – The classic Hemi V8 is gone, replaced by Dodge’s 3.0L twin-turbocharged “Hurricane” Inline-6. In the base R/T trim, it puts out 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque (313 kW & 636 Nm), out-torquing the old 5.7L V8. While the Scat Pack bumps output to 550 hp and 531 lb-ft (410 kW & 720 Nm) should you want more POWERRR. With peak torque arriving early between 3,000 and 3,500 RPM, power delivery feels like a falling piano rather than a gradual build. Thanks to smaller turbos on the R/T, lag is minimal, but the throttle calibration is exceptionally sensitive, making the car jumpy in stop-and-go city traffic.
Fuel Economy – Swapping the V8 for an inline-six yields better efficiency than the old 5.7L and 6.4L engines, though it remains thirsty. The R/T is officially rated at 14.1 L/100km (16.7 MPG) in the city and 9.0 L/100km (26.1 MPG) on the highway. I managed to average just 14.4 L/100km (16.3MPG) during my time with the car.
Transmission – The standard 8-speed automatic handles shifts smoothly, routing power to an all-wheel-drive system. Launch control enables a 0–100 km/h run in roughly 5 seconds, launching without any drama. For driver engagement, Sport mode allows you to disengage the front axle in the infotainment system, converting the car to pure rear-wheel drive for powerslides with traction control off.
Braking – Stopping power is strong enough to haul down this heavy chassis effortlessly, but like the throttle, the brake pedal feels hyper-sensitive. Even a light touch at low speeds triggers abrupt stops, which is ideal for a racetrack but clunky at city intersections.
Handling – At nearly 2.2 tonnes (approx. 4,900 lbs), the Charger weighs about 400 kg (900 lbs) more than a BMW M3 with xDrive. While the steering is surprisingly light and quick-pointing, it offers very little road feel. The car feels glued and planted through turns, but there is no hiding its massive curb weight in sharp corners.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Where the Charger sacrifices track agility, it excels as a cruiser. Even with the optional performance handling suspension equipped, the ride is remarkably plush, absorbing heavily potholed city streets with the composure of a luxury SUV.
Interior Space – Occupant room is generous overall, easily accommodating tall drivers and passengers. However, because the STLA platform was designed to fit an EV battery floor, the floor pan sits higher than normal, resulting in a higher seating position with seats that do not lower as far as expected.
And unlike the older Charger, this new one is actually a hatchback. That makes loading or unloading stuff in the trunk much easier. Behind the rear seats, it has 645 L (22.7 cu-ft) of space and 1,059 L (37.4 cu-ft) with the rear seats folded.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – NVH levels are low when cruising, making for a quiet cabin during long-distance drives. Under hard acceleration, however, much of the engine note is artificially generated through the interior speakers rather than coming from the exhaust pipe.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The four-door 2026 Dodge Charger starts at $62,995 CAD ($51,995 USD). Adding options like the R/T Plus package, Blacktop package, and Performance Handling group brings the total price to around $80,000 CAD ($62,000 USD). However, that is still substantially cheaper than a BMW M3.
Gadgets – Tech is centered around a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen and a 16-inch digital gauge cluster. A minor design flaw leaves the top left and right corners of the digital cluster partially obscured by the thick steering wheel spokes, requiring you to tilt your head to see widgets like the clock or ambient temperature. The R/T Plus package adds high-end features such as a head-up display, surround-view cameras, ventilated front seats, and a 9-speaker Alpine audio system.
There’s also a couple of stand-alone options such as the upgraded 18-speaker Alpine audio system and the giant panoramic moonroof. This really irritates me because while it does let in a lot of light, it doesn’t have a shade nor does it electronically change opacity like in some German vehicles. So on a hot summer day, the A/C has to work extra hard to keep the cabin from turning into a greenhouse.
Interior Design – Cabin materials feature a mix of high and low points. The leatherette and suede upholstery along with contrast stitching across the dash and center console, feel premium. However, elements like the plastic illuminated door trim and the pistol-grip shifter feel cheap for an $80,000 vehicle. There are some physical controls, such as the volume knob, but the climate controls use a touch sensitive strip underneath the infotainment screen.
Exterior Design – The Charger retains its aggressive, retro-modern muscle proportions from the late-60s models, complete with wide rear hips and flush door handles. Like many American things, the new Charger is massive. It’s longer, wider, and taller than the old Charger, even the widebody variants. It looks menacing.
Safety – The 2026 Dodge Charger comes standard with a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies, featuring forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking that includes vulnerable road user detection for both pedestrians and cyclists. Highway driving is supported by active lane management, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, which pairs with active driving assist to help maintain lane centering and safe following distances. For everyday commuting and maneuvering its massive footprint, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection comes equipped alongside ParkSense front, rear, and side parking sensors, while a 360-degree surround-view camera system is available to provide maximum visibility in tight spaces.
Warranty – The 2026 Dodge Charger R/T is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km basic and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Ram’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Is the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack better than a BMW M3? No. It lacks the sharp handling, steering feedback, and refined cabin dynamics of its European target, largely due to the weight compromises of a shared EV platform. However, as a fast, comfortable, highly practical hatchback Grand Tourer with immense tuning potential in its Hurricane engine, it carves out a compelling lane of its own.
Thank you to Dodge Canada for providing the 2026 Charger R/T. www.Dodge.ca
2026 Dodge Charger R/T Sixpack Gallery
