2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: Pros & Cons

This isn’t your granddad’s Dodge Charger. Although it might look considerably just like the Chargers and Challengers of outdated, the 2025 Charger Daytona Scat Pack is a completely new factor, with a completely revamped inside and a completely electrical powertrain. A Charger with no V-8 would possibly sound like heresy, however this automobile remains to be charming in plenty of methods.

Sadly, the electrical Charger turns into much less charming while you see the worth tag. With an as-tested sticker of almost $80,000, it’s far costlier than the last-generation automobile. Issue within the weak vary and the clunky infotainment system, and even the quickest Charger EV turns into a troublesome advice.

The Good

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

• Wonderful Design
• Luxurious, Nicely-Styled Inside
• Spectacular Efficiency

Although the brand new Charger might seem awkward in photos, it seems implausible in actual life. The “Bludicrous” paint job pairs excellently with the boxy type and putting fascias, catching the eyes of onlookers as I cruise silently by. Whereas most EVs are lifeless blobs, the Charger Daytona echoes a way of function and power.

The Charger can also be a giant automobile. At 206.6 inches lengthy, it’s over 8 inches longer than the outgoing Challenger. The hatchback rear supplies ample space for storing, although there’s no frunk. That additional size is clear inside, with the Charger’s inside providing ample house to stretch out. The again seats are literally usable, too; I used to be capable of comfortably match 4 adults inside with none complaints.

Past the bodily house, I benefit from the inside’s design. The sweeping sprint melds into the doorways nicely, and the pistol-grip shifter is satisfying to make use of. There are two shows mounted to the sprint, a 16.0-inch unit for the motive force and a 12.3-inch display for the infotainment system. Each are shiny and crisp, making the cabin a pleasant place to spend time.

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

And whereas I’ll at all times choose a V-8 to electrical energy, I’ve to commend the Charger Daytona’s efficiency. It’s stonking fast off the road, and claws itself out of the opening and into unlawful speeds shortly. Like most EVs, that energy appears to die off when you’ve eclipsed 90 miles per hour, however earlier than that, it’s a rocket. 

It’s not simply straight-line pace, both. Regardless of the Charger’s chunky 5,838-pound curb weight, it could dance round corners. That’s due to the massive 325-section-width Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3 tires out again, and the usual dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Slowing issues down are a set of hefty 16.1-inch discs with Brembo calipers.

There are a number of various toys to play with, too, like Drift mode, Monitor mode, Drag mode, and even Donut mode. For those who want a kick in energy, there’s a button labeled “PowerShot” on the steering wheel, which maxes out the twin motors to offer the total 670 horsepower for 30 seconds. Gimmicky, sure. But in addition very enjoyable.

The Dangerous

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

• Messy Infotainment System
• Half-Baked Artificial Exhaust Sound
• Lackluster Vary
• Too Costly

Whereas the Dodge Charger Daytona’s inside is a pleasant place to spend time, the infotainment system hangs over it like a darkish cloud. The corporate’s Uconnect 5 working system is a cluttered mess, with a slew of various menus and bunched-up buttons that make it almost unimaginable to navigate, particularly whereas driving. 

There’s a brand new part particularly to point out the powertrain’s EV standing, like energy circulate and charging data. However I discovered myself always sticking to the wi-fi Apple CarPlay as a substitute, merely to keep away from coping with the native working system. These with Android telephones gained’t have to fret; there’s wi-fi Android Auto connectivity in your telephones, too. 

That’s not the one piece of tech on the Charger I don’t like. Whereas I’m typically professional fake exhaust sounds for EVs, the Daytona’s “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” doesn’t do it for me. Dodge bought so shut to creating this work, however fumbled on the purpose line. Whereas the sound itself, which emanates from a subwoofer mounted within the rear bumper, is superior, it’s not paired with any kind of faux gears or shifting, such as you’d discover on a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

Photograph by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

Which means while you’re driving round with the Fratzonic exhaust turned on, it sounds such as you’re driving a V-8-powered automobile with a constantly variable transmission. It’s silly in its execution, rendering the sound appropriate just for stoplight rev-offs or complicated folks in parking tons. On the transfer, it simply made me nauseous. 

Whether or not you retain the exhaust turned on or not, you’ll be disenchanted by the Charger Daytona’s vary. With a full cost, I used to be solely capable of squeeze 208 miles from the 93.9-kilowatt-hour usable battery pack, a median of simply 2.2 miles per kilowatt-hour. That’s fairly dismal for a 2025 model-year EV, a lot much less one this costly. To be honest, the vary could be much better with a set of extra environment friendly tires.

Talking of value, the Charger Daytona isn’t precisely reasonably priced. The Scat Pack’s beginning value of $66,990, together with vacation spot, is bolstered by these aforementioned drive modes, in addition to a number of lively security techniques, like lane administration, intersection collision help, and cross-path detection. A head-up show and a mechanical limited-slip differential are additionally normal.

Our tester got here in at $78,970 due to the gorgeous blue paint job, a $3,200 “Scat Pack Stage 2” bundle that provides 80 horsepower, and the $4,995 Monitor bundle, which provides stuff just like the Brembo brakes, heated and ventilated sport seats, adaptive damping, and people Goodyears. In truth, I don’t assume you want any of that, apart from the paint. It’s not like anybody will likely be taking this factor to the observe, in any case.

Rivals

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Supply: Brian Silvestro / Motor1