Dodge recently invited a group of journalists to Radford Racing School in Chandler, Arizona, to experience the all-new, all-electric 2024 Charger Daytona lineup. Track action was reserved for the higher performance Scat Pack models, but we got to experience the newest Dodge Charger Daytona R/T on the roads around the track facility, showcasing the excellent combination of performance and daily driving comforts.
If you are interested in an electric vehicle, but you want something that is far more interesting than the typical EV while offering the most range possible, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T is likely your ideal new car. It obviously doesn’t look like other EVs, but it also offers an interior layout and driving dynamics that are more muscle car and less “green car” – making this the most engaging EV with more than 300 miles of range on the market today.
Preparing for the Drive
As you get settled down into the driver’s seat of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, the cockpit-like design puts everything well within reach without having to lean forward away from the seatback. The standard bucket seats of the R/T trim level have nice, deep base and back bolsters that provide the feel that you want in a performance-oriented car, but the sporty seats are wide enough to offer a comfortable ride for larger occupants. My test car was equipped with leather seating surfaces, providing a more upscale look and feel.
The massive infotainment screen angles inward towards the driver and the center console has a design that is reminiscent of the shift console in the classic E-body Challenger that I really like. When combined with the unique steering wheel with a flat top and bottom along with the sculpting of the door panels, this cabin has a very futuristic, sporty feel that is comfortable and welcoming for the driver and front passenger. I only spent an hour in the driver’s seat, but it was comfortable enough that I could happily drive this car for hours on end. Best of all, the rear seats offer enough legroom for two adults with the front seats adjusted to comfortably accommodate a 6-foot-tall driver and passenger.
When you push the start button, which is mounted near the shifter in the center console, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T roars to life visually and audibly. The startup animation on the elaborate infotainment screen system showcases the new Dodge Fratzog logo and the slick interior lighting quickly spreads across the dashboard and through the door panels, all of which is accompanied by the roar of the Fratzonic chambered exhaust system. The unique exhaust note at “idle” will definitely get the attention of everyone around, especially if you switch into Sport mode and give it a few hard revs.
Taking to the Streets
All 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T models come standard with the Direct Connection Stage 1 upgrade, which lifts output to 496 horsepower with 404 lb-ft of torque. More importantly for those folks looking for a daily driver, the Charger Daytona R/T boasts a single-charge driving range of 308 miles – making it the ideal package for anyone who plans to drive long distances with their electric muscle car. Our hour-long drive route around Arizona didn’t allow us to test the range, but it did allow us to experience the handling, braking and acceleration aspects of the 496-horsepower Dodge BEV.
Although the exhaust note is very distinct and noticeable at startup, once you get out onto the road with the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T in Auto mode, you will find that at 45 miles per hour, you can barely hear the Fratzonic exhaust. If you have the windows rolled up and the sound system off, you can hear it, but it is pretty faint. Also, if you are riding next to an R/T in traffic and it is in Auto mode, the odds are good that you will not be able to hear the exhaust note at speed. However, if you switch the Charger Daytona R/T to Sport mode, the exhaust note immediately gets a bit louder, at which point it becomes far more evident when cruising. Frankly, I like the exhaust note enough that I spent most of my drive time in the R/T in Sport mode. Sport mode also sharpens up throttle response and steering feel, creating what I found to be a more pleasurable driving experience, but even in Auto mode, this Charger R/T is a ton of fun to drive.
At one point during my drive with the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, I found myself out in the middle of nowhere on an empty stretch of road, allowing me to safely stop and test the launch performance of this sporty EV with the unique Dodge PowerShot system. When you are driving around in the Charger Daytona R/T in either Auto or Sport mode, the drivetrain is ready to provide up to 456 horsepower. To get the full output, you use the PowerShot system, which adds the extra 40 horsepower for 15-second bursts. After 15 seconds of use and 15 seconds of downtime, the system is ready for another burst.
Thanks to the instant torque of the electric drive system and the standard all-wheel-drive system that comes with the two-motor drivetrain, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T moves out in a hurry, using the PowerShot system and all 496 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque to quickly and easily sprint from a stop to 60 miles per hour in the high-4-second range. My best time was 4.7 seconds, but every hard launch led to a time in the 4-second range, which is quick enough to beat a great many naturally aspirated muscle cars with V8 engines away from the starting line. If you have never experienced the hard acceleration of a performance-inspired electric vehicle, the launch of the Charger R/T is shocking – no pun intended.
In the same way that the instant-on power application leads to great low-end acceleration, the Charger Daytona R/T pulls very hard through the midrange with or without PowerShot. When cruising on the highway at 55, if you put the throttle to the floor, all of that power instantly pushes you back in your seat, quickly climbing toward triple-digit speeds in a hurry. As you accelerate, the sound of the exhaust system changes similarly to how a combustion engine exhaust system reacts, with the sound intensity and volume changing with speed and throttle input. This is true in either of the drive modes, but as mentioned above, when you are in Sport mode, the exhaust note is far more prominent at all speeds and throttle input levels.
Handling and Ride Quality
When I got off of the highway and onto some twisty mountain roads, the handling of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T was put on display. The sport-tuned suspension system does a great job of handling the weight of this roomy coupe, minimizing body roll and maximizing grip at all four corners for a sporty exit from the turns even when the tires are being pushed to their limits. The regenerative brakes quickly get the Charger R/T down to manageable speeds in the tight turns, with settings for varying levels of regen. The least aggressive regen setting provides similar brake pedal function to a vehicle that does not have regenerative braking, but you can increase the intensity up to a one-pedal driving situation, so as you let off of the throttle, the brakes automatically begin to apply. For sporty driving, I prefer the least amount of automatic braking input, but when cruising on the highway and around town, the one-pedal driving system makes for a more convenient driving experience while also aiding in charging.
Finally, while the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T handles well, it also offers excellent ride quality and a surprisingly quiet drive. When driving around with the windows closed, there is almost no wind noise at highway speeds and only the most severe bumps in the road make it into the cabin.
If you have been thinking about getting an electric vehicle, but you don’t find any of the vehicles on the market very interesting, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T might be the ideal choice for you. With a range of over 300 miles on a single charge, this model offers enough range for almost every commuter to get back and forth to work without a need to charge during the day, but that range comes with pretty impressive performance – offering excellent acceleration and handling capabilities coupled with a smooth, comfortable and quiet drive.
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