Amanda Cline is an automotive enthusiast from Southwest Florida. She has cultivated her passion for cars from a young age, inspired by her father’s affinity for sports cars in the ’90s. She rode to school every day in an Acura NSX and once got her parents in trouble for saying they “drove cool cars and took her to bars.” To be fair, she was trying to rhyme (it was restaurants, but the cars were still cool). These days, Amanda likes to keep up to date with new vehicle releases and specs to spot them on the road.
After completing her Master’s Degree in Technical Communication, writing about the automotive industry made perfect sense. With more than five years of journalism experience and thousands of articles written on automotive topics, Amanda’s focus is now long-form reviews. These reviews help others learn about new cars, trucks, and SUVs by providing an in-depth look at life with them. Recent work has allowed her to move from just written reviews to formal video reviews with an entertaining twist.
If you want to know which midsize SUV is the best value or which sports car has the most cupholders, Amanda is here to help. She runs her car-focused accounts at Amanda Reviews Cars, where you can catch more short-form content. Her hobbies include listening to supercar sounds and trying to distinguish one brand from another with her boyfriend, David. He gets those right more often, but Amanda can tell you which year a Kia Telluride or a Toyota Highlander is just from a glance at a tail light.
The 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack SIXPACK H.O. has arrived with a 550-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six, all-wheel drive, and a starting price of $56,990. Dodge needed a win after slow sales of its EV-only Charger Daytona, and this might be it. What makes it even more interesting is how directly it lines up against Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse. On paper, the Charger makes more power, hits 60 mph quicker, and does it all while undercutting the Ford’s price. This might be a matchup that feels like the latest chapter in Detroit’s muscle car rivalry.
The headline numbers are what matter here. Dodge’s new twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane High-Output inline-six cranks out 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic and AWD. That setup sends the Scat Pack to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, making it quicker than the Mustang Dark Horse despite costing thousands less. Dodge even claims a 12.2-second quarter mile, putting it right in the fight with cars that cost far more.
Model
Powertrain
Horsepower / Torque
0–60 mph
Drive
Starting Price (Delivered)
2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack H.O.
Twin-Turbo 3.0L I6 (Hurricane H.O.)
550 hp / 531 lb-ft
3.9 sec
AWD
$56,990
2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Plus H.O.
Twin-Turbo 3.0L I6 (Hurricane H.O.)
550 hp / 531 lb-ft
3.9 sec
AWD
$61,985
2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
5.0L V8
500 hp / 418 lb-ft
4.1 sec
RWD
$66,075
2025 Chevrolet Camaro SS (Final Year)
6.2L V8
455 hp / 455 lb-ft
4.0 sec
RWD
$43,900
2025 BMW M440i xDrive Coupe
3.0L I6 Turbo + 48V Mild Hybrid
382 hp / 369 lb-ft
4.3 sec
AWD
$61,000
2025 Audi S5 Coupe
3.0L Turbo V6
349 hp / 369 lb-ft
4.4 sec
AWD
$57,000
When you stack the Charger Scat Pack H.O. against the field, the value becomes obvious. Dodge is handing buyers 550 horsepower and all-wheel-drive traction for less than $57,000 delivered, numbers that make the Mustang Dark Horse look pricey and put BMW and Audi coupes in an awkward spot. On a horsepower-per-dollar basis, the Charger is dominant.
That’s the play here: big power, quick times, and a price tag that undercuts the competition. Dodge is banking on value and speed to bring muscle car fans back after a rocky few years, and on paper, it’s working. And while we, as customers, want this to work, Dodge wants it to work way more.
Dodge didn’t split hairs on engines, so every Scat Pack gets the same Hurricane H.O. inline-six. Where things differ is in how much comfort and flash you want on top of the muscle. The standard Scat Pack is stripped down in a good way: cloth and leatherette performance seats, Brembo brakes, active exhaust, widebody stance, and a clean dual-screen digital layout. It’s raw, focused, and designed to give you maximum performance for minimum cash.
Step up to the Scat Pack Plus, and things get fancier. For $61,985 delivered, you add premium leather or suede seats, illuminated door handles, a head-up display, and ambient lighting that makes the cabin feel way more upscale. Dodge even lets you option Demonic Red upholstery, a glass roof, or a full Alpine audio system, features that turn the car from a track toy into a daily driver with serious luxury.
The smart part is that Dodge didn’t mess with the drivetrain. Whether you buy the base Scat Pack or the Plus, you get the same 550-horsepower hurricane under the hood.
Beyond trims, Dodge went all in on customization. The color lineup alone is loud: Green Machine, Bludicrous, Redeye, After Dark, and even Purple Haze are either here or coming soon. Peel Out and Destroyer Grey are on their way out, so buyers who want them will need to move fast. From old-school staples like White Knuckle to wild shades like Peel Out, there’s a flavor for everyone. If I was ordering one, Peel Out would be my top choice.
Option packages let you take things even further. The Blacktop Package ($1,095) gives the Scat Pack gloss black accents and badging for a stealthy street look. The Wheel & Tire Package ($1,095) adds fatter 305-series rubber on 20×11-inch wheels, making the widebody stance look even meaner while improving grip. For those wanting a high-end feel, the Carbon & Suede Package ($1,995) swaps in carbon trim and a suede headliner to elevate the interior. It’s the same formula Dodge has always used: big power up front, personalization on the back end. But this time, they’ve made it easier to spec out something wild without breaking the bank.
The 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack H.O. is Dodge’s shot at redemption, and it looks like a good one. With 550 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a sub-$57K price tag, it has the numbers to pull buyers back into showrooms. The Plus trim adds luxury without killing value, while color and package options keep things fun. In a market where muscle cars are fading fast, Dodge has priced and powered the Scat Pack to punch above its weight, and it might just be the last muscle car bargain left standing. We’ll see how things pan out against the competition in the next few months, especially against its main pony partner.
Source: Mopar Insiders
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