By: Jag Dhatt
Sitting in the driver’s seat of the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack gave me a strange sensation. For years, the rumble of a HEMI V8 was the heartbeat of the Dodge brand. Now, as I looked out over the “R-Wing” aero pass-through on the hood, the silence was almost deafening. This is the car many Mopar fans feared and others anticipated: the world’s first truly electric muscle car.
I’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. Driving around Vancouver, you see plenty of Teslas and Mustangs, but so far, I haven’t seen as many of these new Daytonas as Dodge likely expected. That’s a shame, because the “cool factor” is undeniable. It grabs attention in a way most EVs don’t—not because it looks like a rolling appliance, but because it looks like a Dodge.
Styling: A Masterclass in Retro-Modern Design
Dodge’s design team deserves a standing ovation for the styling. It’s exceptional, managing to pay homage to the 1968 Charger with a long, wide stance and “coke-bottle” curves, yet it feels entirely contemporary. I personally appreciate a mix of ruggedness and style, and the Scat Pack trim feels perfectly suited. It adds aggressive accents that the base R/T lacks, including massive Brembo brakes peeking through 20-inch wheels and a widebody stance that looks ready for a fight.
The Scat Pack is truly the one to get. While the base R/T is plenty fast with 496 horsepower, the Scat Pack is on another planet. We’re talking 670 horsepower (when you use the “PowerShot” button for that 10-second boost) and 627 lb-ft of instant torque. That translates to a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds.
A Serious Step Up Inside
Stepping inside, it’s clear Dodge has finally moved away from the “sea of plastic” interiors of the past. The cabin is easily the most refined space they have ever put together. It’s a driver-focused cockpit featuring a massive 16-inch digital instrument cluster that is standard on the Scat Pack. It’s crisp and vibrant, making the old analog gauges feel like relics. Next to it sits a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver.
One thing that stands out is the “Attitude Adjustment” ambient lighting. It offers 64 colors that wrap around the doors and dash, reacting to drive modes or even hitting the door lock. It gives the cabin a premium, futuristic vibe that balances out the retro pistol-grip shifter. The back seats even offer a surprising amount of room for a two-door vehicle, making it a viable daily driver.
The Sound of Science: Fratzonic Exhaust
One of the most talked-about features is the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. Some call it a gimmick, but I like it a lot. It doesn’t just play a recording; it uses air pulses and a physical tuning chamber to mimic a traditional engine at up to 126 decibels.
The sound changes depending on your drive mode. In “Auto,” it’s subtle, but switch it to “Track,” “Drag,” “Donut,” or “Drift,” and it becomes explosively loud. I’ll admit, it’s fun watching pedestrians in Vancouver look twice, confused as a car that was dead silent a second ago suddenly roars to life. It gives the car a soul that most EVs lack.
The Elephant in the Room: The Hellcat Comparison
I know what everyone is asking: How does it compare to the supercharged V8 Hellcat?
In a straight line, it’s a giant-killer. The Scat Pack’s 3.3-second 0-60 mph time actually beats the 797-hp Hellcat Redeye, which usually clocks in around 3.6 seconds. This is largely thanks to the standard all-wheel drive. While the Hellcat spends the first few seconds desperately trying to find traction, the Daytona Scat Pack just hooks and goes with no drama.
However, the Hellcat still wins on “soul” and top-end speed. A Hellcat will keep pulling until 320 km/h, whereas the Scat Pack poops out at 216 km/h. The Fratzonic exhaust is a valiant effort, but it lacks the visceral, mechanical “thump” in your chest that you get from a supercharged V8. The Hellcat feels like a wild animal; the Daytona Scat Pack feels like a precision instrument programmed to act like one.
Driving Dynamics: Power vs. Physics
Driving the Scat Pack is an exercise in managing physics. In a straight line, it is an absolute pleasure. But there is no hiding the weight. This “beast” tips the scales at over 5,767 pounds, and our test car was over 5,900 pounds with added performance components.
You feel that weight in the corners. On winding roads like the Sea-to-Sky highway, handling needs better tuning. It doesn’t easily promote driver confidence when you’re pushing it hard; the car feels heavy and sometimes reluctant to dance through tight bends. It’s capable, but you’re always aware of how much momentum you’re carrying.
Reality Check: Range and Charging
There are practical trade-offs. By choosing the Scat Pack’s power, you sacrifice range. While the R/T can go nearly 500 km, the Scat Pack is rated closer to 388 km. For me, that’s a trade I’d make for the performance, but it’s worth noting.
A bigger issue is the charging speed. Despite the tech, it felt slower than expected to fully charge, which can be a headache when you’re used to a five-minute gas station stop. It’s a major point to consider if you do a lot of long-distance driving through the BC interior.
Final Verdict
The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack is a bold, unapologetic endeavor. With its all-wheel-drive system, it’s actually better suited for Canadian winters than the rear-wheel-drive muscle cars of old, though you still have to be careful on the pedal in rain and snow given the 627 lb-ft of torque.
If you’re still not ready to go full electric, future Daytonas will be available with the new twin-turbo Hurricane engine. But for those ready to embrace the future, the Daytona Scat Pack proves that even without gasoline, Dodge still knows how to start a riot.
MSRP Base Price: $57, 790
Price as Tested: $100, 770
