JUST HOW BIG IS THE NEW DODGE CHARGER DAYTONA?

Whether you’re ready for the EV revolution or not, Dodge has introduced the all-new Charger, which offers both an internal combustion engine configuration and a full EV. But what people were perhaps truly not ready for, is just how much presence this thing will have on the road. Riding on the STLA Large architecture, the new Dodge Charger is noticeably heavier and larger than its already large predecessors, the Dodge Challenger and previous generation Charger. And compared to the S650 Ford Mustang and the now-discontinued Chevrolet Camaro, the differences get even more extreme.

Below is a quick dimensional comparison of the new Dodge Charger Daytona to its largest predecessors, and most capable mainstay rivals, as well as the Tesla Model S Plaid:

It’s always been relatively evident that each Dodge muscle car was pretty big compared to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Still, with the introduction of the 2024 Dodge Charger, the brand has made an even bigger and significantly heavier muscle car. Comparing the biggest, widest variant of the 2023 Charger, the Hellcat Redeye Widebody, to the baseline next-gen electric model, there is an increase of 5.6-inches in length, 1.5-inches in width, and 0.4-inches in overall height between the two. Even though the dimensions Dodge has released so far are only for the two-door version, the car is more prominent. The size difference between the next-gen Charger 2- and 4-door configurations might not be all that different, as Dodge did reveal that the wheelbases will be relatively unchanged.

Since the new Charger offers 2-doors now, the Challenger is no longer in the picture. As the Challenger’s replacement, the size difference is once again pretty significant, with Dodge’s newest muscle car being 1.2″ taller, 9.1″ longer, 8.6″ wider, and 1,408 lbs heavier. Of course, the specs of the 2024 Charger don’t reflect the weight of the models equipped with the Hurricane I-6 engine, so a big chunk of the extra weight comes from the batteries for the Daytona EV.

The 2024 Ford Mustang is the only muscle car competitor for the next-generation Dodge Charger that remains in production. Its dimensions are significantly smaller, with the Ford Mustang weighing nearly 1,900 lbs less than the Dodge EV, which has a curb weight we’re used to seeing from a full-size SUV, and not a coupe. It should be noted that the S650 Mustang didn’t change proportions much with its generational change from the S550, as it is largely the same architecture.

Last but not least, we have the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro, which, just like the 2023 Challenger and Charger, ended production in December of last year. Once again, when comparing this muscle car to the new Dodge, the size is pretty significant, with the Camaro’s height 5.8″ less, length 18.3″ less, and width 9.6″ less. Then, there’s the weight which is a difference of about 1,839 lbs, making it much lighter than the Charger Daytona. The sixth-gen Camaro was also known to be the most athletic of all the current-gen muscle cars, and made up for its lack of relative power in the corners.

Despite the growth in proportions, The Dodge Charger Daytona will still rocket from 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.3 seconds, and will run an estimated 11.5-second quarter mile. Moreover, with the new Charger firmly a full-sized vehicle, and is one of the largest coupes that customers will be able to buy once it’s on the market, it does leave plenty of room for another vehicle to slot below it in terms of size, price, and performance. Since Stellantis isn’t letting go of the Challenger name anytime soon, perhaps it’s in the cards for Dodge to someday release a STLA Large Challenger that will target the Ford Mustang more precisely? Time will only tell.