NoFo cars recently visited Troncalli Dodge in Cumming, Georgia where C.J. Seaberry took us for a test drive in this award-winning, and controversial new EV. What first drew our attention to this totally new model was that MotorWeek named the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona as their Driver’s Choice Best Sport Coupe of the year, but what made this award even more significant is that the new Charger is an EV and it won over all competitors – gas or electric. Recent winners in this category include the Ford Mustang, Nissan Z and the Toyota BR Supra.
But, selling an EV to traditional Dodge buyers has been a challenge. Plus, Dodge’s parent company Stallantis has been struggling, and the new Charger launch has suffered from review bombing. Which is all unfortunate as the car itself… it is amazing.
Like really amazing. And everybody we talked to about it pretty much had the same thing to say… that they wish people would check it out and make up their minds with a first-hand experience. Because that experience… It’s profoundly awesome.
As we were investigating the new Charger we found something unexpected, that Dodge employees were buying them. C.J. has one, as did other people at local Dodge dealerships we talked to and the reason they are buying them is that they tell us that they are simply great cars, and they are spending their own money to get them.
What the Dodge Charger gives buyers is a traditional American car experience that happens to be electric, and that electric drive gives these cars stunning acceleration. Dodge really took it to the next level. This new kind of speed really surprised us. The overall handling is great and the steering is particularly good, giving the Charger an all-around ride vibe that is nimble and confident.
EV adoption in the US has been a rocky road for both manufacturers and the public, whose perception of EV’s has often been constrained by cultural preconceptions. The first generations of EV’s set a precedent in consumer’s minds about what an EV was and who would want one. Changing that preconception and getting regular folks to try one has also been complicated by recent socio-political headlines, and the Charger seems to have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to public awareness and acceptance.
But, despite the complicated environment, the new Charger is a stunner. She’s a beauty. The classic-retro-future exterior looks are matched with a superb interior. There are lots of options available, too. C.J. commented on how different each car was, and our test drive had a glass roof and upgraded sound system. It was nice. Very nice.
If you talk to traditional Dodge fans, they’ll tell you that there are cars, there there are Dodge cars. They are different, and they are designed and intended for a particular spectrum of buyers. But the paradox here is that Dodge has taken their driving experience to a new level, but critics are bashing them, most often without having taken the time to actually drive one of them, preventing people from approaching them with an unbiased perception.
NoFo Cars loves the new Charger. It kicks butt. It’s swank and comfortable on the inside, sexy AF on the outside and… if you’ve never been in an electric car, it is faster and more powerful than you can probably imagine.
Here are our five favorite things about the new Dodge Charger:
The first favorite thing we like about the Dodge Charger is the acceleration. With four-wheel electric drive, you’ll experience a totally new level of power. It puts you way back in your seat. Of course, steering and braking are engineered to match that power, so there is an overall excellence of performance all around… but… the power… it’s totally next generation. Words can’t convey the feeling of how much torque you get, how fast you get it, and how there’s no fall-off after you’re out of the pocket. Just the opposite, where gas engines have a big push at first, that power isn’t applied as efficiently once the car is at speed, but with electric drive, you get maximum instant torque at any speed. Don’t listen to the haters. They are wrong. Try one for yourself and you’ll be amazed.
The second thing we liked best about the Dodge Charger is… the charging. You can charge it at home with no extra expense or equipment. You can plug it into your regular wall outlet and get level one charging without installing anything at all. Depending on your driving habits you may never need anything more than that and you’ll still get the full mileage capacity, and all the horsepower of the car no matter now you charge it. If you are away from home you can fast charge the battery to 80% in 24 minutes. That’s fast. Charging speed is one of the critical things to consider for EV buyers, as it is an indicator of the overall system’s level of engineering. Faster is better and filling up the new Dodge Charger is very quick. And all the new Chargers get at least 241 miles per charge, some over 300 miles and with the typical American only drives about 30 miles a day, many drivers only need to charge up once or twice a week and they will have enough range to do everything they need to do.
The third thing we liked most about the new Charger is the quiet, ergonomic and comfortable interior space. It’s like a sci-fi cockpit. There are several configurations of screens, and whichever combo you get, you have all the info you need, it all works together. It’s roomy, with luxurious premium materials all around. It’s a very special experience with the quiet drive train. You have a feeling of stability and confidence where you can tune out the world passing by. This is something a lot of EV’s offer but Dodge’s body design is so solid that you get extra insulation from noise and vibration. It’s just plain cool being inside one.
The fourth thing we like best about the Dodge Charger is the Fratzonic exhaust. Though criticized by some people online, we think this is a forward-thinking feature which will come to be appreciated. We like it because it gives the car a sound – which is what people expect. It was a bold move to put in a system like this and we like that it changes with the performance settings, giving drivers an audio cue as to their system status.
This has also kick-started some conversations about the future of EV audio expression. It’s only a matter of time until somebody starts adjusting the sound, either rogue or maybe via an upcoming interface, and this will open up a whole new world of experimentation. The idea of a customizable exhaust sound is appealing, and we see a future where – just like a traditional car tuner could upgrade and modify their performance components – we envision that people will be able to interact with their exhaust sound and customize it, and it will all have started with the Fratzonic exhaust.
The fifth reason we like the Dodge Charger is that they are very affordable right now. Dealers are offering big discounts and lease rates are particularly low. You’re getting a totally new car with modern features and capabilities for a small cost. You’re getting a comfortable, good-looking and fast as heck muscle car, and though those muscles are electric and not gas, we argue that the new tech is better by far. You’re getting a next-generation drive experience and we think the first-year Chargers are going to be collector’s prizes as time moves on and more people realize what they have missed. Because this is a car that should not be missed.
Don’t believe the hype. See for yourself. We went into our test drive with an open mind and came out stunned by how powerful the new Chargers are and what a great job Dodge did. If you’re near North Forsyth county Georgia talk to our friend C.J. at Troncalli about a test ride – you will not be disappointed.
Troncalli CDJR
678-244-4100
https://www.troncallichryslerdodgejeepram.com
C.J. Seaberry
cseaberry@troncalli.com