I drove the 2025 Dodge Charger EV for a week — and it’s proof that muscle cars can embrace all-electric power

The Dodge Charger is a classic muscle car with a reputation for loud and proud automotive ingenuity that spans decades, earning itself a cult following with its powerful V8 engine. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of them on the road with their obnoxiously loud exhaust systems, but the latest generation Dodge Charger evolves to embrace all-electric power.

Enthusiasts might scoff at this change, but after I drove the 2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack for a week, I can’t tell you how it’s a refreshing take that does nicely to embody the spirit of its racing heritage. Transformed into an EV, it comes with many of the comforts and conveniences that make it exhilarating to drive.

When most sporty EVs tend to be more compact in size, like the BMW i4 M50 Gran Coupe, the Dodge Charger EV isn’t afraid to show how it can still move and react just as well as them — while proving how embracing all-electric power doesn’t compromise its performance and identity.

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2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack: Specifications

2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack: Testing summary

Muscle cars have a reputation for being inefficient, but after driving a total of 356 miles in my week’s worth of testing, the 2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack proves to me it doesn’t sacrifice on performance. What is really impressive for a big-sized EV coup such as this is the 3.5 mi/kWh average efficiency I got out of it. Just as a comparison, it’s better than the BMW i4 M50, which still has the best driving performance in any EV I’ve tested in the last year.

I will admit that I mainly kept it in the eco driving mode, which still packs enough acceleration and response to make it a fun drive. There were a handful of times when I activated its power shot mode, which makes it rocket forward in an instant thanks to a temporary boost of 40 horsepower.

But the odd thing about its 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency is that if I were able to sustain that rate, it would give it a range of about 328 miles based on its usable 93.9 kWh battery — that’s better than the 241 range it’s rated for. I’m a little bit skeptical about this, but it manages to sustain an efficiency of 3.8 mi/kWh with one of my short distance driving tests.

In terms of charging the Dodge Charge EV, its 2.64 mi/hr average speed is decent, netting me about 27 miles of range overnight with Level 1 charging. Although, it falls way short compared to the class leading speed of 4.91 mi/hr I got with the Lucid Air Pure.

2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack: What I Like

Classic design meets modern aestehtics

For being imagined as an EV, I have to give Dodge credit for staying true to a classic design that’s iconic in so many ways. It definitely draws inspiration from the Charger’s design featured in the The Dukes of Hazzard TV show I remember watching as a kid, but with a few modern aesthetics — like the R-Wing front aero passthrough of its hood and wide frame body. On the road, it easily commands attention.

Instant power with PowerShot mode

If you’re looking for a thrill, I’d suggest trying out its PowerShot mode that briefly amplifies its performance with an additional 40 horsepower. From a complete stop, it catapults forward in an instant and hugs you tightly into the bucket seats — but I’ve also found it to work well on the highway to overtake slower cars. And yes, this mode also comes with extra fake engine noises to complement the experience.

Tuning its performance to your preference

Part of its appeal as a muscle car is the ability to tune many of its settings, so that it drives and performs to your preference. It’s a lot like the customized driving experience that I saw with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, allowing me to adjust the Charger EV’s power output, traction control, suspension, steering, and much more. I know how this is valuable for enthusiasts because you don’t get this level of control with most EVs.

Fake engine noises

Another aspect that makes it embody the spirit of a muscle car are all the fake engine noises it produces, thanks in large part to the 18–speaker Alpine sound system in place complete with a subwoofer.

Honestly, it sounds obnoxious turning it on because of the roar it generates. I remotely turned on the Dodge Charger EV from inside my home and the bass from the fake engine noise easily resonated through the walls from outside — that’s how loud it is. Even though the video above doesn’t do justice to proving this, believe me when I say that it’s loud — and I love it for that. There’s the option to silence these fake noises, including the sounds as I’m actively driving it, but why would you? You're driving a muscle car, after all.

Spacious hatchback trunk

Classified as a 2-door coupe, I’m really surprised by the amount of space there is with the trunk. That’s because it features a hatchback liftgate that opens up the entire back of the vehicle, including the rear window. This allows for a much wider opening that allows me to cram large sized items, like my JackRabbit OG2 Pro micro ebike, without having to fold it down to fit the trunk.

Sporty looking interior

Inside of the 2025 Dodge Charger EV, I really like its sporty look. From the red-trimmed bucket seats, to small details like the design of the shifter on the center console, it makes me feel like I’m in some kind of race car. I also like how the seats will automatically pull forward or backwards when you need to access the back seats — which is a little tight with the legroom in my opinion.

Ample premium features

For being a muscle car, it’s nice to see that this trim of the Dodge Charger EV can be equipped with the same premium features I see in some of the best electric cars I’ve tested. These include its sprawling fixed glass roof, helpful head-up display in the windshield, bright driver’s display, and a responsive adaptive cruise control system.

2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack: What I Don't Like

No overhead camera view

While there’s a backup camera to help out whenever I’m backing out of a spot, it’s missing the overhead camera view that a lot of EVs offer in this price range. Given how long and wide it is, having the extra cameras around the Dodge Charger EV would be even more helpful trying to parallel park or squeezing into tight spots.

There isn’t a cover for the glass roof

I’m the first one to always say how I love having a panoramic glass roof in any vehicle I test, but despite the sprawling views it offers with the Dodge Charger EV, I just wish there was a cover for it. Even though there’s a UV protective layer for protection against harmful UV rays, the lack of a proper cover or mechanism to shade it more means I’m always at the mercy of the sun. There are times I just want the interior to be dark, but there’s no way for that to happen.

Pricey

I can’t stress enough about how EVs in general are expensive, but you’ll certainly pay a premium for the 2025 Dodge Charger EV. The $78,970 cost of the exact trim I drove is more expensive than the comparable BMW i4 M50 Gran Coupe, while it’s even more expensive than the efficient Lucid Air Pure at $69,900.

These are the two closest sporty styled EVs that match the Dodge Charger EV in terms of performance, but it’s still way more than I’d want to pay for a sporty EV. At the very least, it’s one of those gems you don’t see often on the road — so I suppose this exclusivity could be seen as a good thing.

2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack: Bottom Line

The 2025 Dodge Charger EV Scat Pack proves how traditional muscle cars can embrace all-electric power, without ditching the spirit of the series — but it does come at a high price. In true muscle car fashion, I really love how it features a customizable driving experience complete with engine noises that makes it a fun drive. I can’t tell you the amount of times random people perk up whenever I turn it out due to its obnoxious startup sequence.

Unlike its gas guzzling predecessors, I’m really astounded by its efficiency because it’s not something I expected for an EV of this size and power. I think this is the most underrated part about the Dodge Charger EV, mainly because you don’t think a muscle car is capable of being efficient. It’s able to do this while still giving you the feeling of being launched from a cannon, instantly, every single time you hit the pedal.

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