Dodge Charger wins North American Car of the Year despite controversy

Dodge's renewed Charger was named the 2026 North American Car of the Year, beating finalists that included the Honda Prelude and Nissan Sentra. The model was noted for its combination of performance, everyday usability, and updated technology.

The Dodge Charger, a renewed American coupe that drew early criticism, was named North American Car of the Year for 2026. The award was announced during the Detroit Auto Show and followed strong competition from other new models. Judges and the article cite the car's mix of performance, chassis tuning, and interior technology as factors in the decision. The result underlines how design and engineering outcomes figured into the award process. Key details: - The Dodge Charger won the 2026 North American Car of the Year, with the Honda Prelude and Nissan Sentra listed as runners-up. - The gasoline-powered Charger is offered as a two-door coupe in Scat Pack trim with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six (Hurricane), rated at about 550 hp and 531 lb-ft, AWD, 0-60 mph in about 3.5 seconds and a top speed listed near 177 mph. - An electrified Charger marketed as the Daytona is offered in sedan and two-door coupe forms with a dual-motor setup, around 630 hp (a temporary boost to 670 hp is available), 0-60 mph in about 3.3 seconds, and a reported maximum range near 241 miles. - Published starting prices noted in the article include about $54,995 for the ICE Scat Pack and around $60,690 as a base for Daytona EV variants. Summary: The NACTOY award places the Charger ahead of other high-profile finalists and highlights the model's emphasis on performance and daily usability. The article reports the win as an example of a controversial design finding acceptance through its execution. Undetermined at this time.