It’s been a big year for the Dodge Charger and the automotive world has taken notice.

In its annual celebration of standout new vehicles, MotorWeek has announced the winners of its 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards, and at the top of the list is the Dodge Charger, which was crowned “Best of the Year.” This honor caps off a string of accolades for the Charger lineup and reaffirms its place as a top choice among both critics and everyday drivers.

Muscle Meets Modern Engineering

MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Awards are determined by its team of testers and journalists experts who evaluate cars across driving performance, technology, style, value and overall experience. This year’s awards recognize vehicles in 12 distinct categories, from family cars and trucks to electric vehicles and sport coupes. Among all these contenders, the Charger stood out as the one vehicle that delivered the best mix of performance, innovation and everyday usability.

In addition to earning the Best of the Year title, the Charger also retained its crown in the Best Sport Coupe category. That’s a significant achievement in an era when coupes face stiff competition from high-end sports cars and performance EVs alike.

What Makes the Charger Stand Out

The 2026 Dodge Charger lineup is unique in the modern muscle-car world because it blends both internal combustion power and electrified performance under one roof. Whether you gravitate toward the gas-powered SIXPACK-powered Scat Pack and R/T models with twin-turbo inline-six engines or the all-electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack with astonishing acceleration and futuristic sound design, there’s a Charger for almost every performance enthusiast.

Standard features like all-wheel drive, advanced tech inside the cabin, and the choice between two-door or four-door body styles only add to the Charger’s appeal, making it both practical and thrilling. The fact that it can house a traditional muscle car powerplant alongside cutting-edge electric propulsion shows just how forward-thinking Dodge has become without losing the raw appeal that made Chargers icons in the first place.

Industry Recognition Keeps Growing

This isn’t the only big award the Charger has collected recently — it was also named 2026 North American Car of the Year earlier in the season, a prestigious honor judged by a panel of independent automotive journalists. That recognition, like the MotorWeek award, highlights the Charger’s blend of heritage-inspired design and modern performance.

For Dodge and its loyal fans, these accolades aren’t just trophies — they’re proof that traditional American muscle still has a place in the rapidly changing automotive landscape. As engineering continues to evolve, so too does the Charger’s ability to stay relevant and exciting, appealing to both purists and new-generation performance drivers alike.

A Bright Future for Muscle Car Fans

As the automotive industry shifts and electrification becomes more mainstream, the Charger’s success at the MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards shows how a brand can honor its legacy while embracing innovation. Whether you’re drawn to classic big-power engines or the instant torque of electric drive, the 2026 Charger lineup has something worth celebrating and now a title to match.