The new Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack fired up with a rumble you could hear down the block...
It's a full-size car with retro '70s styling and wild 670-horsepower performance. It goes from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds.
This Charger was one of about two dozen vehicles on hand last Thursday at the Washington Automotive Press Association ("WAPA") Rally... an event for D.C.-area car reviewers.
But this Charger wasn't packing Dodge's traditional "Hemi" V-8 engine. Rather than eight cylinders... it didn't have any cylinders at all. It was a fully electric car. All that rumbling? Produced synthetically.
To attend the WAPA Rally, I (Brady Holt) took the day off from editing Doc's newsletters. In place of fixing commas, I drove 13 different brand-new cars, trucks, and SUVs – including this electric Charger.
I also drove a vehicle from Dodge's sister brand, Ram, that came about its performance the old-fashioned way: a Hemi V-8... And as I'll explain, these two loud, fast cars highlight a trend in the auto industry.
I'll also tell you about some of the other notable vehicles I tested at the WAPA Rally – plus two intriguing affordable choices that I wasn't allowed to drive.
The redesigned Dodge Charger is a hoot to drive. It's fast, and it hugs the road when you go around a corner.
Plus, it will turn heads in its coat of "Bludicrous" paint. Here's the one I drove...
Trouble is, this electric sedan starts at $61,995. The one I drove came to $80,455 with all the options. And it goes just 223 miles on a charge.
Dodge has found few takers for the coupe version of the Charger Daytona. This year's new sedan is more useful, thanks to its rear doors. But it's still an odd fit for both electric-car buyers and for traditional muscle-car fans.
That's why the 2026 Dodge Charger adds an option that buyers have demanded for years: a gasoline engine.
It still doesn't have a classic V-8 burble. But this turbocharged six-cylinder will make up to 550 horsepower. It costs thousands less than the electric Charger Daytona. And you don't have to plug it in.
Ram is going even further... Parked right next to the Charger at the WAPA Rally was a new 2026 Ram 1500 pickup with the old Hemi V-8.
Ram had recently replaced this engine with a turbo six (the same one that's in the new Charger). It's faster than the Hemi and just as efficient.
But like the electric Charger, the six-cylinder Ram turned off customers who liked the old V-8. So now, the Ram has a choice of six- and eight-cylinder engines.
Whenever I write about electric vehicles ("EVs"), I hear people worried about having them forced down their throats.
I like EVs. My wife and I own one. Electric cars are quick, quiet, and cheap to operate when you plug them in at home.
But not everyone can charge at home... Or they might take long road trips. And at public charging stations, it's slower and often more expensive to recharge an EV than to fill a gas tank.
That underscores the trend I'm highlighting... choice.
Like the Charger, two other EVs at the WAPA Rally are available in both gas and electric form. These are the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup and Ford e-Transit cargo van.
You'd buy the electric F-150 Lightning and e-Transit to make lots of short drives, then charge up overnight. You'd buy a gas F-150 or Transit when you often need to travel long distances.
There's also a middle ground... the hybrid. A hybrid has a gasoline engine – but it also has an electric motor and a self-charging battery. That helps it get better gas mileage without ever needing to plug in.
Five of the 13 cars I drove at the WAPA Rally were hybrids, including this all-new 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid...
The Crosstrek is one of America's most popular subcompact crossover SUVs. It's small and relatively affordable, yet still comfortable and functional.
My colleague on Doc's team, Laura, has owned a Crosstrek for years. But the new hybrid model gets 36 mpg in government fuel-economy testing. The gas-only model gets just 29 mpg. The hybrid has more horsepower, too.
The only downside is the price. The Crosstrek Hybrid costs about $2,000 to $3,500 more than an equivalent gas-only Crosstrek. Plus, you can't get a hybrid version of entry-level Crosstreks... only fancier models with more add-ons.
So the cheapest Crosstrek Hybrid costs $33,995 versus $26,995 for the cheapest gas model. You'd need to drive a lot of miles to pay back that difference.
At least with its unusually comfortable seats and smooth ride, this Subaru would let you enjoy those miles.
Another all-new crossover SUV I tested was a lot bigger and more expensive than the Crosstrek Hybrid. Yet it also offers a lot for the money.
It's the redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade. Here's the one I drove...
Think of the Palisade as a luxury SUV at the price of an ordinary family car. It has the presence of a Range Rover and nicer interior trim than a Lexus.
All the while, it has an ultra-quiet ride and three rows of seats. Prices start at $39,435.
The Palisade I drove had a V-6 gas engine. It was silky quiet – at least until I floored the accelerator to jump into a gap in traffic. That pushed this smooth, relaxed SUV out of its comfort zone. Plus, it gets a mere 20 mpg in government testing.
Fortunately, the Palisade also has my favorite solution... a hybrid option. The more powerful Palisade Hybrid gets 29 mpg to 34 mpg, depending on the model.
It costs about $2,200 more than a comparable gas-only Palisade. But as with the Crosstrek, Hyundai won't sell you a base-model hybrid without all the fancy features. Prices start at $47,520.
That's a fair price for a luxuriously equipped, luxuriously finished, quick, and economical three-row SUV. But it's not an outright bargain.
Finally... the WAPA Rally's two least expensive vehicles also got the best gas mileage (not counting the EVs). But I'm not licensed to drive them.
They're a pair of Honda motorcycles... priced from $5,149 and $7,399.
A motorcycle isn't everyone's idea of economical transportation. It means forgoing niceties like air conditioning, airbags, and a roof.
But they are real transportation. And while the government doesn't conduct tests on motorcycles, these bikes were averaging around 60 mpg and 70 mpg at the WAPA Rally.
I don't have a motorcycle license, so I won't be writing more about these Hondas... But Doc's Retirement Millionaire subscribers do hear about my Car of the Month in every issue.
They also have access to my Retirement Millionaire Car of the Year special report, highlighting my favorite bargains on sale today. I also share tips to help you save thousands of dollars on a new car – through approaches that many folks never consider.
To learn more – and to unlock access to Doc's monthly stock recommendations... recent gold research... and health and finance tips – claim your discounted Retirement Millionaire subscription today.
What new car are you most curious about? Let me know: feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com.
What We're Reading...
- The average new car now costs more than $50,000.
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- Something different: The most American way to avoid losing your truck's key fob.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Brady Holt with Dr. David Eifrig
October 16, 2025