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Dodge Charger Daytona Lands Spot on Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX List

Dodge's Newest Muscle Car Makes The List For Best Interiors

Dodge has done it again. The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona (LB29) has snagged a spot on the prestigious Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX list, thanks to its bold blend of performance-driven design and cutting-edge tech. While it’s already turning heads with its all-electric muscle credentials, this award proves that Dodge didn’t stop at horsepower—they made sure every inch of the interior hits just as hard.

Inside the next-gen Charger Daytona, you’re immediately greeted by a driver-focused cockpit that screams performance. The flat-top/flat-bottom steering wheel, retro-inspired “pistol grip” shifter, and fixed headrest high-back seats all bring classic muscle car vibes into the EV age. Add in ambient lighting with 64 color options—called “Attitude Adjustment”—and you’ve got a cabin that feels as bold as it looks.

2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2. (Dodge).

But this Charger isn’t just flexing style—it’s loaded with brains, too. At the center of it all is a 12.3-inch touchscreen powered by Dodge’s Uconnect 5 system. It’s fast, intuitive, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™. EV-specific pages give real-time data like power flow, charge levels, and regeneration status. Performance Pages and multiple Drive Modes let drivers tweak everything, including the sound of the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which pumps out a simulated growl that feels anything but artificial.

Even more tech-savvy is the available Drive Experience Recorder (DxR). It lets drivers capture every detail of a day at the track—or just a fun weekend cruise—so they can review lap times, throttle inputs, and more.

2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2. (Dodge).

“The interior of the Charger Daytona combines everything contemporary that you’d expect in an EV with a respect for the heritage of an iconic muscle car,” said Gary Vasilash, Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX judge. “Not an easy feat to accomplish, but they pulled it off in a manner that will make EV enthusiasts and the Brotherhood of Muscle both delighted with the execution.”

“The whole car says ‘muscle’ and backs it up with sound, fury, and sports-car styling at every turn: the rumble coming from the Fratzonic ‘exhaust’ pipes, the solid, pistol-grip shifter, the driver-centric cockpit, the wraparound lighting and styling of the door panels and dashboard, the carbon-fiber trim bits,” said Bob Gritzinger, Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX judge. “It’s all there, along with cool and functional haptic feedback from the controls. The biggest surprise comes when opening the liftback to reveal a huge, usable cargo area.”

2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2. (Dodge).

That liftback isn’t just for looks—it’s functional. Thanks to its unique fastback “hidden hatch” design, the Charger Daytona offers 38.5 cubic feet of rear cargo space with the seats folded, plus an additional 1.5 cubic feet in the front trunk (frunk). That’s a 133% increase in cargo volume over the outgoing Charger. Finally, a muscle car that can fit your weekend bags and your ego.

“The next-gen Dodge Charger is all new from the ground up on a new STLA Large platform, with new multi-energy powertrains, as well as new exterior and interior designs and user experience systems,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “This honor from Wards for having one of the best interiors and technology user experience is a true testament to the team that designed, developed, and created an all-new Charger that looks, sounds, feels, and drives like a Dodge.”

2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2. (Dodge).

WardsAuto judged 34 new or heavily refreshed vehicles for the 2025 competition. Winners were scored on design, comfort, materials, tech, usability, infotainment, advanced safety features, and overall value. The awards will be presented on June 5, 2025, during the AutoTech: Detroit 2025 conference at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan.

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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Dodge, under difficult and frankly philosophically hostile conditions created a terrific performance vehicle. Note, I did not use the term muscle car because under these intimidating circumstances and engineering necessities, that would have been unacceptable to Lord Tavares and not physically possible, but in spite, they did a great job anyway.
Indeed, the Charger is truly beautiful with classic elements, excitingly executed and oh yes, the interior indeed is a standout. Here comes the but…BUT launching the all electric Daytona first, before ready for customers, was a big forced mistake. Trying to fit a magnificent performance car into a muscle car box fooled no one, but nice try. No problem, the Cuda is coming.
I think Dodge will dig the Charger out of this hole with the four door, the Six Pack models and the V-8 Hail Mary. Yes they will doubters.
Congratulations Dodge, you guys did good, real good, no doubt.

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I agree with what Bill said above. The car beautiful inside and out, and as a performance car, it's actually decent. Personally I'm waiting for the hurricane versions to hit the streets seeing that even the standard output version comes with nearly the horsepower of a 6.1L Hemi and the high output has enough horsepower and torque to walk all over every stock naturally aspirated V8 production-level muscle car we've had in the last 20 years including the 7-liter Camaro Z28, the 6.4L Mopars and even the mighty GT350 Shelby Mustang.
I will say this and leave it at this. I've seen the rumors about the Cuda, the return of the hemi V8 engines, the rumors of a 7-liter production N/A hemi and all of that. While the rumors and everything are cool and exciting. I try to look at things with a bit of restraint and how would it affect the business. While yes, we are thankfully out of Tavares era so we don't have someone purposefully trying to ruin an American brand for european rule and our current governmental party has pushed back the oppressive EV mandates, the truth still stands that throwing a V8 in everything will also effectively kill the brand as well. The EPA still has a say in all of this and with the Hurricane engines present, that really leaves no room for the 5.7L or the 6.4L Hemi in much of anything outside of the Durango or maybe a truck, considering the fact that the Hurricanes outshine both of these engines. The same can not be said for the supercharged v8 engines. Could an 825hp version of the C30 Hellephant engine, toned down with a 2.7L blower get dropped into a next-gen Mopar muscle car on the STLA Large platform, sure it could. The same way they could drop it under the hood of a new Ram 1500 or even a Durango. I would honestly love to see it happen and return the Hemi name to its own legendary status instead of calling every v8 in the mopar lineup a Hemi. I would love to see Dodge have the Charger lineup with the two six packs and a 426 Blown Hemi at the top of the lineup. Same way I'd love to see a smaller, mustang sized Cuda with that same powertrain lineup along with a few street pickup trucks with Hurricane and blown 426-Hemi powertrains. I want to see the Mopar brands go back to thriving a flourishing the way they should be. Hell, I want to see the return of the Viper with a base model powered by the 807hp Redeye engine and the top model powered by a 1,100hp A170 Hellephant engine. I want to see what a tuned up version of the 300hp 2.0L Hurricane-4 EVO motor would be like in a couple of GLH & SRT4 model cars or even strapped to a hybrid 8-speed in the 4Xe Jeeps. I want to see Chrysler stomp all over Tesla with an 800V full EV Chrysler 300M with a tri-motor banshee system with the new semi-solid state batteries and 3-speed gearbox and fratzonic sound system and then watch Chrysler build an EV Pacifica with the same equipment to destroy the Tesla Model X Plaid. Again I am not opposed to Mopar EV performance, I'm 100% all for it! I want to see the 300 return as the Mopar brand's, Halcyon/Charger Daytona inspired electric performance luxury car with dual motors and tri-motors all on the 800V system and all with a three-speed gearbox. Honestly all of the Mopar EVs need to be on an 800V system regardless of platform from Medium to frame. Not saying I want to see Chrysler go full-EV but it would be the best brand for an EV-biased lineup while Jeep would be the best brand for a hybrid lineup. including hybrid hurricane-6 lineups and hurricane-4 EVO lineups in vehicles such as the Jeep Recon and Jeep Wagoneer-S. I still say with those brands focusing on "green energy" it gives Ram & Dodge the room to be focused on ICE vehicles with Hurricane-4, Hurricane-6 and Hemi V8 performance. Aftersales Direct Connection performance and Aftermarket performance will always be around for us enthusiast but to me this would keep both sides happy.

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I agree with what Bill said above. The car beautiful inside and out, and as a performance car, it's actually decent. Personally I'm waiting for the hurricane versions to hit the streets seeing that even the standard output version comes with nearly the horsepower of a 6.1L Hemi and the high output has enough horsepower and torque to walk all over every stock naturally aspirated V8 production-level muscle car we've had in the last 20 years including the 7-liter Camaro Z28, the 6.4L Mopars and even the mighty GT350 Shelby Mustang.
I will say this and leave it at this. I've seen the rumors about the Cuda, the return of the hemi V8 engines, the rumors of a 7-liter production N/A hemi and all of that. While the rumors and everything are cool and exciting. I try to look at things with a bit of restraint and how would it affect the business. While yes, we are thankfully out of Tavares era so we don't have someone purposefully trying to ruin an American brand for european rule and our current governmental party has pushed back the oppressive EV mandates, the truth still stands that throwing a V8 in everything will also effectively kill the brand as well. The EPA still has a say in all of this and with the Hurricane engines present, that really leaves no room for the 5.7L or the 6.4L Hemi in much of anything outside of the Durango or maybe a truck, considering the fact that the Hurricanes outshine both of these engines. The same can not be said for the supercharged v8 engines. Could an 825hp version of the C30 Hellephant engine, toned down with a 2.7L blower get dropped into a next-gen Mopar muscle car on the STLA Large platform, sure it could. The same way they could drop it under the hood of a new Ram 1500 or even a Durango. I would honestly love to see it happen and return the Hemi name to its own legendary status instead of calling every v8 in the mopar lineup a Hemi. I would love to see Dodge have the Charger lineup with the two six packs and a 426 Blown Hemi at the top of the lineup. Same way I'd love to see a smaller, mustang sized Cuda with that same powertrain lineup along with a few street pickup trucks with Hurricane and blown 426-Hemi powertrains. I want to see the Mopar brands go back to thriving a flourishing the way they should be. Hell, I want to see the return of the Viper with a base model powered by the 807hp Redeye engine and the top model powered by a 1,100hp A170 Hellephant engine. I want to see what a tuned up version of the 300hp 2.0L Hurricane-4 EVO motor would be like in a couple of GLH & SRT4 model cars or even strapped to a hybrid 8-speed in the 4Xe Jeeps. I want to see Chrysler stomp all over Tesla with an 800V full EV Chrysler 300M with a tri-motor banshee system with the new semi-solid state batteries and 3-speed gearbox and fratzonic sound system and then watch Chrysler build an EV Pacifica with the same equipment to destroy the Tesla Model X Plaid. Again I am not opposed to Mopar EV performance, I'm 100% all for it! I want to see the 300 return as the Mopar brand's, Halcyon/Charger Daytona inspired electric performance luxury car with dual motors and tri-motors all on the 800V system and all with a three-speed gearbox. Honestly all of the Mopar EVs need to be on an 800V system regardless of platform from Medium to frame. Not saying I want to see Chrysler go full-EV but it would be the best brand for an EV-biased lineup while Jeep would be the best brand for a hybrid lineup. including hybrid hurricane-6 lineups and hurricane-4 EVO lineups in vehicles such as the Jeep Recon and Jeep Wagoneer-S. I still say with those brands focusing on "green energy" it gives Ram & Dodge the room to be focused on ICE vehicles with Hurricane-4, Hurricane-6 and Hemi V8 performance. Aftersales Direct Connection performance and Aftermarket performance will always be around for us enthusiast but to me this would keep both sides happy.

Thanks for agreeing, but I rarely take or advocate much I write as deeply held dogma or absolute opinion , properly viewed it is often for amusement or entertainment as I deliberately mix in some silly opinions. That said, I do like that Charger. Seriously.
Initially I thought the V-8 was not needed or economically a wise investment in the Charger, but I did see the real possibility of a smaller spin off (Challenger/Cuda) absolutely needing a next generation V-8 but not necessarily a Hemi. That thinking may have changed, but note I did call it a Hail Mary. Humor, not religious intent shadows my real thinking, there is room at Dodge, Jeep and Ram for a V-8. Maybe time for me to pray for that one. Seriously.

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Thanks for agreeing, but I rarely take or advocate much I write as deeply held dogma or absolute opinion , properly viewed it is often for amusement or entertainment as I deliberately mix in some silly opinions. That said, I do like that Charger. Seriously.
Initially I thought the V-8 was not needed or economically a wise investment in the Charger, but I did see the real possibility of a smaller spin off (Challenger/Cuda) absolutely needing a next generation V-8 but not necessarily a Hemi. That thinking may have changed, but note I did call it a Hail Mary. Humor, not religious intent shadows my real thinking, there is room at Dodge, Jeep and Ram for a V-8. Maybe time for me to pray for that one. Seriously.

I think alot of us feel there is still room for a V8 with some of the brands. Things just need to be positioned properly

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