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MotorWeek announces its 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards including Best of the Year: Dodge Charger

globenewswire.com
STLA The Dodge Charger, a Stellantis brand vehicle, won MotorWeek's 'Best of the Year' award, highlighting its innovative engineering, dual powertrain options (gas and electric), and reaffirmation of muscle car values. This recognition is expected to boost the brand's appeal. F The Ford Maverick was recognized as the 'Best Small Truck' by MotorWeek. While this is a positive mention, the article focuses more heavily on the Dodge Charger's 'Best of the Year' award. GM Cadillac, a GM brand, had its OPTIQ model recognized as 'Best EV' by MotorWeek. This is a positive mention for the brand, but the overall article sentiment is driven by the Dodge Charger's top award. TM The Toyota RAV4 was named 'Best Small Utility' by MotorWeek. This is a positive acknowledgment for the model, but the article's primary focus is on the Dodge Charger's 'Best of the Year' award. HMC While not explicitly mentioned, Honda is a major automotive manufacturer. The article discusses various vehicle categories, but Honda models are not specifically highlighted or awarded, leading to a neutral sentiment. RIVN Rivian is an EV manufacturer, but no Rivian models were mentioned or awarded in the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards article. The sentiment is neutral as the article does not provide any specific information about the company. LCID Lucid is an EV manufacturer, but no Lucid models were mentioned or awarded in the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards article. The sentiment is neutral as the article does not provide any specific information about the company. TSLA Tesla, a prominent EV maker, was not mentioned in the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards article. The article focuses on specific award winners, and Tesla's absence results in a neutral sentiment. KMX CarMax is a used car retailer and not a manufacturer of the award-winning vehicles. The article focuses on new car awards, so the sentiment towards CarMax is neutral. AZZ AZZ Inc. is an industrial company and not directly involved in automotive manufacturing or sales mentioned in the article. The sentiment is neutral as the article does not pertain to their business. AVT Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. is mentioned as a sponsor ('Auto Value') of MotorWeek, but the article does not discuss the company's performance or products, resulting in a neutral sentiment. CAR Avis Budget Group is a car rental company. The article focuses on automotive awards for new vehicles and does not mention Avis, leading to a neutral sentiment. GPC Genuine Parts Company, through its Auto Value brand, is a sponsor of MotorWeek. However, the article does not provide any specific information about GPC's business performance, resulting in a neutral sentiment. OSK Oshkosh Corporation manufactures specialty trucks and access equipment. The article focuses on consumer vehicle awards and does not mention Oshkosh, resulting in a neutral sentiment.

OWINGS MILLS, MD, Feb. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MotorWeek, television's original and most-respected automotive video series, today announced its annual Drivers' Choice Awards, highlighted by 2026 Best of the Year winner – the Dodge Charger.

The slate of 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards presented by MotorWeek, now in its 45th season, consists of winners in 12 consumer-driven categories. The timing of the MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards announcement continues a decades-long tradition of coinciding with the opening of the annual Chicago Auto Show, America’s premier consumer interactive motor show.

MotorWeek’s production team evaluates more than 150 cars, trucks, and sports utility vehicles every year. Drivers’ Choice Award winners are selected based on driving performance, technology, practicality, fuel efficiency, and value for the dollar.

“Our category winners this year cover a wider array of vehicles than ever, not only in vehicle type but in capability and price. Plus, as the award’s name says, we love driving all of them,” said MotorWeek Creator and Host John Davis.

The Drivers’ Choice Awards selection show is now available to watch at this link or MotorWeek.org.

The award-winning vehicles will also appear on a special episode of MotorWeek (episode #4523) airing on public television stations across the country beginning on February 7. The episode will be available on MotorWeek’s YouTube channel on February 15.

Best of the Year winner, the Dodge Charger, earned a 2026 Drivers’ Choice Award in the Best Sport Coupe category. The MSRP for the gas-powered Charger starts around $52,000 before incentives. Last year, the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona was selected by MotorWeek in the same category. It is also included in this year’s honors.

Going back to 1998, when MotorWeek started naming a Best of the Year winner as part of its annual awards program, many automotive nameplates have been honored, but this is the first year that a Dodge vehicle has garnered the top prize.

“In the annals of American automotive history, there is no more sacrosanct genre than that of the Muscle Car,” noted Davis.

“In the 2026 Dodge Charger, Stellantis, through its hallowed Dodge brand, has reaffirmed the core values of Detroit’s finest for well into the future times two. Using imaginative engineering, while staying tied to what made muscle cars such an international icon in the first place, Dodge has managed to use a single chassis, with the same two- and four-door bodies – something muscle cars typically do not offer – to please the tire burning desires of both contemporary buyers that see the promise of electrification and the legions of fans that want only gasoline running through their veins and their cars,” explained Davis.

“The new Dodge Charger represents the next chapter of American muscle, and it’s an incredible honor for our next-gen muscle car to be recognized by MotorWeek with both Best of the Year and Best Sport Coupe awards,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “This recognition validates the Charger’s uncompromising performance, unmistakable design and cutting-edge technology, while staying true to the Dodge DNA our enthusiasts expect.”

Davis said the Charger stood out among the vehicles the MotorWeek team tested because, in part, of its advanced engineering that allows it to seamlessly accommodate both powertrains while retaining the iconic sensory aspects and performance of the American muscle car.

“The Dodge Charger Daytona showed that being a battery electric vehicle can actually enhance street-legal high performance, while still appealing to all the senses. But to then follow that effort with the Dodge Charger SIXPACK, and its twin-turbo straight-6 powerhouse, shows that from the first concept to this real deal duo, the designers never strayed from their responsibility to preserve, while adding to, the driven history of the American muscle car,” explained Davis.

MotorWeek and the 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards are nationally sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper-to-Bumper, and TireRack.com.

2026 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards

Best of the Year - Dodge Charger

Drivers’ Choice Individual Category Winners

1. Best Family Car Kia K4

2. Best Luxury Car Audi A5

3. Best Sport Sedan Audi S3

4. Best Sport Coupe Dodge Charger *

5. Best Performance Car Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

6. Best Small Utility Toyota RAV4

7. Best Midsize Utility Subaru Outback

8. Best Large Utility Hyundai Palisade

9. Best Luxury Utility Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e

10. Best Small Truck Ford Maverick

11. Best Fullsize Truck Ram 1500 *

12. Best EV Cadillac OPTIQ

Nissan LEAF

Porsche Taycan

* Denotes Repeat Winner from 2025

About MotorWeek

Maryland Public Television produces and distributes MotorWeek nationwide and overseas. The series airs on 90% of PBS stations nationwide. Viewers can find the days and times their local public television station airs MotorWeek by going to the station listings page on motorweek.org.

The show’s most current episodes can be viewed online at pbs.org/motorweek and streamed 24/7 on PBS Living, a Prime Video Channel, as well as viewed on smart devices through the free PBS app. Past seasons of MotorWeek episodes are also available on the free streaming services Tubi, Roku, Pluto, Plex, and Xumo. Spanish-language viewers can also catch MotorWeek on V-me.

Program excerpts covering all segments, including road tests, are available at MotorWeek’s YouTube Channel, youtube.com/motorweek, with more than 530,000 subscribers and upwards of three million views per month. Viewers can also follow MotorWeek on Facebook and Instagram, and download complete shows on iTunes. In short, if you have a screen, you can watch MotorWeek.

For additional 24/7 access to all things MotorWeek, download the show’s free app with its unique “POWER” tab, offering specifications on all alternative-fueled vehicles, both new and used, on the market today.

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