All-new Hornet adds some buzz the Dodge lineup

A few months ago, I sampled the Dodge Hornet – an all-new vehicle from Dodge – which is available as a plug-in hybrid when you opt for the R/T trim level. Being the first electrified vehicle from Dodge, the Hornet appears to be a nice addition to the Dodge family. Recently I spent time in another Hornet – this one being the regular, non-hybrid version.

For 2023, parent company Stellantis has launched the Dodge Hornet – the brands first all-new vehicle since the now deceased Dodge Dart, and it comes as a small crossover SUV, and, in most cases, is the opposite of all the current Dodges. The Hornet shares little family resemblance to the other Dodge vehicles and you won’t find a V8 or even a V6 under its hood. What you will find in the Dodge Hornet is a vehicle based off the Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV. Both Dodge and Alfa Romeo (along with Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and others) are all brands under Stellantis.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet sits below the mid-size Durango in the Dodge lineup and competes against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50 and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Hornet offers the most high-tech equipment of any Dodge, with standard features that include a digital gauge display, Uconnect 5 infotainment software, and plenty of safety features including emergency braking.

Two powertrains are available in the Hornet. Standard is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for an impressive 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a nine-speed automatic and sends power to all four wheels (all-wheel drive is standard across the Hornet line). For even more performance, there is an optional turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder that has assistance from an electric motor. This hybrid combination is good for 288 hp and a whopping 383 lb-ft of torque. The transmission uses 3 less gears, being a six-speed automatic and continues to use all-wheel drive.

The Dodge Hornet comes in four trim levels based primarily on the powertrain. The GT and GT Plus use the standard turbocharged four-cylinder while the R/T and R/T Plus use the more powerful hybrid powertrain. The tester was a GT Plus done up in Acapulco Gold with black Alcantera seats and red accents. The MSRP is $41,810.

Step inside the Hornet and you’re greeted with a European-inspired interior much like that found in the Tonale. While many of the round shapes used in the Alfa Romeo are replaced by square ones in the Dodge, the family resemblance is obvious. The primary controls and infotainment system are canted slightly toward the driver and a tall shift lever for the automatic transmission is positioned on the center console. In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and in the center console is a 10.25-inch touchscreen, that uses the Uconnect5 user interface.

It’s easy to get comfortable in the Hornet, especially with the Alcentera seats. In the backseat there is plenty of legroom, even for tall passengers, although the seat does feel a little flat. Behind the back is about 27 cubic feet of storage space on GT models. There is slightly less storage room in the R/T because of its hybrid powertrain.

While not as lively as the R/T Plus I was in a few months ago, the GT Plus is still plenty quick. Zero-to-sixty times are in the mid-six second range – about a second slower than R/T Plus. The engine isn’t the smoothest around, but at the same time, it’s not a nuisance. I’m glad to see Dodge using a nine-speed transmission rather than a CVT that most of the Hornet’s competitors are using.

The Hornet’s handling is precise and firm, and the ride is pleasant, with the only time things get a little uncomfortable is when traveling on pot-hole littered roads. Throw the Hornet into some sharp turns and the all-wheel drive system makes itself known by cutting down on understeer. Overall, the Hornet is sure-footed and surpassingly fun when the roads go for a turn.

The Hornet isn’t the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class – rated at 21 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway. If those numbers are concerning, the R/T (which EPA numbers are not out yet) does benefit from being able to go up to 32 miles as an electric vehicle before switching over to a hybrid mode.

As we start to say good-bye to the big-engine Dodges that we have come to love over the past few decades, we need to say hello to new vehicles like the Dodge Hornet. And while the Hornet doesn’t have a fire-breathing V8 under its hood, the new turbocharged engine and hybrid powerplant may just be what Dodge needs to get back in the small SUV game.

— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:

2023 Dodge Hornet GT Plus

Base Price: $34,995.00
Price as Tested: $41,810.00
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 2.0 liter 4-cylinder
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Horsepower: 288 hp
Torque: 295 ft-lbs.
EPA Fuel Economy: 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

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