Automotive

Review: 2023 Dodge Hornet isn’t what we expected

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The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a strong looker
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a strong looker
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
Bringing back the Hornet name might peeve a few people, but it's a great moniker
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
The side profile and silhouette of the 2023 Dodge Hornet make the Alfa Romeo Tonale roots clear
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
Dodge definitely put its signature on the bodywork of this Hornet
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
The double slashes of Dodge promise that the Hornet isn't about A-to-B driving
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
We were surprised at the 2023 Dodge Hornet's handling characteristics
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
Dodge is known for having relatively plain interiors and the 2023 Dodge Hornet follows that theme
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
There is a plug-in hybrid model of the 2023 Dodge Hornet, but we think the standard 2.0-litre turbo engine is best
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
The Super Bee-style Hornet badges on the 2023 Hornet are a bit bland
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
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The 2023 Dodge Hornet looked to be a decent entry into a popular vehicle segment. It’s relatively compact, looks nice and, on paper, has good numbers. But most of my colleagues have not been kind to the Hornet. However, I think they’re wrong.

At a Glance

  • Not the most high-end interior feel
  • Strong performance cred for the class
  • PHEV is pretty pricey and probably not worth it

Most of the negativity around the 2023 Dodge Hornet has been either because of the name’s history or because of the expensive price tag for how low-cost the Hornet can feel. The former is just, in my mind, grandstanding. The Hudson Hornet has been gone for decades. It was never coming back. The latter is mainly due, I think, to the high price of the plug-in hybrid Hornet model. I’d personally steer clear of that. I said as much about the Hornet’s cousin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which is built on the same platform. At that price point, it’s worth just going into the luxury realm instead.

No, the Hornet is, instead, everything its maker is known for. Unlike the Tonale with its Italian trappings and quasi-Euro appeal, the Hornet is purely Dodge. Which means it’s more about what’s under the hood and how it makes you feel than it is about interior 'bling' and technology claims. Those red forward slashes aren’t about ergonomics, tech bling, or fuel economy. They’re about feeling faster than you should be.

The side profile and silhouette of the 2023 Dodge Hornet make the Alfa Romeo Tonale roots clear
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas

The company that brought us Hellcats and Demons and tailpipe sounds that are almost as recognizable as Harley-Davidson is also delivering its own version of a compact utility. Unlike most entries in this segment, the Dodge Hornet actually has performance cred, even if it’s pretty light duty compared to the wicked cool Durango SRT. Pound-for-pound, though, it’s not too far off.

The 2023 Hornet has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 268 horsepower (197 kW) and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm). It does so relatively early in the RPM band – somewhere around 2,000. That runs to a pretty well-done nine-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.

For the record, that’s 120 more horsepower (88 kW) than the 1951 Hornet with its two-barrel six. And it’s 100 more horses than near-comparables like the Honda HR-V and the Toyota Corolla Cross. In fact, the only real comparable in the Hornet’s class is the Mazda CX-30 at 250 hp (184 kW). You could also look at the Golf GTI, but that’s a much smaller hatchback.

Dodge says that this base engine in the 2023 Hornet will sprint to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 6.5 seconds. Our drive showed more like 7.5, but we were on public streets, and we are not professionals. The gap can be shortened if you use the PowerShot button, though. And the plug-in hybrid models can go even quicker, but at a price. There’s a US$10,000 difference between the base model Hornet GT and the lowest-trim PHEV RT. That’s a hefty jump that soon may not be eligible for US Federal tax credits, since the Hornet is made in Italy.

Dodge is known for having relatively plain interiors and the 2023 Dodge Hornet follows that theme
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas

To be frank, we don’t think the price jump is worth it for the plug-in; the base model GT and GT Plus with their 2.0-litre turbo are great vehicles as is, and their outfitting and feel justify their $30,000-ish price points. And they’re pure Dodge – simple on the inside, good (but not fantastic) on technology, and punchy-quick, embodying the logo's iconic twin forward slashes. Add in Italian design elements for suspension and handling, this is a fun crossover for everyday driving.

That seems to be the point of the Hornet. Apart from the Mazda, there really isn’t another performance-centric compact crossover that isn’t in the luxury vehicle realm. Throw in one of the better color options (our white test model wasn’t one of those) and some aftermarket Hornet Super Bee badges (to replace the plain ones included) and you have a cool little ride.

Product Page: 2023 Dodge Hornet

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7 comments
Peter Forte
If we can talk the talk then we must also walk the walk. We parrot alarms about Climate Change and promise to do our part to reduce carbon-generation and pollution. Since we are agreed that fossil-fuels are a major contributor to Climate Change, then why have there been no adjustments to our performance metrics? Why don't we stress (and give credit for) the reduced emissions of the PHEV version?
In short, why has there not been a concerted effort to make emissions a major point of consideration in the rating of a vehicle?
jzj
And now, for useful info:
base price $31,400
24MPG on premium (!)
3715 lb. weight
178 inches long (same as Chevy Trax)
PHEV has 15.5kWh battery pack for 34 mile range -- costs $34K, currently eligible for $6K federal tax credit
Its basically the Alfa Romeo, which means it could drive nicely, but will never actually drive, because they are pathetically unreliable.
jzj
I had a typo: the PHEV starts at $41K.
Captain Obvious
Um, yeah, OK. So, when is Dodge going to build us some nice EVs?
Catweazle
"Since we are agreed that fossil-fuels are a major contributor to Climate Change..."
In fact it seems not, from the Guardian:
"Concerns about climate change shrank across the world last year, a survey shows, with fewer than half those questioned believing it posed a "very serious threat" to their countries in the next 20 years.
Globally, the figure fell by 1.5 percentage points to 48.7% in 2021. The survey was based on more than 125,000 interviews in 121 countries."
DavidB
Oh, thank you, @Catweazle, for reminding us that twenty years is definitely the right time frame with which we should be concerned when think about our destruction of Earth’s atmosphere.

I mean, I’ll probably be dead by then, and who cares about my kids being able to breathe without assistance?
CarolynFarstrider
More obsolete technology using fossil fuels. Wish the innovation could be addressed to better, environmentally friendly outcomes and not stuff that damages our childrens’ futures.