Driven: Dodge Hornet GT
crossovers | dodge | reviews
It might not be a muscle car, but the Dodge Hornet is more fun to drive than most compact crossovers. It has a zesty powertrain, dynamic handling, and a sporty interior with premium materials. We spent a week getting to know this fully loaded 2023 Hornet GT Plus model, though the 2024 model is identical.
Measuring 178 inches long, the Hornet is roughly the same size as the Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V, but it's got sportier aspirations than either of those compact crossovers. Our test car came slathered in Acapulco Gold, a vibrant, highly metallic color that shares a name with a famed cannabis strain, and contrasted with black body trim and black mirror caps. With other color names like Q Ball, Blu Bayou, Gray Cray, Hot Tamale, and Blue Steele, someone at Dodge clearly has a sense of humor. It was also equipped with the Track Pack, which, among other things, upgrades the standard 17-inch alloy rims to 20-inch black wheels.
The Hornet has the distinction of being the first and only Dodge vehicle to be built in Italy. It rolls off the same assembly line as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which shares many of the same capabilities. Though in Dodge form, its grille has much more in common with a Charger than a Giulia. Under the hood, it's got a zesty 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine that's been tuned to produce 256 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. That's connected to a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission, which has improved since its earlier applications in vehicles like the Range Rover Evoque and Jeep Renegade. All-wheel drive comes standard, and the Hornet GT will zoom from 0-to-60 mph in just under 6 seconds. There's also a plug-in hybrid version of the Hornet known as the Horner R/T, which uses a smaller 1.3-liter engine and a rear motor to produce 285 hp and 383 lb-ft. of torque. Because of the added weight, that model is only slightly faster from 0 to 60, but it will give you up to 30 miles of driving without sipping a drop of gasoline.
The Hornet GT's ride dynamics are generally tuned for fun and engagement. It has a nicely weighted steering that provides a great connection to the road. Like most front axle-biased AWD setups, it does have a tendency to understeer, though the torque vectoring system helps it corner more crisply by redistributing torque between the wheels. Also included with the Track Pack is an adaptive dual-stage suspension, which helps with the crossover's agility. This system offers a comfortable standard mode for everyday driving, and a sport mode, which stiffens up the ride nicely for greater control and road feel.
The Track Pack also shines on the interior of the Hornet, adding black Alcantara seats with red accents, metal door sills, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, and aluminum accents on the pedals. The front seats offer good amounts of side bolstering to help keep you in your seat, but they're more comfortable and forgiving than some of the body-hugging performance seats out there. One thing we noticed is that the dead pedal space on the left side of the driver's floor protrudes a bit, which can cause a little fatigue for those of us with longer legs. The center stack is pretty utilitarian in design, with a traditional shift lever, a bin for your phone, a pair of cupholders, and a very small storage bin in the armrest. There's a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen that runs the UConnect 5 multimedia system. You also get dual-zone climate control, and the GT Plus trim also gets heat for the front seats as well as ventilation if you go with the leather instead of Alcantara. A Harmon Kardon premium audio system kicks out crisp and punchy sound. The optional Tech Pack upgrades the lane centering and adaptive cruise capabilities, adds intelligent speed assist, a surround-view camera with parking sensors, and drowsy driver detection.
Second-row passengers will enjoy the same premium seating surfaces as those up front. The seats are supportive, and headroom is good - at least in this Hornet without a sunroof. However, the knee room can be cramped for taller passengers. There's a pair of HVAC vents on the back of the center console, along with a USB-A and a USB-C charging port. The back seat can fold down in a 60/40 split for cargo-carrying versatility, and it also has a pass-through door behind the center armrest. This is great for toting long items like skis while still being able to carry four people. The Hornet GT has 27 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 54.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Note that the PHEV Hornet R/T model loses a little space due to its rear motor and battery pack.
We had a great time with the Hornet GT. It offers a more engaging and sporty ride than most compact crossovers we've driven, and it feels quicker than its specs might lead you to believe. It's got a nicely designed interior - especially with the upgraded Alcantara trim. It also has shockingly few of the quirks that are often associated with Italian-built cars. Even better, it represents a good value, given today's high car prices, with the Hornet GT starting at just $31,400. Our GT Plus had a base price of $34,995 and a final sticker price of $41,810 after adding the Acapulco Gold paint, the Tech Pack, the Track Pack, and a $1595 destination fee.
