2023 Dodge Hornet

History/Overview

For the first time ever, Dodge enters the subcompact crossover class for 2023 with the Hornet. That’s not a new name – Dodge first used it on a concept car in the mid-2000s – but this is the first time it’s being used on a production vehicle. The Hornet shares its underpinnings with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and both are related to the Jeep Compass.

What’s New/Key Changes From Last Year

The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a brand-new model.

Available Trims

Dodge offers the Hornet in GT, GT Plus, and R/T PHEV (plug-in hybrid) trim levels. GT and GT Plus use a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, while R/T PHEV gets a 1.3L turbo four-cylinder that works with a rear-mounted electric motor and a six-speed automatic. Both powertrains provide all-wheel drive traction.

Standard Features

As of this writing, Dodge hadn’t finalized the list of features for the Hornet PHEV, so we’ll focus for now on the GT and GT Plus variants.

GT trim comes with passive keyless entry, auto on/off LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and rain-sensing wipers. Inside, there’s dual-zone automatic A/C, a 12.3-inch digital gauge display, LED lighting, leatherette upholstery, six-speaker audio, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Also standard is a driver assist suite comprising adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and lane departure alert/lane keep assist.

GT Plus adds a hands-free tailgate, navigation, an auto-dimming mirror, power-adjustable/heated/ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an integrated garage remote, wireless phone charging, a 14-speaker stereo, and navigation.

Key Options

Hornet stand-alone options include an adaptive damping suspension with driver-adjustable settings.

A cold weather group adds heated front seats and steering wheel.

A tech package brings active driving assist, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, drowsy driver detection, front and side parking sensors, surround-view cameras, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Finally, a track package adds a dual-stage suspension, 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, and Alcantara upholstery.

Fuel Economy

Dodge has only published fuel consumption figures for the 2.0L engine, which is rated for 11.2/8.2 L/100 km (city/highway). We’ll update this article when we learn the PHEV powertrain’s energy consumption estimates.

Competition

The Dodge Hornet enters a busy subcompact crossover class already populated by the Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, Jeep Compass/Renegade, Fiat 500X, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mitsubishi RVR, Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda MX-30, Nissan Qashqai, and Kia Seltos. Note, however, that the Hornet is positioned as a relatively high-performance alternative to those vehicles with pricing that starts roughly where its competitors’ top-end models leave off.