Dodge Hornet is an American SUV with Italian flair

Published 1:18 pm Friday, January 12, 2024

Few mergers in automotive history have been as successful as that of Fiat and Chrysler, now known as Stellantis. Each company brought their strengths to the table, and they’re building exciting vehicles that look to the future.

One of those exciting new SUVs is the Dodge Hornet. This is a compact crossover, based on the same platform as the stylish Alfa Romeo Tonale, and offering the same kind of exciting performance with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and all-wheel drive.

The heart of the Hornet is a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, paired with a plug-in hybrid electric driveline. That may sound like a small engine, but you’ll get 288 horsepower and a whopping 383 pound-feet of torque, passed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. This gives the Hornet PHEV a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds, comparable to many sport sedans. More affordable trim levels of the Hornet are equipped with a 2.0-liter engine rated at 268 horsepower, so there are no bad choices with this model.

We tested the top R/T Plus trim of the Hornet, so the interior was both stylish and sporty, with Alcantara suede seats in black, trimmed with red. The cabin is designed nicely, with no unnecessary features. There’s a touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, but it’s not huge. It simply does the job. The driver’s compartment of the Hornet is designed for driving, so it’s comfortable and easy to use. Dodge definitely accentuates the “Sport” in this Sport Utility Vehicle.

As an SUV, the Hornet is also practical, with seating for five people. Cargo space is good, with 22.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, with a pass-through for long items. From the outside, the Hornet also brings the Dodge sense of panache with bold, fast-looking exterior styling.

Driving the Hornet is simply fun — there’s plenty of power and you can definitely tell that the Italian-designed suspension was made for precise and lively driving. You can ignore all the hybrid stuff if you want to, and just drive. If you need to, the Hornet will tow up to 2,000 pounds.

But if you like the plug-in hybrid aspect, and you should, that works well, too. With a small battery you don’t need to worry about installing a charging station or anything like that. Just plug the Hornet into an ordinary household outlet and you’ll have 33 miles of all-electric range every day. That’s enough for most people to get to work and back without using a drop of gasoline. You can save on fuel while still enjoying the sporty aspects of the Hornet.

Pricing is also flexible. The basic Hornet with the 2.0-liter engine starts at $31,400, and there are four trim levels to choose from. Going up a trim level costs about $5,000, and the base price for the PHEV trims is $41,400. Our test vehicle came with some sporty option packages, which pushed the price over $50,000, but you can find a Hornet to suit your budget easily enough.

As we wave goodbye to the legendary Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars this year, Dodge is now entirely an SUV brand. However, the Hornet definitely maintains the spunky Dodge attitude for the next generation.

2024 Dodge Hornet R/T Plus

Base price: $44,995

Price as tested: $52,305

Type: Compact Crossover SUV

Engine: 1.3-liter turbocharged plug-in hybrid (288 hp, 383 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

EPA estimated mileage: 29 MPG

Electric Range: 33 miles

Overall length: 178 inches

Curb weight: 4,140 pounds

Final assembly: Naples, Italy