The 2023 Dodge Hornet has landed, bringing the automaker into a new segment of the market and set to reach dealers in December. It will play ball in the heavily contested and varied compact SUV segment with the competition ranging from more mainstream offerings like the new Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 to more upscale proposals such as the BMW X1 and, of course, its Italian twin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Two variants of the Alfa Romeo Tonale-based Hornet will be offered. The flagship model will be the Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid. It features a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working alongside an electric motor at the rear axle with 121 hp. All up, the Dodge Hornet R/T is good for a combined +285 hp and 519 Nm of torque. Working alongside the 1.3-liter is a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power through all four wheels.
Dodge has equipped the Hornet R/T with a
15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a starter generator that delivers torque
to the engine belt, aiding in dynamic response and recharging of the battery.
It can travel up to 48 km on electric power alone. The Hornet R/T
also features an intriguing ‘PowerShot’ feature that provides an extra 25 hp
for up to 15 seconds. Dodge says it shaves off one whole second in the sprint
to 96 km/h, dropping it to 6.1 seconds, and is activated by pulling
both paddle shifters and performing a pedal kickdown.
Three hybrid driving modes are also
available. In standard ‘Hybrid Mode’, the engine and motor combine to produce
maximum efficiency. In ‘Electric Mode’, the SUV operates solely on electric
power while in ‘E-Save Mode’, priority is given to the 1.3-liter
engine to preserve battery charge. Regenerative braking is also featured. The
second version is the entry-level Dodge Hornet GT. It features the automaker’s
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Hurricane4 engine rated at 268 hp and 400 Nm of torque. It rocks a nine-speed automatic and is also all-wheel
drive. This version can hit 96 km/h in 6.5 seconds.
As standard, the Hornet R/T rides on
18-inch Graphite Grey wheels while the GT has smaller 17-inch Silver alloy
wheels. Both variants are available with a Blacktop package that adds 18-inch
Abyss alloy wheels, gloss black badging and mirror caps, and gloss black
painted day light opening moldings. A Track Package has also been announced
with 20-inch wheels and various performance upgrades, include dual-stage-valve
suspension with customizable damping.
A host of important features come standard
across both R/T and GT models, or are available as options. These include Koni
frequency selective damping shocks, Brembo four-piston front brake calipers as
standard on the R/T and optional on the GT, and a brake-by-wire Intelligent
Braking System for the R/T model. Both models also feature front and rear fully
independent suspension and dynamic torque vectoring. Found in the cabin of the
2023 Dodge Hornet is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster operating alongside
a 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system. As with other Dodge models, the
Uconnect system is Android-based and offers wireless Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay.
Various safety features come standard,
including Automatic Emergency Braking, a Lane Support System, and Blind Spot
Detection with Rear Cross Path. The optional Tech Pack adds Level 2 autonomous
driving with Intelligent Speed Assist w/Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver
Attention Assist, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lateral Control/Lane
Support with Lane Control and Traffic Jam Assist. A Harman-Kardon premium sound
system with 14 speakers and 465 watts of power is also available for the GT
Plus and R/T Plus models, while wireless charging comes standard as well.
Dodge has confirmed that the Hornet GT
will start at US$ 29,995 before destination while the R/T will be available from US$ 39,995 before destination. Pricing details for the available options and
packages options haven’t been announced. What we do know is that orders have
opened today and that the GT will start to arrive in dealerships in late 2022
while the Hornet R/T will launch in the spring of 2023. The new Hornet will be
built alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale in Italy.
