Dodge is going through some changes . Once known for the Dodge Charger , the brand is now on the Richard Morris Hunt for an all - new fighter car that can prove that it can pull through in an more and more electrified world . It has yet to introduce a in full galvanising car to the world . Rumors target to the possibility of a in full electrical Charger , but in the lag , some trust the plug - in intercrossed Dodge Hornet can pave the way for Dodge ’s time to come .
Starting at $ 31,400 in its introductory , gas pedal - only signifier , the Hornet is build up to sell . It ’s a small crossover like many of the best - trade cars in the U.S. It has some of those much - loved Dodge designing cue stick and even has a little brawn to it . The universal gas constant / thyroxin model , which adds the sparking plug - in drivetrain , is new for this twelvemonth and bring the toll up to $ 41,400 .
But there ’s a little more to it than that , too . The car does a circle of things right , but not everything . It ’s fun to drive but perhaps not the most practical toown . The base poser Hornet GT does n’t necessarily let out the bank , but it ends up in the same territorial dominion as contender like the $ 43,440 Toyota RAV4 Prime , $ 39,490 Kia Sportage Plug - in , and $ 41,995 Ford Escape Plug - in .
Design and interior
The Dodge Hornet R / T is a compact crossover and a good - looking car . I find the overall flavour of it to be slightly awkward , but it ’s far from ugly .
A large bottom grille sit below slim , angled headlamp on the front , with that double - line Dodge emblem in the center . The entire car looks a footling angled towards the front there , which I quite like — it helps make it find a little sportier .
Apart from that , there ’s not a whole lot to note about the exterior excogitation of the Hornet R / T.
The inside , however , is very prissy . Our review is the so - called Dodge Hornet R / T Plus , which , among other thing , gives it an alternative for Red Leather Seats , which came on ours . The ruddy leather is very overnice , and I really like the splash of color . That ’s not to refer the fact that they ’re quite well-to-do , too .
Despite being labeled a crossover , the Dodge Hornet is smaller than you might anticipate . The second - row seats do n’t have much room , and taller hoi polloi will have trouble persist comfortable back there for lengthened periods . In the trunk , you ’ll get 27 cubic feet of storehouse space , which , again , is hunky-dory but not vast . Do n’t take the recording label of “ crosswalk ” to mean that there ’s a lot of space here . There is n’t .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
The infotainment system on crack here is n’t much to write home base about , but it ’s still fine . The car comes with a 10.3 - inch infotainment screen , which is a decent sizing , though a trivial below average in 2023 . Thankfully , the carsupports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay , so you wo n’t have to practice Dodge ’s software if you do n’t desire to . The car descend with Amazon Alexa connectivity monetary standard , too .
That ’s serious news show because the software is all right at intimately . The package is the Uconnect 5 arrangement , which is used in other Stellantis car from the likes of Chrysler and Ram . It look a little date stamp and can be a little perplexing to voyage , not to mention the fact that it ’s very slow . Even switching drive modes took a 2d or two to show on the screen , leave me to wheel past the mode I was attempt to pick out and press the push a few more times .
Slow screen away , the Hornet has a broad selection of strong-arm controls at the front of the cabin , and they felt premium and tactile overall . You ’ll be capable to see the hardened temperature on the display at all times , which is overnice , and there are dual climate zones to allow the passenger to control their own mood . rearward passengers do not get their own climate zone .
Our review mannequin come with the “ Tech software package , ” which includes a range of driver - assist features . Standard , you ’ll get thing like automatise emergency braking , unreasoning - spot monitoring , and parking sensors . The Tech package tally adaptive sail control with lane - centering , which seemed to form very well .
Driving experience
The Dodge Hornet R / T is the company ’s first plug - in hybrid , and powering it is a 1.3 - liter four - piston chamber engine with an galvanizing motor that , together , deliver 288 horsepower . All - steering wheel crusade is standard .
There are four drive mood on offer . There’sa Hybrid way , which prioritizes efficiency between the gas and electric powertrains . There ’s a in full electric fashion , though you ’ll only get an electric kitchen range of around 30 mil or so . And there ’s an “ e - Save ” clit that prioritizes recharge the barrage fire . The fourth mode is the “ Sport ” modality , which prioritizes execution . Unfortunately , you have to get at Sport way through a disjoined button , which is a minuscule confusing . Dodge should have simply allowed drivers to cycle between all modes with one clit .
Dodge also has a special “ PowerShot ” feature , which can be accessed in Sport mode by pull out both paddle shifter . The system will then further performance by 30 horsepower for 30 seconds when you push down on the accelerator . The feature film actually was n’t all that exciting — the boost is n’t really that impressive , and I never used it beyond a few times to test it out . If I owned this car , I ca n’t conceive of I ’d practice it , ever .
Generally , however , the Dodge Hornet R / triiodothyronine was pretty quick and handled well . The car certainly wo n’t quicken off the start line like an EV , but it can get from 0 to 60 miles per time of day in around 5.6 seconds , which sure is n’t slow . The car handle turning point comparatively well , though it did find a piffling heavy at times . The brakes were strong when they needed to be .
Range and charging
The Dodge Hornet R / T is a plug - in hybrid , and you’re able to employ it in a completely electrical drive mode . However , you could only do so for around 30 miles , which is n’t really impressive . Plenty of nag - in hybrids pop the question a chain of mountains of 50 miles , which is much more reasonable for day - to - day electric driving .
At a grade 2 charger , the Hornet can fully charge in around 2.5 hours , which is on the tedious side for only packing on 30 sea mile . Most drivers will want to charge the railway car at their home overnight , if possible — and if your work is within 10 or 15 miles , you may be able-bodied to get away with mostly driving in galvanizing mode .
For the most part , the electric powertrain is less about vigour delivery , and more about a slight performance boost , at least in this elevator car . You ’ll desire to search elsewhere if you ’re looking for a more hard-nosed plug - in intercrossed implementation .
How DT would configure this car
The Dodge Hornet loosely has a lot run for it , but if you ’re concerned in a fireplug - in hybrid , you ’ll need to elevate to either the Hornet R / T or the Hornet R / T Plus . The R / T , for most , will be absolutely all right — and you wo n’t get any performance cost increase by upgrading to the “ Plus ” model . alternatively , you ’ll get a powered sunroof , access code to the violent leather seating area if you need them , heat up and ventilated seats , anda Harman Kardon speaker organization .
Of of course , if you ’re looking for a stopper - in loanblend for the sake of efficiency , it ’s probably worth going for a different choice . For example , the comparably - priced Toyota RAV4 Prime offers 42 - mile reach .
But , if you like the idea of a Dodge , like the look of this car , and want a spot of a carrying out cost increase , then you ’ll appreciate the intercrossed powertrain on go here . It proves that Dodge has much to offer without the Challenger — though we ’re still waiting for a unfeignedly electric Dodge to set the stage for the futurity .
