Dodge’s Hornet is an all-new small crossover that’s looking to inject a little excitement into what can be a boring segment. And to do that, this 2024 model comes in either a gas version (known as the GT) or a plug-in hybrid version (known as the RT).

This compact SUV is based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which means there’s a nice dose of Italian heritage baked in.

The Dodge Hornet GT starts at around $32,000 including destination and comes with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that makes 268 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. That’s routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. The EPA rates its fuel economy at 21/29/24 MPG city/highway/combined.

The RT is the plug-in hybrid model. It starts at a little more than $42,000 including destination and comes with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a 90 kW electric motor for a total of 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. Since it’s a plug-in, the Hornet RT will travel 32 miles of EPA-rated electric-only range, recharges in about 2.5 hours on a 240-volt outlet, and has a 15.5 kWh battery.

All models of Hornet, whether they’re gas or plug-in, come standard with the interior setup you see here: that’s a 10.5-inch touchscreen here and a 12.3-inch digital display here. This touchscreen has wireless apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Our tester has the Blacktop and Track Pack bundle so inside that adds these Alcantara seats with the red accents, which are great though it does negate the ventilated seats, plus these medal pedals down below. We also have a Harmon Kardon 14-speaker audio system.

Our fully-loaded RT Plus that had a total sticker price of $52,405, including destination.

So how does this new Hornet stack up against the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Honda HR-V, Kia Seltos, and Chevy Trax? And which version of the Hornet is better...the gas model or the PHEV? Check out our full review to find out.

Check out the full video or click the shortcuts below to find the section you're most interested in:

0:00 Introduction
0:38: Exterior walk-around...does it look Italian from the outside?
2:15: Trunk space...not bad for a small crossover!
2:54: What's under the hood of RT Plug-in hybrid?
3:19: What about the engine in the cheaper gas version (called the GT)?
3:39: Interior and tech explained...
5:47: Rear seat space and comfort
6:36: Driving Impressions...a bit disappointing?!
7:45: The best part of how it drives...
8:29: Conclusion

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Presenter: David Undercoffler
Editor: Phil Shuyler

#dodge #dodgehornet #phev #phevcrossover