Dodge sellers are on the brink of welcome a brand new automobile to their showrooms. Coming this spring, the 2023 Hornet marks the model’s first entry into the subcompact SUV area.
Extra Dodge information and opinions
The Hornet is one other title from Dodge’s previous. The moniker traces its roots again to a full-size automobile produced by the long-defunct Hudson model from 1951-1957. The primary-generation (1951-1954) Hornet gained prominence with most people as a personality voiced by the late Paul Newman within the Disney-Pixar film Automobiles.
In 2006, Dodge resurrected the Hornet title for the primary time with an idea automobile that was to be offered completely in Europe. It was barely bigger than a Mini Cooper of the identical 12 months and its profile was paying homage to the Kia Soul, which might debut two years later.
The 2023 iteration will share a lot of its engineering with the 2024 Tonale from Stellantis’ upscale Alfa Romeo model. It should even be one of the crucial highly effective automobiles in its class. The entry-level GT grade contains a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It groups with a 9-speed computerized transmission, and all-wheel drive is commonplace. The one different subcompact SUV that comes near this degree of energy is the Hyundai Kona N, which has a beginning value greater than $5,000 greater than the Hornet.
Arriving as a 2024 mannequin is the Hornet R/T, which makes use of the drivetrain because the Tonale. A 1.3-liter four-cylinder fuel engine pairs with an electrical motor to supply a web whole of 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. As with the GT, AWD is commonplace, however the R/T will get its energy to the pavement through a 6-speed computerized transmission. This mannequin will embody a function Dodge calls “PowerShot,” which supplies a short lived increase of 30 extra horsepower, which the corporate claims will produce a 0-60-mph acceleration time of simply 5.6 seconds.
Coming Quickly: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
Different performance-related goodies for the Hornet embody shock absorbers and brakes from Koni and Brembo, respectively; dynamic torque vectoring; and particular tweaks to the suspension and steering techniques.
A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is commonplace, together with a ten.25-inch infotainment system powered by Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 suite. An accessible Harmon Kardon audio system supplies 465 watts of output via 14 audio system and a subwoofer.
The 2023 Dodge Hornet GT begins at $29,995. The uplevel GT Plus, which incorporates leather-based upholstery, heated and ventilated entrance seats, sunroof, and embedded navigation system, will set you again $35,490. The producer vacation spot charge is $1,595. These fashions are slated to reach at sellers within the coming weeks. Pricing for the 2024 R/T might be revealed nearer to its early summer season 2023 on-sale date.
CG Says:
Though Dodge could be very late to the subcompact SUV occasion, the Hornet appears to be like like it’ll make a reasonably grand entrance. That a lot commonplace energy plus the promise of a well-tuned driving expertise makes us very wanting to spend time behind the wheel. The one actual disappointment, no less than proper now, is the quite nameless styling. We want designers would have modeled the manufacturing automobile after the 2006 idea, which might have given consumers a recent various to the likes of the Kia Soul.
Meet the 2023 Shopper Information Finest Buys
Take heed to the Shopper Information Automotive Stuff Podcast
2024 Dodge Hornet Gallery
(Click on under for enlarged photographs)
Dodge Dart Styling
Automotive Stuff Podcast