The Dodge Hornet EAWD or SUV impresses with 288 HP and an attractive starting price of 30,000 $ . Here are all the details at a glance.
The Dodge Hornet wears its attitude on its nose, with a low, mail-slot grille and hood scoops that actually give this compact SUV some muscle-car flavor. Short overhangs and a squat stance make it look ready to pounce, while the full-width rear light bar ties it neatly into Dodge family DNA. Optional 20-inch wheels bring real curb drama, though they also telegraph a firmer ride. It’s a tidy 178 inches long, so it slips into city parking spaces without a wrestling match.
Inside, the Hornet feels sportier than the class norm, with a thick steering wheel, supportive seats, and a clean dash anchored by a 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster. Materials are a mixed bag—soft-touch where hands fall, harder plastics lower down—but the overall impression is solid and purposeful. The layout keeps climate and key functions within easy reach, and the interface is quick to respond. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come along, so daily pairing is one less chore.
Front occupants get generous room and a good driving position; the rear bench comfortably fits two adults, with a third seat best for short trips. Cargo space is competitive, at about 27 cubic feet behind the second row in the GT and roughly mid-50s with the seats folded; the plug-in R/T gives up a bit of volume to its battery. Small-item storage is thoughtfully sprinkled around the cabin, from deep door bins to a useful center console. With standard all-wheel drive and a reasonable ride height, it handles foul-weather school runs as confidently as a grocery sprint.
The Hornet leans into the “sport” side of the small-SUV brief, with quick steering and a chassis that prefers sweepers to soft cruising. Grip is strong thanks to standard AWD, and body roll is kept in check, especially on the firmer setups. Ride quality is generally composed, though big wheels and rough pavement can introduce some thump. Braking feel is reassuring in the GT, while the R/T’s hybrid regen can add a faintly different pedal character until you’re used to it.
The lineup spans the GT and GT Plus AWD with a 268-hp 2.0-liter turbo (295 lb-ft) and a 9-speed automatic, plus the R/T and R/T Plus EAWD plug-in hybrids with 288 hp and a stout 383 lb-ft through a 6-speed and an electric rear axle. In real numbers, the GT dashes to 60 mph in the mid-6-second range, plenty quick for highway merges. The R/T delivers the bigger punch off the line—about 5.6 seconds to 60—thanks to instant electric torque. Weight does climb from roughly 3,715 lbs (GT) to about 4,140 lbs (R/T), but the extra shove in the hybrid masks it well.
The GT’s 2.0-liter returns an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, which translates to mid-20s in mixed driving; its 13.5-gallon tank means decent road-trip legs. The R/T plug-in hybrid is the commuter’s friend, offering about 32 miles of electric-only range and an EPA 77 MPGe combined when you keep it charged. Once the battery is depleted, expect gas-only efficiency roughly around the upper-20s mpg, helped by the hybrid system’s assistance. Its 11.2-gallon tank is smaller, but many owners will sip fuel if most errands stay inside that EV bubble.
Uconnect 5 remains one of the easier systems to live with—snappy, clear, and packed with features like wireless smartphone mirroring and available navigation. Plus models add niceties such as a Harman Kardon audio upgrade that actually fills the cabin without harshness. Safety tech covers the essentials: blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering available for low-stress highway miles. The systems are generally well-tuned, stepping in when needed rather than constantly nagging.
This is the small SUV for drivers who want a dose of attitude with their practicality—more punch than a CR-V, more flair than a Forester. The GT suits those who prefer a simpler, lower-cost setup with strong performance and solid efficiency, while the R/T rewards short commutes and garage charging with quiet EV miles and the quickest acceleration. Families will appreciate the usable cargo space and standard AWD confidence, though rear-seat room is best for two across on long trips. If a compact SUV with real shove and a different flavor is the brief, the Hornet hits the target without overpromising.
Costs and Consumption |
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Price
30,000 - 41,600 $
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FuelEconomy City
21 mpg
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FuelEconomy Hwy
29 MPG
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Electric Range
-
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Battery Capacity
-
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Fuel tank capacity
11.2 - 13.5 gal
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Dimensions and Body |
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Body Type
EAWD, SUV
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Seats
5
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Doors
-
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Curb weight
3,715 - 4,140 lbs
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Trunk Volume
-
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Length
178 in.
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Width
82 in.
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Height
63 in.
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Engine and Performance |
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Engine Type
Plug-In Hybrid, Gasoline
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Transmission
Automatic
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Drive Type
All Wheel
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Power HP
268 - 288 HP
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Torque
295 - 383 lb-ft
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Number of Cylinders
-
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Engine Displacement
1.3 - 2 L
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Gears
-
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General |
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Model Year
2,025
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Brand
Dodge
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