Everything We Know About The 2023 Dodge Hornet SUV

The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a compact crossover with equal amounts of sporty and practicality. 

The world of automobiles is on a fast charge towards electrification, and it has opened new doors for technology like never before. The rise of Tesla has led to some groundbreaking innovations, and several other mainstream manufacturers have also walked down the same path. Some prestigious companies which have a long history behind them also believe that the future should not only be electric, but it should be of multiple powertrain choices which are clean and green for the environment. What this does is leaves some manufacturers like Dodge in a difficult position. Dodge is an American carmaker based in Detroit that has built some of the most powerful muscle cars in its history. A big block V8 and fewer emissions do not go hand in hand. However, this has been the character of their vehicles. For the limited time that Dodge has in its hand, it has made the most of it to release some new models like the new 2023 Hornet. The vehicle was showcased at the 2022 Dodge speed week. 

Dodge plans to get back into the small compact crossover segment, and unlike what it did many years ago, by making a replica of the Jeep compass with a different design, they have chosen a different path this time around. Dodge has decided to share the underpinnings of their all-new Hornet with the Alfa Romeo Tonale since both these companies come under the same Stellantis group; it brings down the production cost and also provides Dodge with a tried and tested platform. What makes the 2023 Hornet special is that it comes with hybrid tech making it the first-ever Dodge to pack such a configuration. 

A Striking Design 

As soon as one sets eyes on the Hornet, it is very evident that it is a Dodge product thanks to its aggressive front end and the muscular Hood scoops. There can be many similarities between the Hornet and some other Dodge products. The front grill has some gloss black accent making it look sporty and aggressive. The all-LED headlamps have a blacked-out finish to them, and the daytime running light looks rather sharp. 

On the bonnet, there happen to be two hood scoops on either end and a red racing stripe running down from the lower bumper to the driver-side dashboard, making it look very menacing. The bonnet also has the lettering ‘GLH’ in it, which literally translates to ‘Goes like Hell’. On the side, the vehicle gets 20-inch machine-finished alloy wheels with a red color contrast brake caliper in them for an added spot stance.  

As for most crossovers, the vehicle’s fenders flow into the side skirts, which have been finished in glossy gray rather than matt black. At the back, the most eye-catching detail of the vehicle happens to be the super slim LED tail lamp which runs the entire width of the rear end. The stripes of the car seen on the front bumper and bonnet extend all the way to the back end of the vehicle, giving it a very clean look. A little bit of attention to detail happens to be the fact that the Dodge logo is also illuminated in red to preserve the clean look of the vehicle. 

The Hybrid Power 

The Hornet will be offered in three trim levels, and the performance output varies marginally in all three of them. The GT, RT, and GLH trim, Although all three trims use the same power train with some mild modifications, the performance is crucial. The details around the engine and other factors are still very much in the pre-production stage, so Dodge has not yet released official numbers. 

It has a 2-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder unit, and its power output is expected to be north of 260 HP. The exciting news happens to be that it will be offered with an all-wheel-drive as standard, and the engine will be mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. 0 to 60 mph is expected to come around 6.5 seconds. The GLH trim uses the same powertrain setup but with much more power, but the most significant difference happens in the RT line. It will make use of a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine which will be mated to a battery setup making it the first-ever Dodge vehicle to support any form of electrification. What makes it a big one is that it is a plug-in hybrid with the capability of driving in pure EV mode. 

A Refreshed Interior 

The styling on the Hornet is very much refreshed and looks particularly good. The interior is very roomy and has space for four full-size adults comfortably. The central infotainment system, a 10.25-inch unit, looks right in place, and there are many modern touches like a digital gauge cluster and soft-touch materials all around the cabin. The screen has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and the higher trim of the vehicle also comes with the wireless phone charger and electronically controlled sunroof. 

What comes as amazing news is that the 2023 Hornet has already received over 14,000 pre-orders within 24 hours of its launch. The starting price of the vehicle is expected to be under $30,000, and even the top-spec trim of the car with all the optional accessories will be well under $40,000, making it a fantastic value-for-money proposition.