Used 2023 Dodge Hornet

The idea is for the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet to be a muscle car among small SUVs, only in a 21st-century kind of way. With the Hornet GT, Dodge delivers the segment’s most powerful gas engine.

The new Hornet is based on the same platform as the upcoming Alfa Romeo Tonale (pronounced toe-NAH-lay, not toenail). This is slightly bigger than many subcompact SUVs but not as big as a compact.

Next comes the Dodge approach of adding more power than the vehicle really needs. But you have to love a company that has brought us Hellcats and Redeyes and all sorts of supercharged insanity.

This time around, sanity prevails with the GT. Even the upcoming 2024 R/T (a name traditionally given to sporty variants) balances entertaining power with decent fuel economy. That’s because the R/T is Dodge’s first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle — or PHEV. We detail the R/T separately.

Dodge bills the Hornet as its gateway drug, and we can’t argue with that. It brings some extra panache to the small SUV genre.

Among the Hornet GT’s key rivals are the sporty Mazda CX-30 and other subcompact SUVs like the Kia Seltos and Chevy Trailblazer.

The Dodge Hornet GT boasts the most powerful gas engine in the subcompact SUV segment, delivering a potent 268 horsepower. Dodge says it can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, making it the quickest SUV priced under $30,000. Indeed, after spending a morning zipping around the mountain roads surrounding Asheville, North Carolina, we found the Hornet GT to be engaging and a blast to drive.

The Hornet had plenty of go for taking on hills and tearing around slower traffic. We never felt as though the engine was overworked. Some of that had to do with the 9-speed automatic transmission. The steering is responsive, too.

Moreover, sharing a platform with an Alfa Romeo bodes well for an entertaining European poise to the ride and handling. Dodge did the Hornet’s suspension tuning, which is a bit on the stiff side. We were quite happy with that as we attacked some exciting twisities. Also helping in the curves is the standard torque vectoring that rotates the outside wheel in a turn at a quicker rate than the inside wheel.

Koni shock absorbers are standard, and for some additional stopping power, you can even add Brembo brakes as an option. Those aren’t the kind of names we expect to see in the subcompact SUV segment.

Among subcompact SUVs, only the Mazda CX-30 with the optional 250-horsepower turbo engine can rival the Dodge Hornet for driving fun.

We found the front row seating exceedingly spacious with sufficient elbow room. The seats are supportive with better-than-average bolstering. Adding some sporting flair, red stitching accents the seats and other leatherette surfaces throughout the cabin. Rear-seat legroom will be tight for anyone approaching the 6-foot mark. Cargo room behind the second-row seat is better than any rival except the Volkswagen Taos.

Dodge has provided an upmarket feel to the cabin with its 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster flanked by the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, which, along with the row of hard controls for the climate system, are canted toward the driver.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet isn’t just the sportiest-looking entry in the subcompact SUV segment — it’s arguably the most attractive overall. The lighting and grille designs are clean, contemporary, and aggressive at once, and the whole package is well-proportioned. Call us fans.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Although the infotainment setup has an Android-based operating system, it still comes standard with cable-free phone integration for both kinds and for two devices at a time. Plus Amazon Alexa compatibility.

Digital driver information display
Every new 2023 Hornet SUV has a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as standard.

10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
A decent-sized touchscreen is also standard across the new Hornet range.

Rain-sensing wipers
When the system senses moisture on the windshield, it automatically engages the wipers. The wiper speed adjusts according to the volume of the rain.

Tech Pack
This optional bundle includes adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assistance, a surround-view camera, Traffic Jam Assist, semi-autonomous Active Driving Assist, and more.

Track Pack
Available with both the GT and R/T variants, this includes a 2-stage adjustable suspension, Alcantara-trimmed seats, bright pedals, Brembo 4-piston front brake calipers (red, of course), 20-inch wheels, and more.

No big surprises regarding the 2023 Hornet GT’s method of propulsion. It’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, perhaps the most common configuration at this point in automotive history.

Using premium gasoline, it makes a meaty 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Dodge funnels engine power through a 9-speed automatic transmission to a standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

As we’ve already noted, the GT delivers more performance than its in-segment peers. The acceleration won’t pin you to your seat but we found it satisfyingly robust.

Hornet GT
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
268 horsepower
295 lb-ft of torque
Fuel economy: 24 mpg (21 city/29 highway)

More Hornet GT fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Dodge’s new-vehicle warranty is typical among mainstream manufacturers, but also the minimum available. It lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles — again, typical yet minimal.