2025 Dodge Hornet Consumer Reviews

The Dodge Hornet is apparently a misunderstood vehicle. I wanted something that felt like a nice sporty fun car to drive and a lot of features, but I have a long daily commute, so I wanted decent gas mileage and AWD. I wanted a commuter car for driving to work during the week (80 miles per day) that felt like it had a hint of sports car included. I also like the tech gadgets. This car checks all those boxes. Since the Hornets were initially slow to hit the market, I tried another brand first, which was supposed to be a premium brand with a great reputation and it had a lot of electrical issues, as is common with many new vehicles. I saw a perfectly loaded Hornet GT+ come available and traded my "premium" car in for my Hornet. I could not be any happier. I've owned many brand-new vehicles, and the Hornet has been as good or better than any other I've owned in my first year of ownership. I've had my Hornet for over one year now with 24,000 miles on it. Everything works as expected and it is still very fun to drive. My Hornet GT+ with blacktop package has nearly every feature available on a new car, with the exception of autopilot. The Harmon Kardon stereo sounds great. The sunroof is nice and large. Heated and ventilated seats make the ride comfortable anytime of the year and always activate automatically. AWD makes the drive very predictable and enjoyable. I average around 31mpg with my 2.0L turbo gas engine, but I don't drive it too hard most of the time. The ability to say "hey Dodge" to interact with the car is a convenient feature so I never need to take my eyes off the road to change radio stations. I just tell it what station I want to hear and it changes my station for me. The large customizable display is easy to read with any information you might want at a quick glance. Traffic sign recognition means you never wonder if you're in a school zone or what the speed limit is for that area. Overall, if you want a really fun daily driver to zip in and out of traffic in a car that's fun to drive and gets decent gas mileage and you have patience to learn how your car is different than other basic car models, this could be a great option for you. Yes, it is an Alfa Romeo Tonale rebranded as a Dodge, but at a much better price point. I've also noticed that online many people think these are all EV, but they only offer Hybrid (R/T model) and Gasoline 2.0L turbo (GT model). I went with the GT model because it uses the same 2.0L hurricane engine that was in my 2018 Wrangler and I loved it. Good balance of power and fuel efficiency.

Don't do it, you will regret it. Instead of being able to drive it, it will sit in the shop for months. Poorly built, overpriced, unreliable

Leased this car to add to the family fleet. It was an inexpensive lease deal for a CUV. This is not a "driver's" car. Picked up the vehicle at night, and when I drove it the first time, I noticed a pressure dent on the front hood where someone had closed the hood. I'm stuck with the repair, but what's worse is knowing how flimsy the body is. It will be a long 2 years of parking in the boondocks to avoid door dings. Just going up and down the road feels like you're driving with the brakes on. Requires a very firm, constant press on the accelerator to get up to and maintain speed. Doesn't really coast. Seems like Dodge missed out on adding charging system while coasting. Not a great car in the snow - When I accelerate or apply brakes in sport mode (for snow packed roads), the rear of the car pushes around to the side, like a pickup would. A terribly unsafe response for an AWD vehicle! Our Subarus, Suburban, Rav 4, and FWD vehicles never did this. Also, in the snow, the surround camera screen constantly flashes on and off reminding me to check surroundings. Seems the cameras get covered and sense the snow, instead of obstacles around. Better car for city driving, as it charges the LI battery and extends MPG. Higher speed highway driving uses much more gasoline, very quickly. The controls on the steering wheel feel cheap to hand, and are confusing. There is no true intermittent wipers for front, just an "automatic sense" setting that can be set in 2 speeds. Both speeds are not reliable at sensing, and I find myself hitting the 1x manual wiper, often, to make up for it. Interior - There is a very small, deep console, which barely fits my husband's hand. As long as all you need within reach is one pair of sunglasses, this will work. Otherwise, you have to lean over the passenger area to access the small glove box, which is not convenient in traffic. Anyone who commutes knows the value of easily reached storage. There are 2 small door slots to carry items, but they are narrow enough and deep enough that I have to rummage around to find my garage opener. Again, requiring a full stop to access it. Those are my complaints. I like the overall size of the vehicle, the interior seating size and upholstery detailing. The cargo space is very small, so probably not a good car for a family with kids + groceries. I am also enjoying the sound system. The magnetic phone charger is a nice feature, that I use daily. The 110 v charging option is very nice, as we didn't have to install a new outlet in the garage. Based on my experience with the Hornet, I would not purchase one.

Have my 2024 hornet for 6 months and 3k miles on it. It's been completely dead twice and has had 3 batteries in it which have to be ordered... Stay away don't buy!!

I've had my 8-Ball Hornet GT with Cold Weather and Track Pack for almost a year now. When I saw it and sat in it I imagined it was a TIE fighter on wheels. I was not disappointed when I drove it. The 268 hp is a leader in it's class. No, you will not be dusting Camaros and Mustangs, that is what Charger and Challengers are for. As mentioned I have the Track Pack, and it is very nimble and quick on curvy roads. It is a more sophisticated and refined power than a typical Dodge. You can definitely see and feel the European influence. I know "True Mopar Guys" hate it, but this is a market segment Dodge needed to delve into and I think they did it very well. My wife and son each drive a Jeep Compass, the Hornet is much more fun to drive. I highly recommend it.

Wanted a CUV for its practicality. I was coming out of a Mustang. I also wanted some performance. I was intrigued by the Hornet for that reason. I have also had a love for Alfa Romeo cars. The Hornet is based on the new Alfa Tonale. For all of those reasons, I was not a sheep & I checked it out for myself. I leaned toward the RT because of the incentives. They totaled 10K. That brought the car down to around 34K. Much more manageable than the $44,620 sticker price. I am a car guy so I understand things outside of the shiny things that consumers are drawn towards. For example you get 4 Piston Brembro brake calipers & Koni shocks. Independent rear suspension. All season sport tires. You get either the GY Eagle GT or the Michelin Sport all seasons. You won't find them on a Hyundai or even the Toyota. You definitely need to take the time to learn the car. 3 Drive modes. Hybrid, E Save, & Electric. I've been getting around 33 miles of all electric range on a fully charged battery. The interior feels solid & refined. Seats were a big things for me. I will say that if you are a larger individual the bolsters might cut into your hips. (I am not, so no issue for me) Infotainment & standard safety features are amongst the best in class. Small trunk & weird handle to close the hatch. I love the exterior look. The blacktop package adds to that look. Blacked out badging along with blacked out mirror caps & trim. My main concern is overall reliability. I have had a few tech clichés with the security system & front end collision sensor. Waiting on 4th quarter software update to hopefully fix some of the tech gremlins. So far I am pleased with the vehicle. Check one out for yourself.