With hot new details recently revealed, the 2023 Dodge Hornet already has 14,000 preorders. The new compact crossover
from Dodge
is slated to hit dealerships by year’s end. Jerry
, the trustworthy insurance comparison app
, checks out the latest news on this performance-oriented sporty SUV.2023 Dodge Hornet: powertrain and exterior
In the 1950s, the Hudson Hornet was a full-size car that made a name for itself in NASCAR. The vehicle and the Hudson brand were absorbed into AMC, and an AMC Hornet compact car lineup followed from 1970 to 1977.
In 1987, Chrysler acquired the rival company and passed Jeep and various models down to Stellantis.
The 2023 Dodge Hornet
is a compact SUV inspired by the newly introduced Alfa Romeo Tonale, with a Dodge look and feel. The exterior offers headlights and a grille typical on Dodge vehicles, as well as the brand’s signature—full-width tail lights. While the 2023 Hornet’s sheet metal and main shape are almost identical to the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet celebrates key design differences with a couple of retro touches that pay tribute to the Hornet name.
The roofline gently drops to the top of the rear hatch instead of dramatically tapering down, and the wiper looks like it covers a good amount of glass.
Both powertrains will offer standard all-wheel drive. For under $30,000, you can get your hands on the entry-level Hornet GT. Owners will receive a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Hurricane with over 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Hornet GT owners also have the ability to tune the engine to over 300 hp, lower the suspension for better handling and add a free-flowing exhaust. The vehicle can hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Other trims include the SXT, R/T, GT Plus, and Citadel.
2023 Dodge Hornet: Interior and safety features
The interior provides major sports car vibes with a center stack canted toward the driver’s seat, accent stitching, silver trim, and dual digital displays. The cabin is expected to have roomy front seats, and a tight squeeze for those in the back.
The styling will resemble the same tone as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, with a tall shift lever for the automatic transmission positioned on the center console and primary controls and infotainment system slightly tilted toward the driver.
The 2023 Hornet will also feature the same steering wheel as the Tonale, but with an integrated ignition switch beneath the left spoke and centered Dodge logo.
The GT will be equipped with black upholstery with red stitching, but the GT Plus and R/T trims will arrive with leather. If you opt for the Track package, you’ll get faux-suede instead. A red leather interior is also a possibility if you’re so inclined.
All 2023 Dodge Hornet trims offer a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display. The Uconnect 5 system is the company’s latest software interface, and can also be found on Stellantis models like the Ram 1500 and the Chrysler Pacifica.
Also standard are Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. If you’ve got the cash, you might as well upgrade to the GT Plus or R/T Plus to get a wireless smartphone charging pad and a 14-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo.
Standard driver assist features on the 2023 Dodge Hornet include cyclist detection, emergency braking with pedestrian detection, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring.
What else to expect from the Dodge Hornet series
We anticipate the Hornet GT to be followed by the Hornet R/T next year. The Hornet R/T will feature a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 90 kW electric motor driving the rear for all-wheel drive. The hybrid system will offer a total output of 285 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.
The Hornet R/T can travel 35 miles on a full charge when using the electric-only mode. Performance fans will appreciate the temporary 25 hp boost from the PowerShot feature, allowing the speedster to reach 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
A 12.0-kWh battery pack will come with the plug-in hybrid R/T model that should get about 30 miles of electric driving per charge. Dodge says the charging time on a level 2 charger is about two and a half hours.
Dodge also threw it back to the GLH (Goes Like Hell) days, when the name was originally used on the Shelby-tuned Dodge Omni in the mid-'80s. The automaker’s Hornet GT GLH Concept is being used to highlight the Direct Connection collection of available performance parts.
The 2023 Dodge Hornet GT is rumored to make an appearance in showrooms in December, followed by the Hornet R/T next spring.
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