The Buzz About The 2024 Dodge Hornet!
As Dodge continues the phase-out of the Charger and Challenger, the brand needs something new to uphold the brotherhood of muscle—at least until the Charger Daytona and the rumored Durango redesign hit the road.
Enter the Dodge Hornet, a small CUV (Compact utility vehicle) that revives a historic American Motors – not Dodge – name. Considering that the new-generation Hornet is a sporty, performance-focused hatchback, perhaps Dodge Omni would have been a more appropriate name, heck they hinted at a GLH Performance Package a direct reference to the old Shelby Omni, GLH is an acronym for ‘Goes Like Hell’ as Shelby put it.
Why on earth would Dodge choose a CUV to carry the brotherhood torch? Simple, because that is what people want, look at the top-selling vehicles on the market, not many coupes on the list.
But, the Hornet shouldn’t be dismissed as a cheap placeholder; it’s a genuine attempt to create a small utility vehicle that looks and feels more like a performance car, breaking away from the ever-growing ‘rugged’ off-road SUV trend. Yes, it doesn’t come with a HEMI, and yes, it is based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale—but that is perfectly acceptable in this segment.
Stellantis, Dodge’s parent company, needs efficient vehicles in its lineup. One reason that Tesla has survived and grown so quickly is that companies like Stellantis are obligated to pay significant money to them in the form of emissions credits. Otherwise, they will pay more in government fines. Like it or not, small turbo, hybrid, and electrified powertrains are necessary, it’s the way of the future. Either that or we can all line up to drive the next Elon Musk EV eco pod.
As for Alfa, they know how to tune a vehicle, so that is where the Hornet definitely benefits. Handling is one of the key attributes that car reviewers like to point out along with its clean, modern interior.
No matter how you look at it, the 2024 Dodge Hornet is here to shake up the CUV segment, blending bold styling, advanced technology, and exhilarating performance. With two distinct trims—the GT and the R/T plug-in hybrid.
Exterior | Bold and Confident
Standing tall with up to 8 inches of ground clearance, the 2024 Dodge Hornet exudes assertiveness from every angle. Its bold front fascia features a slim upper grille flanked by sleek LED headlights, while a striking LED light signature spans the rear, accentuated by an illuminated Dodge logo. Built on a rigid chassis with standard Koni performance shocks and dynamic torque vectoring, the Hornet delivers exceptional handling, ensuring every drive is as dynamic as it looks.
Interior: Modern and Driver-Centric
Inside the Hornet, you’ll find a modern cabin thoughtfully designed with the driver in mind. The five-passenger interior comes standard with cloth and leatherette-trimmed seats accented by red stitching. R/T models enhance the experience with perforated leather seats or available Alcantara suede black seats with red accents.
GT trims offer up to 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded, making the Hornet as practical as it is stylish. The R/T PHEV sacrifices a bit of space, maxing out at 50.5 cubic feet.
The Hornet keeps you connected and entertained with its standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Powered by the Android-based Uconnect 5 system, it features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The R/T adds TomTom integrated navigation, including turn-by-turn directions displayed in the instrument cluster.
Performance: Power to Match the Style
Under the hood, the 2024 Dodge Hornet offers two impressive powertrain options:
Base power comes from a 268-horsepower, 2-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
R/T Plug-In Hybrid pairs a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine with a 44-horsepower electric motor, producing a system net 288 horsepower and a massive 383 pound-feet of torque. The R/T’s e-all-wheel-drive system includes an independent, rear-mounted electric motor for precise control and added traction.
For 2024 the 2.0-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated 21 City, 29 highway for a combined 24 city/highway MPG. The PHEV gets a combined 29 MPG and can travel up to 33 all-electric miles on a fuel charge. The Hornet battery can be charged in 2.5 hours when using a level 2 charger.
Safety: Confidence Built In
Dodge equips the Hornet with an impressive suite of standard safety features, including:
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Vulnerable road user detection
- Lane Departure Assist
- Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Path Alert
- Brake Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
- ParkSense rear park assist system with adaptive guidelines
- ParkView rear backup camera
Adding the optional Tech Package gets you Active Driving Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist, Drowsy Driver Detection, Front & side park sensors, 360 SurroundView Camera, Parksense Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist.
Warranty:
The 2024 Hornet is backed by Dodge’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, offering peace of mind for years to come.
The 2024 Dodge Hornet proves that compact utility vehicles don’t have to compromise on style, performance, or practicality. Whether you’re drawn to the assertive styling, cutting-edge technology, or the thrill of its plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Hornet delivers an engaging driving experience that’s hard to match.
Ready to embrace the buzz?
