With a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a 90-kW (121 HP) electric motor, Dodge’s new crossover, The Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV, makes a combined “285-plus” horsepower and a ridiculous 383 lb-ft of torque. Here’s what we know about Dodge’s new mid-size crossover.
That 1.3-liter is the same “Global Small Engine” four-cylinder engine found in the Jeep Renegade and Alfa Romeo Tonale, with which the vehicle shares a platform. The motor and a six-speed automatic powers the front wheels while the electric motor, which Dodge deceivingly says “can deliver 1,844 lb.-ft. (2,500 Nm) of torque from 0 rpm,” sends the torque to the rears, and works with a 15.5-kWh refrigerant-cooled lithium-ion battery pack to get the vehicle roughly 30 miles down the street in fully electric mode. (Note That torque figure clearly includes a gear reduction, and doesn’t represent the torque made solely by the motor itself).
There’s also a 2.0-liter Hurricane engine — the same one from the Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee, among others — on GT models. Dodge says it’s “the industry’s quickest, most powerful utility vehicle under $30,000,” with “265-plus horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque” going to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic. Zero to 60 mph should go by in 6.5 seconds according to Dodge. Stopping from that speed involves Brembo four-piston front fixed calipers, which are standard R/T and optional on the GT.
Initially, the R/T PHEV actually accelerates slower than the GT, achieving the zero to 60 mph deed in 7.1 seconds. However, it has a trick up its sleeve that Dodge calls PowerShot. It works something like a boost power-up in a racing game. When you pull both paddle shifters then put the hammer down, the battery and electric motor provide a 15-second boost of an additional 25 horsepower. This shaves a full second off of the acceleration time, making the Hornet get the job done in 6.1 seconds.
Also like a power-up in a video game, PowerShot has a cooldown period. You have to wait 15 seconds before you can get another 15-second blast. Both the GT and the R/T get power to the road with help from torque vectoring. When the vehicle is driven in Sport Mode, the torque vectoring system will also act as an electronic limited-slip differential.
The Hornet R/T can charge its own battery using a starter generator and regenerative braking. When plugged in with a Level 2 charger, the battery charges to full in 2.5 hours thanks to a high-power inverter and 7.4-kW charging module.
That power and the PHEV system of the R/T are only part of what’s going on under the Hornet’s sheet metal. You get a full independent suspension with MacPherson geometry up front and a three-link Chapman setup in the rear. If you get your Hornet with the Track Pack option, you also get dual-stage valve shocks, which offer driver-selectable suspension damping.
On the technology front, the Hornet gets a Level 2 driver-assistance package with adaptive cruise control, a system to keep the crossover in its lane, automatic emergency braking, and a speed assist system. Inside, the driver sits in front of a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster while a 10.25-inch screen commands the Uconnect 5 infotainment.
Just like the rest of the Dodge portfolio, the Hornet will have some factory-backed Direct Connection upgrades. Dodge rolled out the Dodge Hornet GT GLH Concept, an homage to the 1980s Dodge Omni GLH.
The Hornet GT GLH features what are mostly cosmetic parts with 20-inch wheels, racing stripes, and painted trim. That’s complemented with a lowered suspension and unrestricted exhaust. Dodge says that it also has a stage kit with stackable performance upgrades.
However, the automaker notes that details about exactly what parts will be available and horsepower numbers for the stage kits are to be revealed at a later date.
Dodge calls the Hornet R/T its first-ever electrified performance car. The Hornet does bring some fine numbers to the table and it seems like the company is trying to keep its performance-oriented spirit alive in this age of electrification. It’ll be interesting to see the Hornet’s final numbers for fuel economy and if SRT gets involved to make an even faster version.
(All photo credits to Stellantis.)
1.3 Turbo, it should certainly be “buzzy”.
YEAAAAAAH! B-)
First time commenting, nice place you all have put together here. I was a longtime lurker at the orange site but decided to set up a profile here. Anyway…I don’t hate this. I understand the disdain for the ongoing SUVication of everything but as far as Doge goes this seems *fine* to me. At least it seems to be somewhat competitive on paper and as far as NPC mobiles go at least there’s a tiny bit of edge to the styling.
We lose the V8 Charger and Challenger just to get this anono-box? Fuck this timeline.
The other timeline has the seas boiling, and Earth getting a nice Venusian atmosphere. So although the game may be more fun for the first two quarters, humans disappear about half-time.
Might want to clarify in the article that the “sub-$30k GT” version is just a standard ICE with no electric motor. $40k for the PHEV.
These are gonna be cross shopped with Nissan, Kia and Hyundai. I expect to see a bunch of them at Target and Starbucks.
I’m a little surprised by the response! This is a relatively cheap small car (by todays standards) that could probably be at least somewhat fun to drive and doesn’t have any of the stupid modern design elements people harp on about all the time.
I’m not in the market even remotely but I like it.
Why is there a red, italicized “11” on the grill? If Spinal Tap started a car company, that might be a good logo, but for a Dodge – are you kidding me? Someone spent too much time huffing the fumes in the paint bay on the production line when they came up with that. They should just go back to fitting a “crystal” pentastar hood ornament up front, like the bad old days.
Those two slashes have been Dodge’s logo for a few years now. I’m hoping for a return of the triangle from the 60’s.
They’re saving that for the BEV’s, if I recall correctly.
That has been their logo since the bailout …
I work in shipping, and recently I’ve noticed some parts (particularly big, beefy, presumably RAM front control arms) still carry the Pentastar. So they’re still using it, they’re just hiding it.
Minority here. I kind of like it. Sub $30,000 PHEV with a decently quick 0-60. Definitely would NOT buy the first year or two though. Let them work the major kinks out first.
For everybody fuming about the weight. What I’m finding states it weighs in around 3700lbs. Barely any more than a 2022 Camry, and less than the Rav4 Prime (which is a better vechicle, but is pricier). I don’t think that’s too out of frame, however, keep in mind, this is coming from someone who slings around a nearly 5,000lb SUV on the daily… Me.
The GT version is “sub-$30k” before destination charge ($29,995). The GT version has no PHEV functionality, it’s just the 2.0l ICE. The R/T version is the PHEV and that starts at $40k.
Gotcha. My reading comprehension wasn’t hitting on all cylinders this morning.
Honestly, this took over the Maverick already for new cars I want.
Also honestly, I think the driveline is probably the best part. I work at a Chrysler dealership, and ever since the 2.0T came out in the Wrangler in 2018, I’ve cannot recall ever seeing one of them in the shop for any major work, and the 9 speeds seem to be good as long as it’s not a Cherokee.
If I’m afraid of anything, it’s 100% going to be the electronics (duh) and interior bits.
Electronics and interior are the bits I’d be most concerned over as well. Have had decent luck with the newer transmissions (wife has a 2018 Cherokee 2.4 we’ve owned since new, has 80k miles thus far). Only complaint on it is the rear fold down armrest I had to glue and tuck a small piece of fabric back in the cupholder fitting. Have really been considering trading the Cherokee in on another Grand Cherokee though. But with the V6. Mine has the Hemi, and doesn’t return the greatest gas mileage. Would like to get into one of the 4XEs, but then you’re talking $$$
Wait a little while and you’ll be able to get a Jeep version of this. The Hornet is the new Jeep Compass, just being released early.
I was going to reply to your other comment about weight, but eh. I guess it doesn’t really matter. I enjoyed my 5k suburban and my 2200lb neon but very differently.
This is a good take.
My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day has been ruined.
A 3500lb SUV isn’t a compact anything. Sure, it’s neat technology, but the package that it’s in, I do not like at all. I was really hoping for a Golf hatchback fighter, or a Corolla fighter. Instead, we got a RAV4. I didn’t like the Caliber, I didn’t like the dart, and I despise this. And the fact they tossed the GLH badging on it was pretty tone deaf. The original GLH was a lightweight, tossable, compact street fighter. This is going to be none of them. Even with a “more favorable” power to weight ratio, it’s not going to be able to autocross nearly as well, and it wont be as fun on a backroad as an original Omni.
Maybe I’m starting to become a boomer at 36, but I haven’t liked anything new Dodge has made in a long time. The last new Dodge I bought was in 2005, and the latest model year anything I owned was a 2014 Grand Caravan.
Since when has a compact car, or any car’s size classification for that matter, been defined by it’s weight?
If you were really hoping for a hatchback, you haven’t been paying attention. We’ve known it was going to be a small SUV since pretty much day 1.
If you were really a boomer, you’d know that the Omni was a piece of shit. But since you weren’t even born when that car was being made, it’s understandable that the only frame of reference you have is the rose-colored glasses of a few writers on the internet. The GLH was also a piece of shit, by the way. A faster, more nimble piece of shit, but still a piece of shit.
You are, however, correct that the Dart and Caliber were also pieces of shit.
The Omni GLHS was still being made the year I was born, and I own one. My parents also owned a 1987 Omni that I grew up in. But okay.
“Maybe I’m starting to become a boomer at 36, but I haven’t liked anything new Dodge has made in a long time”
You don’t necessarily have to fall into any specific demographic to feel this way
The GLH referenced in the article is an option-package concept car. The production Hornets will not be called GLH. Even so, the Hornet looks to be filling a wide gap in the market today, which is “Sub/Compact CUVs that don’t have shitty performance”. I guess the RAV4 Prime accelerates slightly faster on battery power, but I *promise* you nobody is buying a RAV4 for performance. (I mean, how well does that RAV4 hold up when you turn the wheel?)
And why would you think any automaker in North America would release a Golf hatchback fighter in 2022, when even *Volkswagen* won’t sell them here anymore?! Nor are we likely to ever see a Corolla fighter from any domestic marque ever again; the profits on those are too thin to be worth the futile gesture of trying to compete with Toyota’s appliances.
VW still sells the Golf GTi, starting price of $29K in the US, so I’m confused about why you’re saying they won’t sell them here anymore. They don’t sell a basemodel, sure, and I didn’t realize they had stopped production of that. But at this point, when I’m finally ready to replace my daily, it wont be any american auto maker. It’ll either be a GTi, or a Corolla, or hell maybe a Leaf.
A badge-engineered crossover that’s slower than the equivalent RAV4 is how Dodge is going to usher in the new era of electrified muscle, eh? Good luck to them, I guess.
Then again, what’s Stellantis’s brand in the US for mainstream stuff like this? Where are their appliance cars, the ones nobody—not even their owners—really cares deeply about, but which sell like hotcakes anyway? They don’t really have one, do they? Chrysler?
There are only two vehicles sold as a Chrysler.
The 300 sedan, and the Pacifica minivan.
Although on their web site they list the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid separately, so it looks like they have THREE cars.
This shows the sheer absurdity of Dodge/Chrysler. Between the two companies, they have SIX nameplates (and that is being generous by counting the Pac and Pac hybrid as two separate models. Fully half of those 6 are the same car, in the 300 / Charger / Challenger.
It’s a small wonder that either, let alone both brand names have continued to exist through all of the brand shuffling through all of their mergers.
It’s also absurd that they haven’t put a Hellcat in the 300 yet. They need to do a properly absurd version of that car before they inevitably kill it off. It’s a criminally underrated vehicle, in my opinion.
The equivalent RAV4 is faster and better, but a _lot_ more expensive.
I won’t be a buyer of this, but I’m happy to see them roll out a new model that is PHEV and reasonably quick. The price point for all that is good.
Should be Chrysler. The breakout developed under Fiat was:
Dodge: Performance arm
Ram: stand alone brand for trucks
Jeep: leave it alone, let it print cash
Chrysler: all the other stuff
This should fall into “all the other stuff.”
I hate to say it, but Dodge needs to get Pontiac-ed (shuttered).
Without the Charger/Challenger in their current forms, there’s really no reason for it that Chrysler can’t fulfill just fine. Sure a few of us will be sad (I’d still would love to see what a alt-reality Firebird would look like), but the market will be fine with it.
“it absolutely doesn’t elicit feelings of nostalgia for the older cars,”
That’s because no one is nostalgic for the AMC Hornet. And no one who is old enough to be nostalgic for the Hudson is worried about a Dodge PHEV being released in 2022.
“it just hurts.”
No, it doesn’t, and Hornet is an awesome name that should be resurrected.
Ignore this. I’m not used to this commenting system yet.
Welcome to the new place.
I’ve been lurking…
Welcome to Autopian 🙂
Is there a way to see that people have replied to comments?
no.
The Hornet is a name that should be resurrected. Agreed.
However, as someone of the age to which you here refer, I am indeed nostalgic for both the Hudson and the AMC Hornet. For different reasons in each case. The Hudson Hornet needs no explanation. It was awesome from the get-go. The AMC Hornet was also awesome, but the reasons are less obvious. First, it saved AMC from demise for many, many years. Both the Hornet itself, and all the other cars built on its platform, were the bread and butter of Kenosha until 1988. Which, if you think about when the engineering of the original was done, is nothing short of amazing in the automobile business. It was simple, durable, and did the job. A mechanical masterpiece.
And I wouldn’t say I’m ‘worried’ about a PHEV carrying that name. More ‘enthusiastic’ actually. Since PHEV’s are where the weird and wonderful engineering of the next generation of cars is going to be the most fun. I mean, just look at this release! Wild.
So not exactly ‘no one’
I figured it out. You don’t understand hyperbole.
But you did figure out that the basic point that resurrecting the name Hornet for this car isn’t an issue, so there’s that.
“I figured it out. You don’t understand hyperbole.”
No, you’re wrong about that too. But that’s pretty much how you roll. So there’s that.
God, after your sanctimonious bullshit at the other site, maybe just fuck on off.
You mad? LMAO… Maybe try not insulting people with every reply, and it would be a little easier for you to get along in normal society.
Or not. I mean, I don’t really give a shit whether you are upset or not, Bevis.
I’m having a grand time. You can too if you want.
You misspelled “Beavis” which ends up having the opposite of the intended effect.
That presumes that you know what my intent is, which you clearly can’t fathom, or you never would have replied. Bevis means ‘lovely son’ in French.
It was a compliment.
Assuming bad intent is a poor way to proceed through your life. You night consider a different approach.
I’m trying to decide if it would be worse if you came up with that post hoc or if you teed that up.
Great band. You should get the album. Read the lyrics.
Here ya go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hlOBpJ-Hqk
Man, this front end does NOT work on a crossover. Something about the proportions of the front end makes this look unbelievably awkward.
They should’ve gone outside Stellantis and rebadged a Honda BR-V as the Hornet 🙂
Holy shit!
Dodge has a new model!?!?!
I thought they were trying to go for Nissan Frontier or Savana Van levels of platform age.
“This story is breaking news and is being updated.”
Only fitting that a Dodge is already breaking.
This. An Alfa Romeo rebadged as a Dodge. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
Caliber II: this time it’s personal
Rumor has it that early commercials have a geriatric Sylvester Stallone driving the Hornet through flaming hoops. In an Adidas track suit. Wearing a Samurai style head band.
An ingrown Tonale?
Tail light of the day.
Wow this is a lazy badge engineering job. Literally all the sheet metal is identical to the Alfa Tonale. Only the hood, front and rear bumpers and light clusters are different.
It’ll be the Alfa version that’ll suffer from Cadillac Cimarron Syndrome.
Unlikely as this bears little to no family resemblance to rest of the Dodge line up. Inside it looks like all they’ve changed is the dash upper. They’d have done better to reskin a Jeep. Or a Peugeot if they were really brave. But having two almost identical vehicles available in the same market is utterly batshit.
“But having two almost identical vehicles available in the same market is utterly batshit.”
Here we agree, and it isn’t just Dodge/Jeep although I’ve always thought all they’ve ever needed is the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Renegade and not stupid shit like the ‘Patriot’
Agree as well. So how do you feel about Chevy/GMC trucks, given that observation?
This IS the rest of the Dodge lineup, once the V8 RWD wondertwins get put out to pasture.
It’s that what badge engineering is? The term itself was coined from an age years ago when exactly none of the sheet metal was different between models, and it was literally just the badge that changed. Now THAT was lazy.
Even the lower front fascia, although changed, is remarkably similar to the Alfa.
well, is that such a bad thing? Unfortunately, if you just brought it over as an Alfa, ‘murricans would never buy it so you has to rebadge it.
we also did not buy the rebadged Dart. But those did not have the seemingly magical tall roof syndrome that everyone else finds to be darling.
The accountants refer to this as “cost-conscious engineering.” And we all know the best car design comes from accounting!
I honestly forgot the Tonale was a thing and also explains why I don’t completely hate how the Hornet looks. I won’t buy it for obvious reasons but it isn’t the worst CUV I’ve seen.
Literally nobody in the US knows what an Alfa Tonale is. It’ll be fine.
Everyone knows that is your big toenail
Not a Dodge, and the lack of a manual kills it for me.
It’ll prove that it’s a real Dodge by being shitty, don’t worry 😉
I think the Alfa Romeo and first of its kind for both companies bit that’ll have more to do with that than the Dodge badge.
Literally a Dodge.
And which other electrified crossovers with manuals are you cross-shopping?
It’s an Alfa Romeo…
What happens when you Mix Alfa Romeo, Dodge, and a first of its kind car for both companies?
Reliability…….
The only thing there’s been a manual on in a Dodge for years now is the Challenger unless you go all the way back to the Dart?
And it’s going away. Personally I won’t buy a new ICE powered automobile unless it has a manual transmission.
So once the Challenger goes away in the near future I probably won’t buy another Dodge, their only BEV concept likely to go into production is looking pretty terrible so I won’t buy that either.
Also, as-is, this won’t be eligible for the new tax credit…OEM’s aren’t typically known to move quick, but localizing production of BEVs / PHEVs has gotta be a pretty a pretty hot topic these days.
There’s a real question as to whether the battery sourcing requirements wont tank the credits for pretty much everyone in the short to medium term.
This looks so sad. Cheer up buddy! You’ve got torque!
The first picture looks like it’s tired, but being forced to continue.
The second makes it looks like it’s trying to pinch a loaf.
Better late than never? Let’s just see how it drives.
At least in those photos, it looks like a ringer for a 4th generation RAV4. Same giant D pillar with the kinked up brightwork, same mirror shape, and roughly the same face. Aside from the fake vents on the hood, even the creases look similar. Which isn’t a bad thing, but Stellantis could have done a bit better. Maybe try to evoke some Challenger nostalgia?
I’m excited to see it’s using through the road AWD with the electric motor. That’s a good thing, and should pave the way for more RWD electric cars.
I love PHEV’s, so I’m stoked to see this, even if I’d likely never buy a Stellantis/FCA product (sorry David). However, if that range is correct, that’s a pretty pathetic number. The RAV4 prime, which seems to be a bigger vehicle (not sure?!) is rated at 42 miles with an 18.1kwh battery, or an estimated 2.3mile/kWh. Mind you, we are averaging 3.1 with ours, and the guess-o-meter is usually over 50.
So for this to only get 30 with 15.5kwh…its either a super lowball figure, or something ain’t right.
Anyway, looking forward to learning more about this vehicle!
Maybe 15.5kwh is the raw cell capacity and it only uses the middle 80% or so, for longevity.
As much as I am disgusted down to my very core by the CUV/SUV take over and manufactures reviving heralded names to slap onto the bulbous ass ends of them. I don’t really hate this, it’s attractively styled and seems competent, I’ll definitely have to keep an eye on this until the reviews are in.
You realize this is the same company that named a fastback Omni a Charger and, more recently, revived the Dart on an Also-ran compact.
This at least looks like it’s attempting to be competitive.
the best generation Dodge Challenger was actually a Mitsubishi 🙂
This is what I’m saying though? I’m very disappointed by the trend overall, just name it something new and spicy, it absolutely doesn’t elicit feelings of nostalgia for the older cars, it just hurts.
But this car seems relatively nice, but as I’ve seen noted, a lot of the styling weight is carried by what they cribbed from the Alfa, so I can’t clap too loudly, it’s adequate.
“it absolutely doesn’t elicit feelings of nostalgia for the older cars,”
That’s because no one is nostalgic for the AMC Hornet. And no one who is old enough to be nostalgic for the Hudson is worried about a Dodge PHEV being released in 2022.
“it just hurts.”
No, it doesn’t, and Hornet is an awesome name that should be resurrected.
I was talking about the trend as a whole, not this model specifically. The Eclipse Cross is the first that springs to mind regarding the point I’m making about how I feel about the trend. It’s no cooler of a car because they dragged up the name of a car people loved, it’s just a crossover that also now leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I have to acknowledge it. And really, it’s just how I feel, I’m not saying my opinions are the right ones, but they are mine and they’re not concrete either, otherwise I should hate the Mach E, but I’m somewhat fond of them.
Also, Hornet is a great name and I do agree with that.
I think this is a valid point, especially with your caveats.
I’d maybe put it this way – it’s Star Wars. As in, we now have a whole bunch of connected entertainment that’s all based on collective feelings about a captured-lightning-in-the-bottle set of old movies. Some of these current products are good, some are not so, but they all hinge in some way on how we (both individually and as a society) enjoyed those old movies.
Which if you step back a little can seem a little weak – banking on our nostalgia rather than producing something bold and new that blows our minds. Like the original movies did.
A lot of the nameplates they’re bringing back also weren’t as great as people seem to remember.
The old Hornet sucked, but the name is awesome and deserves to be used.
While no one except James Bond fans love the AMC Hornet, the Hudson Hornet was a badass car. And an entire generation of kids recognize it because of Paul Newman’s “Doc”.
But will anyone really associate this with the Hudson?