2023 Dodge Hornet

For its first year, Dodge will offer the Hornet in two trim levels, including the GT and R/T PHEV. The exterior design will share its structure with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but with easily recognizable Dodge features. The R/T will come with dual exhaust tips, black-painted lower bodywork, and Brembo brakes. Both trims offer a choice between seven exterior colors and the option of 20-inch black-painted wheels with the available Track Pack, which also adds a dual-stage valve suspension for increased handling ability.

The Hornet GT gets power from a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder gas engine that puts out 265 horsepower and gets 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine works with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The R/T is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from Dodge. It uses a 1.3-liter turbo four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor that combine to generate 285 horsepower. The R/T uses a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the nine-speed, and both Hornet models will come standard with all-wheel drive.

Both the GT and the R/T have impressive powertrains. The turbo four-cylinder will accelerate from zero to 60 in just 6.5 seconds, and the R/T's setup can get you there in 6.1 seconds. The R/T also has a PowerShot feature that will boost output by 25 horsepower for a short time. You can activate this by pulling both paddle shifters. The R/T's 15.5 kWh battery also provides up to 30 miles of all-electric range.

Inside, the Hornet has a sporty design and room for up to five people. The black interior has red accents and red stitching, and it comes with Alcantara upholstery with the option for leather. The temperature controls sit between the middle air vents, so the driver can easily reach them, and features such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel are available and controlled through the touchscreen.

You'll find a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that sits in front of the driver and a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the center of the dash. It comes with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a wide range of features, including support for two phones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and satellite radio.

The Hornet comes standard with a long list of advanced driving aids. These include automatic counter steering, automatic emergency braking, a blind spot monitoring system, and rear cross path detection. Front and rear parking sensors come standard. The optional Tech Pack adds Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities such as driver attention assist and active driving assist.