2024 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV

It’s a Dodge that speaks with an Italian accent. Whatchoo talking ‘bout, Willis? The new 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV is a plug-in hybrid that punches above its weight thanks to an electrification push by the Dodge brand. We’ll explain the Italian accent later. Napleton News had a chance to spend some time in this peppy and economical crossover. Is it a livable choice? Read on to find more!

Under the hood (and other places).

Our Plug-in Hybrid Hornet featured power from a 1.3-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with an output of 288 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The engine mates up to an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission in front and Electric all-wheel drive system at the rear. Zero to 60 mph ticks off in a quick (for the segment) 5.6 seconds.

Plug in the Lithium Ion battery for a boost that will get you an additional 28 miles of pure electric power. It’s a quick charging mode that will top you off in approximately 8 or 9 hours of charging on a normal 120-volt line. This Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV speaks with an Italian accent that it picked up while being built at the Alfa Romeo Tonale plant. No, that’s not Toenail! Say Tone Al-lay instead.

If a PHEV isn’t your thing, check out the Dodge Hornet GT with its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder making 268-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine is matched to a 9-speed automatic transmission and AWD.

There are other available goodies, too. Our PHEV was trimmed with bright red Brembo brakes and Koni shock absorbers. Torque Vectoring is standard on both models and helps improve handling drastically. No really, it does.

How does the Dodge Hornet R/T AWD look?

It’s a typical SUV that fits between the Subcompact and Compact range. It’s slightly bigger than the Mazda CX30, and features a combination of curviness and sleek lines that blend nicely. It even includes functional hood vents.

At the front, LED headlights point the way, set off by a Dodge logo in the center of the grille. It is joined by a pair of Hornet logos on both front fenders.

If you squint from a distance, you’ll think you are looking at an Italian beauty…which in some cases is true!

What about inside the Hornet?

The Hornet R/T brings good, supportive seats delivering comfort to the front passengers. The bolsters were not intrusive and we actually got out feeling rested and ready for our next adventure.

The rear seat offers adequate seating for most, except for those six-feet or taller. Cargo space behind the second row is some of the largest in the compact SUV segment.

Technology is carryover from the previous years. The Dodge Hornet takes advantage of Stellantis’s Uconnect5 system with Navigation, The Harman-Kardon premium audio system operated via a 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that you can configure according to how sporty you want it to be.

A steering wheel-mounted button allows you to switch between standard, Hybrid or or e-Save settings. The big display screen can be configured to include the navigation.

We like how it leans toward the driver. They are still placed too far away, requiring a lean forward to touch the screen.

Driving the Dodge Hornet

While the internal combustion engine Dodge Hornet starts like a normal vehicle, the PHEV Hornet starts up with a space-aged warp speed noise that will definitely amuse the kids.

Power comes on smoothly but you have a choice. You can start in full-electric, hybrid or gas modes, each offering their own benefits. Placing it in the “E-save” mode adds a rougher drive feel to the experience, which seems a bit low-rent, especially when you see the sticker of this hybrid checks in at over $54,000!

The 1.3-liter turbo engine offered impressive power when driving in anger. According to our seat of the pants testing, turbo-lag was well controlled. Still, there was enough oomph to get us in front of lally-gaggers taking their own sweet time on our Florida highways. The Brembo brakes were quick performers, bringing us to sure stops as necessary.

On the other hand, the lane keep assist function did its best to keep us within the stripes. Luckily, it too, had a button to disable it. Annoyingly though, we had to do that each time turned the car back on.

Still, the Hornet PHEV is a fun car to drive. Its mileage was stellar and we didn’t need to fill up at all during the seven days we had it. We call that a big win!

2024 Dodge Hornet R/T e-AWD Specs