2024 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV AWD - Bottom Line Review

GHOST OF AMC RE- STINGING: Vespidae are known as aggressive winged hive insects whose venomous barb sting can induce anaphylactic fatality. The 1970's American Motors Corporation "Hornet" model was mostly known as an early form of compact stateside car to defend against a swarm of [predominantly Japanese] imports. Instead of defending the hive with a toxic sting, the AMC Hornet heavily counted on the industry-leading twelve-month, twelve-thousand mile "Buyer Protection Plan," and an available Gucci sportabout edition. (The "Hornet" name itself was inherited from a 1950's Hudson streamlined full-size car which had NASCAR success.)

After a thirty-six year slumber, AMC acquirer Dodge, recent purveyor of "Hellcat," "Demon" and "Red Eye" muscle has slapped a revised winged stinger badge on a Italian compact crossover SUV tailored for American tastes, the 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV Track Pack AWD .

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WHAT: 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV Track Pack AWD. A sibling of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the first compact SUV foray for the muscle car brand since the demise of the Journey. The FCA Small Wide 4x4 LWB version of the Small Common Components and Systems foundation dates back to 2005, and currently underpins the Jeep Compass.

WHAT PROPELS IT : Plug-in Hybrid turbocharged 1.3L 16V DI petrol I-4 engine + 1 PSM rear axle electric traction motor + 1 PSM front axle electric starter generator motor.

• Net Hybrid Power: 288 horsepower, 383 pound-feet torque @ 2000 r.p.m

POWERTRAIN HITS and MISSES

• +1 More emphatic torque; Multitude of drive modes; Pronounced gear shifts,^{(Sport S, Sport+ modes)}
• -1 Long throttle step-in; Fuel economy less than advertised;^{(though still competitive)} Piped into cabin by audio system exhaust growl under throttle; No offroad / trail or regenerative drive mode(s)

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S):

Though handsomely in line with other compact SUVs like Ford Escape, the Dodge Hornet R/T visage is a literal nose job on the donor Alfa Romeo Tonale, without only the raceway rear lighting as a nod to the only surviving other model, the Daimler Benz era Dodge Durango WD.

"Dodge Rhombi" red tandem dual forward slashes from Dodge Racing are the sole nose and illuminated tail emblems. Updated art deco matte silver Vespidae silhouette badges have been slapped on either aft fender. Some cues have been inherited from the very short lived PF Dodge Dart.

The tandem deep valley hood features prominent shoulder creases. A thin upper grille is split with honeycombing above rectangles. Thin LED headlamps have inboard upper boomerang directionals / DRLs. Honeycombing resumes at the deeper lower hexagonal mawe, flanked by corner creases with straked inserts.

The Coke bottle body has a subtle betline crease emanating from the fender and flared lower spats. Wheel arches field the tandem dual lip for the optics of muscularity without flaring.

The requisite sporty roof spoiler sits above a slight Kammback with lower lateral fold. Mid liftgate there is the brand's full spanning wrap-around raceway taillight assembly, chipped in the center. The bumper cover, housing the license plate bowl in the middle, bumps out at the bottom to fully encapsulate the large chrome exhaust outlets at the corners.

WHY: Dodge sets an Americano "Tone" for performance stinging plug-in hybrid compact SUV.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Winter 2023 - 2024

WHERE: Dodge new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Pomigliano d' Arco, Campania prefecture, Italy

WHERE TO: All-wheel drive, with just the barest ground clearance lift, all-season road tires and no snow mode, trail mode or differential lock, implies inclement weather, on road go.

HOW ROADWORTHY: One wonders how coincidental it is that the 285 peak net horsepower rating of the plug in battery electric supplemented turbocharged twin-cam 1.3L petrol four cylinder 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T matches that of the 1971 Ram Air 4-pack carbureted AMC Hornet SC360 Go Pack. Or that that both laid down low 14 second quarter mile trap runs. While it can't match the pre-catalyst dual exhaust burble of its progenitor, the turbo four-pot has been fitted with a resonator which dispatches a menacing raspiness. At least in Sport drive mode think last generation 500 Abarth, but with a vastly quieter cabin.

While the 2024 Hornet R/T brings along pure battery electric driving it's more the relaxed commuting kind coming from the 121 horsepower rear permanent synchronous magnet motor. Sport hybrid mode generates the most credible performance experience. In regular hybrid mode the Hornet R/T front motor starts off the line are hiccuped by the dratted start - stop idle and a hasty upshifting automatic transmission with nine ratios to climb. (Fortunately start - stop can be defeated and saved in that setting via the infotainment display.) While the battery electric mode doesn't come on as frequently as in a Toyota RAV4 Prime, the transition was nearly undetectable.

Sport hybrid mode bypasses the dratted start - stop idle for more authoritative shove off the line and some snappier shifts from the slushbox. Under hard throttle the rear motor kicks in imparting a sense of ferocity to this compact crossover. For maximum grins (with apologies to Hyundai Kona N), tugging both steering wheel dorsal mounted paddle shifter supplies a 30 horsepower bonus.

HOW LIMBER: The damping tune of the Dodge Hornet R/T chassis includes dual valving for more controlled rebound. The chassis is atypically stiff for the segment, bringing along the occasional jitter. Despite, the occasional slap from the 20" wheels bound in Pirelli all-season performance rubber the ride avoids becoming punishing. Enhanced spring rates and sway resistance resist roll and aid in a sharp turn in that belies the mass. Steering weighting is artificially heavy and centering was a challenge, but an alignment issues was suspected in the test vehicle. Abundantly sized brake rotors wait until the end of the lengthy pedal travel to squeeze hard, though Dodge / Alfa's implementation of regenerative e-motor slowing blends smoothly.

HOW FAR: 29 combined miles per gallon; 77 MPGe, 464 miles maximum hybrid range; 33 miles battery electric range (100% charged 15.5 kWh LiIon battery).

• Battery preserve mode locks out EV operation as desired.
• Novel charging mode runs the engine, clutching the front electric motor as a generator, to reach a desired charge percentage (handy when a 7.2 kWh 240VAC J1772 power supply is out of reach).

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: Aligned as a premium European compact, the 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T runs smaller than American market D segment volume models such as Toyota's RAV4 Prime. The Hornet more closely shadows the Mazda CX-30 Turbo footprint, yet offers greater second row space.

• -1 Wide second row seat bench elevated center perch

HOW USEFUL: √ Liftgate accessed cargo bay; √ 60/40% split folding rear seat backs w/ ample center pass-through; √ Demi-carpeted cargo bay walls

• +1 Ample lower center stack wireless device shelf
• +/- Long raked Kammback reduces cargo bay load height
• -1 Heavy manual lift liftgate, -1 Tall trunk load liftover sill
• -1 Sparse door pocket & center console bin space
• -1 Hybrid system diminishes cargo bay sub-floor storage

HOW SAFE: IIHS - NOT TESTED (related 2022 Jeep Compass scored Top Safety Pick) = √ 8 airbags, √ Rear camera w/ fixed gridlines, √ Fore & aft sonar park audible park assist

Driver assist technology: √ STANDARD = Pedestrian & daytime cyclist detection braking; Forward collision avoidance braking; Blind spot & rear cross traffic warning; Lane departure; Road edge & Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist; Cruise control, Automatic High Beam headlights; 2nd Row occupant minder

• AVAILABLE: Optional:^{(included on tested 2024 Hornet R/T Track Plus)} ♦ Adaptive cruise control w/ full stop, resume and speed limit influence; ♦ Trafffic jam speed & steer assistance; ♦ Lane centering control; ♦ Blind spot & Rear Cross-traffic avoidance braking; ♦ Driver attention monitor
• -1 momentary driver eye movement away from road de-activates Level 2.0 driver assistance

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:  Dodge influences in the cabin can be summed up rather briefly. Take a gander at that thick, flat bottom steering wheel. The traditional instrument cluster binnacle host sporty red on black graphics, though the multi-function display has abbreviated performance detail. Then there are the tandem red contrast stitched panels. That is it.

Premium Alfa Romeo contributions amount to the lovely oversized magnesium steering column transmission shift paddles, leatherette trimmed middle dashboard and denser pile carperts and pillar / headliner webbed cloth. Many of the luxury amenities must be accessed through the stark center dashtop infotainment screen, belonging to a previous decade. A quick visual survey betrays some FIAT door switchgear, doing little to evoke a premium performance environment.

√ 12.3" drive mode variable Digital cockpit cluster; √ Leather auto heated + cooled 1st Row 8-way power sport bucket seats; √ Heated leather tilt + telescoping steering wheel; √ Power windows, full auto operation x 4; √ Keyless approach access, push button ignition; √ 2-Zone automatic climate control

• +1 Impressive front seat torso & hip support
• -1 Seats hard to get comfy in given pedal offset right & grippy Alcantara inserts
• -1 Instrument cluster varies dials only by deleting road speed and engine revolution numbers

Cool Gizmo(s): √ U-Connect 5 infotainment widgets, app store

Details Done Right: √ Oversized magnesium steering column shift paddles; √ Aluminum pedal covers; √ Knurled aluminum climate duct registers & center console audio volume barrel; √ Dense pile carpet; √ Tight mesh headliner + upper cabin pillars; √ Matte black center console bezel; √ Tucked seam smooth leatherette soft mid dash and upper door panels; √ Tandem red contrast stitching.

Nearly Non Descript: -1 Loose poorly fitted cabin A-pillar cover; FIAT door, steering wheel and center console switchgear

HOW CONNECTED:  √ 10.25" inch Uconnect 5.0 center dash top, tri-pane landscape capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications x 2 active devices; √ Voice to text SMS messaging; √ Amazon Alexa commands; √ USB-A x 2, USB-C x 2; 12V x 2 (includes cargo)

• +1 Higher definition Uconnect 5.0 media display graphics, customizable widgets
• -1 Open lower center console wireless device storage shelf

HOW AUDIBLY: √ 465 watt, 14-speaker, 12 channel Harman Kardon Quantum-Logic 7 DSP premium audio

HOW "APP" -LICABLE:  √ Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ UConnect 5.0 6 GB RAM, 64 GB HD storage; √ Apps and App Store + over the air updates

• +1 Extensive Uconnect voice commands for climate, audio, voice to text SMS and navigation inputs
• By Subscription: √ Sirius XM (90 days included); √ Wi-Fi hot spot (2GB trial by AT&T Wireless); UConnect Connected assistance, navigation

HOW MUCH: $45,590 = as tested 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T Track Pack PHEV M.S.R.P^{(eligible for up to $7500 IRA lease tax credit)}

WHAT'S MISSING: Greater exterior & cabin distinctiveness; Simpler instrument cluster selection sequencing; Fewer ADAS false warnings in inclement weather; Less abrupt start / stop idle; More pliant seats; Firmer initial brake pedal response

ANY COMPETITION: Alfa Romeo Tonale: Stellantis sibling of an Italiano name; Toyota RAV4 Prime: more genteel and spacious PHEV.