Dodge sent me a 2025 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV for Thanksgiving

[redriderbob]

Dodge sent me a 2025 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV for the Thanksgiving weekend, and I'll be sharing a full review next week. If you've ever wondered about Dodge's most "misunderstood" vehicle, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Here's a video of my first look at the 2025 Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV—stay tuned for more!

 

[TripleT]

If you were closer we could do a side by side.

 

[TripleT]

I have to say I have a GT for the Week.... I am having a hard time understanding why the product is Maligned. Poorly marketed perhaps.

But I have hard time understanding why it is not maybe the best Small Dodge I have driven. Have those been critical even driven it? Yes I have driven or had nearly all of them. Aside from the SRT4 Neon... Not Caliber... Price not considered this is the best small Dodge ever in my estimation.

Suppose since I have owned Alfas things seem in the proper place, but in Sport is pulls it around well, the steering is heavier than the Alfa, more like what you would find in the Charger, what is funny is in reverse it feels like the Alfa.

It is taking me a bit to get used to the heaver pedal effort without the engine braking on the PHEV. Of course, the Dash IP is plain compared to the Alfa. But I like the seats. Wish it had a proper exhaust tip but the 2L sounds nice a raspy. I think the front-end styling is problematic and may be the biggest issue with it, More of the 69 B-body look like the outgoing Charger would have been better. A italian company is so close to releasing 1.3 exhaust for the tonale and CF in the cover area that seems missing on the Dodge.

First thing I noticed that it seemed out of breath at 50mph after jumping off the line, I soon learned that is all programming, easily resolved with a push of the button where it should have started. In Sport mode, the car feels spirted and thrashy. Feels like it meant to be driven, 2L felt more like I expected from driving a Stelvio. So here is the error all Alfa have three modes. The Hornet needs 3 modes Eco, Normal, and SPort. Normal should be closer to Sport at full throttle, as is at 3/4. Again, this programing the button the steering wheel should be more like the DNA dial and toggle Normal, Sport, and Economy.

I am 5'11" 210... fit well my son is 6'1" and SIL 6'3" all fit fine... with the seat adjust down. I got in and it was at the top was a no go.

The controls are all EU... Doesn't bother me but might be off putting to some. I like the blue and the black out. Had I not gotten such a good deal on my Tonale (another story seems like it was an error on their part) I would be pretty happy with the Hornet.

 

[patfromigh]

One big mistake Stellantis made was not offering the same hybrid system in the Renegade and Compass. Those Jeep models do get that option outside North America.

The 54 Grand sticker would put me behind the wheel of a Toyota Grand Highlander, which offers a choice of two different hybrid systems.

 

[redriderbob]

I have to say I have a GT for the Week.... I am having a hard time understanding why the product is Maligned. Poorly marketed perhaps.

But I have hard time understanding why it is not maybe the best Small Dodge I have driven. Have those been critical even driven it? Yes I have driven or had nearly all of them. Aside from the SRT4 Neon... Not Caliber... Price not considered this is the best small Dodge ever in my estimation.

Suppose since I have owned Alfas things seem in the proper place, but in Sport is pulls it around well, the steering is heavier than the Alfa, more like what you would find in the Charger, what is funny is in reverse it feels like the Alfa.

It is taking me a bit to get used to the heaver pedal effort without the engine braking on the PHEV. Of course, the Dash IP is plain compared to the Alfa. But I like the seats. Wish it had a proper exhaust tip but the 2L sounds nice a raspy. I think the front-end styling is problematic and may be the biggest issue with it, More of the 69 B-body look like the outgoing Charger would have been better. A italian company is so close to releasing 1.3 exhaust for the tonale and CF in the cover area that seems missing on the Dodge.

First thing I noticed that it seemed out of breath at 50mph after jumping off the line, I soon learned that is all programming, easily resolved with a push of the button where it should have started. In Sport mode, the car feels spirted and thrashy. Feels like it meant to be driven, 2L felt more like I expected from driving a Stelvio. So here is the error all Alfa have three modes. The Hornet needs 3 modes Eco, Normal, and SPort. Normal should be closer to Sport at full throttle, as is at 3/4. Again, this programing the button the steering wheel should be more like the DNA dial and toggle Normal, Sport, and Economy.

I am 5'11" 210... fit well my son is 6'1" and SIL 6'3" all fit fine... with the seat adjust down. I got in and it was at the top was a no go.

The controls are all EU... Doesn't bother me but might be off putting to some. I like the blue and the black out. Had I not gotten such a good deal on my Tonale (another story seems like it was an error on their part) I would be pretty happy with the Hornet.

Funny I am 6'1 and my tester seat wouldn't go down instead I was slammed into the roof. Driving dynamics are killer though, I will say that. It impressed me on certain things and disappointed me on others. But I know why this thing is failing now, stay tuned.

 

[redriderbob]

One big mistake Stellantis made was not offering the same hybrid system in the Renegade and Compass. Those Jeep models do get that option outside North America.

The 54 Grand sticker would put me behind the wheel of a Toyota Grand Highlander, which offers a choice of two different hybrid systems.

After driving this powertrain, if the Renegade 4xe would have come to the states, it would have been killer.

 

[TripleT]

Wait,,,,,, So you need me to show you how to lower the seat? DO you have the manual or electric seats? I put my seat down immediately.

I payed way less for fully loaded Tonale... and RT were cheaper.

 

[UN4GTBL]

First thing I noticed that it seemed out of breath at 50mph after jumping off the line, I soon learned that is all programming, easily resolved with a push of the button where it should have started. In Sport mode, the car feels spirted and thrashy. Feels like it meant to be driven, 2L felt more like I expected from driving a Stelvio. So here is the error all Alfa have three modes. The Hornet needs 3 modes Eco, Normal, and SPort. Normal should be closer to Sport at full throttle, as is at 3/4. Again, this programing the button the steering wheel should be more like the DNA dial and toggle Normal, Sport, and Economy.

I am 5'11" 210... fit well my son is 6'1" and SIL 6'3" all fit fine... with the seat adjust down. I got in and it was at the top was a no go.

The controls are all EU... Doesn't bother me but might be off putting to some. I like the blue and the black out. Had I not gotten such a good deal on my Tonale (another story seems like it was an error on their part) I would be pretty happy with the Hornet.

Price is too high for a compact Dodge. Period. I've said it repeatedly since launch, and now the market has spoken too. The poor marketing probably didn't help either, but the price is just too high. I've sat in a couple of them, but I've never bothered to drive one as I don't want to waste a salesperson's time, and I don't have access to the fleet event I had at a previous employer.


My KL has a drive modes dial. In Auto (Normal) mode, the WOT reaction is slower than frozen molasses. It's so bad that my wife says her Prius is faster to react to WOT commands. In Sport mode, it's great, but the MPGs would make a Hellcat blush if I was to drive around in that every day. My Auto mode should be renamed Eco mode and a mode in-between Sport mode and the current Auto mode should be added as the real Auto mode. Or, I agree with your comment that WOT would trigger something closer to Sport mode automatically.

I like the idea of the Hornet. It's needed in the Dodge portfolio. However, the high price and the obvious badge swap from the Alfa twin is off-putting for me (both inside and outside styling). If they would bring a 4xe Compass here it would be on my shopping list.

 

[patfromigh]

The PHEV setup of the Hornet, Tonale, and Euro small Jeeps offer comes from an outside supplier. The Mitsubishi Outlander also uses the same e-axle hybrid for their Outlander PHEV. Rumors from reliable sources say that the Nissan Rouge will also offer the same technology. Nissan bet on EVs, but buyers want hybrids, so that company is in serious trouble.

So why isn't the Hornet selling if people want hybrids? Try taking $54,000 to a Lexus dealer and seeing what has a similar price.