Dodge · 2022–2026

Dodge Hornet

The Dodge Hornet is a compact crossover SUV marketed by Dodge exclusively in North America from the 2023 through 2025 model years. Produced in Italy, it is a rebadged, restyled variant of the Alfa Romeo Tonale at a lower price. The all-wheel-drive vehicle was positioned as the brand's smallest and most affordable model, its first plug-in hybrid, and its first new model since 2011. Due to slow sales and the impact of the Second Trump Administration's new 25% tariff on imports, the Hornet was discontinued after the 2025 model year.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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The Hornet name

The Dodge Hornet model name is a legacy trademark which originated with the Hudson Hornet (1951–1957), a full-size car that gained fame due to its dominance in NASCAR stock car racing in the early 1950s, earning a legendary status that was later popularized in the film Cars. After the merger of Hudson and Nash to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), the name was applied for their compact car line (1970–1977) that served as a platform for several other successful AMC vehicles. Chrysler Corporation acquired AMC in 1987, and gained ownership of the Hornet trademark. The name appeared in 2006 for the Dodge Hornet concept car, a small, five-door mini-MPV to gauge interest in a B-segment vehicle for the European market. In 2020, FCA (Stellantis) submitted an application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to reserve the names "Dodge Hornet" and "Hornet". Dodge chose the historic name as a nod to its long-running family lineage for the compact crossover SUV.

Overview

The Hornet was revealed in August 2022 as a 2023 model year vehicle. It was Dodge's first all-new model in over a decade, following the discontinuation of the mid-size Journey crossover, and its compact SUV since the discontinuation of the Jeep Liberty-based Dodge Nitro in 2011. The vehicle's exterior design was led by Jeff Gale, the son of former Chrysler design executive Tom Gale. The Hornet was manufactured at the Stellantis factory in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy, alongside its platform mate, the Alfa Romeo Tonale. It is structurally based on the Stellantis Small Wide 4x4 LWB platform, which is also utilized by the Jeep Compass (MP). The Hornet was offered exclusively with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and sold exclusively in the North American market, distinguishing it from the Tonale, which offers front-wheel-drive and is marketed in other global markets. The Dodge Hornet was available in four trim levels: GT (entry-level), GT Plus (entry-level with luxury trim), R/T (plug-in hybrid), and R/T Plus (plug-in hybrid with luxury trim). The GT trims were available with the 2.0 L I4 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission producing 268 hp (200 kW; 272 PS), while the R/T trim was the first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) marketed by Dodge and featured dual electric motors mated to a 1.3 L I4 and a six-speed automatic for a total of 288 hp (215 kW; 292 PS). The Hornet also had different specifications, pricing, and features compared to the Tonale. According to Dodge, the Hornet R/T has a range of over 30 miles (48 km). Equipped with the 2.0 L turbocharged engine in the GT trim, the Hornet can go from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.1 seconds, while the R/T trim with a 1.3 L I4 also features a "PowerShot" mode, which delivers a temporary boost of 25 hp (19 kW; 25 PS), to achieve a 0

Equipment

The base GT includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and dual-zone automatic climate control. All models feature the Stellantis Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with a 10.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display. Included are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features, as well as Amazon Alexa connectivity. The GT Plus adds a 14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo and in-dash navigation. Standard driver-assistance features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. The optional Tech package adds adaptive cruise control with lane centering. The Cold Weather Group package combines heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and remote start. Black cloth and synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching is standard on the GT, while the GT Plus trim comes with leather. The optional Track package includes imitation suede or a red leather interior.

2025 models

Minor changes for 2025 included redesigned LED headlights and two new exterior color options. The available Track package for 2025 includes steering-wheel shift paddles. This helps position the Hornet as a car for driving enthusiasts and buyers are provided with a one-day course at Dodge's official driving school. A Car and Driver road test of a GT Plus resulted in 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which was 0.2 seconds slower than achieved in a test of the more powerful and more expensive Hornet R/T Plus. The 2025 R/T trim received an extended electric range. A new 11.5-inch infotainment touchscreen debuted on the Plus trims, featuring improved graphics and faster touch response times.

Effect of tariffs

Despite its American badging, the Hornet was produced in Italy along with the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Motor Trend magazine noted that to keep prices low, Dodge reduced content in some areas. However, the imposition of U.S. President Trump's tariffs resulted in the suspension of Hornet production in August 2025. This was because a 25% import tariff that was introduced in July 2025. At that time, the future of the vehicle was uncertain, with the possibility of it skipping the 2026 model year. In September 2025, the head of Dodge, Matt McAlear, noted he would "like to see the compact SUV return to the U.S. someday as the tariff landscape evolves". Nevertheless, after production was stopped in 2025 "amid all the tumultuous tariff policies," Dodge announced in January 2026 that it would end production of the Hornet.

Powertrain

== Hornet GLH == The launch of the production Hornet line in August 2022 also included two concept cars labeled GLH based on the base GT and hybrid R/T trims. Both featured increasing "stage kits" for power and lowered suspensions. The model designation was a gesture to continuing the legacy of Dodge Omni GLH and Shelby GLH-S that were developed in cooperation with Carroll Shelby from 1983 until 1986. In late 2022, Dodge CEO Timothy Kuniskis announced plans for the more powerful model. The Hornet R/T GLH was unveiled on March 22, 2023, featuring visual upgrades, such as lowered springs, 20-inch wheels, unique graphics, and a louder exhaust. Plans were to offer the various tuner parts through Dodge's Direct Connection aftermarket parts department. In a January 2025 interview, Dodge's CEO Matt McAlear, stated that the Hornet GLH model would enter production in late 2025, with the timing suggesting it would be a 2026 model.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Dodge Hornet

Manufacturer

FCA Italy S.P.A. (Stellantis Europe)

Production

August 2022 − January 2026

Model years

2023−2025

Assembly

Italy: Pomigliano d'Arco (Alfa Romeo)

Class

Compact crossover SUV (C)

Body style

5-door SUV

Layout

Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout

Platform

FCA Small Wide 4×4 LWB

aka

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Related

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Engine

Petrol:, 2.0 L Hurricane4 turbo I4 (GT), Petrol plug-in hybrid:, 1.3 L turbo I4 (R/T)

Electric range

More than 30 mi

Transmission

9-speed automatic (GT), 6-speed automatic (RT)

Battery

15.5 kWh lithium-ion

Wheelbase

2636 mm

Length

4521 mm

Width

1840 mm

Height

1620 mm

Kerb weight

1600-1875 kg

Designer

Jeff Gale

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113578474CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_HornetCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1372325684 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:24_Dodge_Hornet_RT_PHEV.jpgCC0 · Photo: HJUdall · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.dodge.com/hornet.htmlLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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