We answer your top questions about the 2024 Dodge Hornet GT

After spending a week in the Dodge Hornet, we’re back to answer all your questions

Crossovers are a hot commodity for most brands, but for Dodge, the Hornet currently feels more like a major failure — at least for now. To figure out what was holding it back, we drove a car for a week as if it were our own.

Now, we’ve reviewed it and thought about its best and worst qualities. Before we drive it, we ask you what you want to know. You’re about to get your answer. Our first question highlights the Hornet’s unfortunate position in the market right now.

Considering it’s the slowest selling vehicle out there, what do you think is the worst quality thing about it?

In my opinion, there are two main problems with the Hornet. First of all, it doesn’t scream “Dodge Performance Car.” Of course, this isn’t surprising, as Stellantis’ actuaries decided it would be cheaper to slap a Dodge badge on an Alfa Romeo Tonale, a move that may have hurt fans of both brands. A more aggressive design might salvage some credibility, especially among Dodge loyalists who want their cars to exude muscle and menace.

Review: 2024 Dodge Hornet GT Plus performs well, but has some glaring flaws

Another issue is that it doesn’t behave the same way as most Dodge products. The Charger, Durango and Challenger all offer blistering speeds from 0 mph. Even though the Hornet has more power than other vehicles in its class, it still struggles to match the same character.

Will it run on regular fuel? I’ve also heard that fuel economy is poor in this class. What was your result?

Yes, it will run fine, but Dodge recommends using 91 for “best performance.” We got 25.3 mpg over the week. That includes highway and city mileage, which, frankly, is pretty good considering how powerful this car is. No, it’s not a fuel sipper, but those who prioritize performance will be glad they didn’t make too many trade-offs for the sake of having the best of both worlds.

Is the wheelbase too small and the front overhang too large for a car of this size?

It’s all a “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” kind of thing. I think it looks good, but Dodge would do better if it was more aggressive. If Dodge lowered its price and positioned it as a cheaper alternative to the Toyota GR Corolla, it might have scored more points.

Is something broken? And, considering they’re trying to market this thing to enthusiasts, how bad is the powertrain overall?

During our testing weeks, we had zero damaged or malfunctioning items. The powertrain isn’t bad either. In fact, in everyday driving, the powertrain and chassis combine to be one of the best in the class. The Hornet has a weird lag when offline that we’re still trying to figure out, but other than that performance isn’t the issue here.

How does it compare to similarly priced high-performance subcompacts like the Kona N and CX-30 Turbo?

We touched on this in the review, but let’s address it more directly here. The Hornet isn’t as sharp as a Hyundai, but it’s more powerful than the Mazda. It has excellent overall steering feel and excellent stopping power. It doesn’t feel as light and playful as the CX-30, but it’s not far off.

Are there any advantages over competitors?

strength. This is a big advantage. If you want the most horsepower per dollar, this is the place for you. Sure, other cars will offer a better cabin, better fuel economy or more utility, but the Hornet focuses on power and delivers it.

Does it deserve to be a Dodge and named the Hornet?

I’d love to say yes, but that’s not the case. The Hornet has almost always been a muscle car, but that’s not what we have here. Instead, I think Dodge should name it the Omni. They could have lowered the price of it and sold it as (I know I’ve already said this, but it bears repeating) a cheaper and less capable GR Corolla replacement, but with more cargo and cabin space.

Then, in a year or two, Dodge might give the Omni a RWD-biased AWD system and call it the Omni GLH or GLHS. I can’t understand how it decided to go with the Hornet since its packaging, power and overall purpose all seemed obvious.