Back in May of 2024 we were thrown the keys to a 2024 Doodge Hornet GT and we shared our finding here. We were not terribly impressed nor were we terribly disappointed by the Hornet GT. Maybe we were a little confused. The advertising for the Hornet is very performance skewed and while we gave a nod to the efficiency and functionality of the Hornet GT we didn’t find that performance that Dodge really touts in their ads. While attending Roadkill Nights in Detroit over the summer, we met some of the folks from Dodge who had seen the story and they asked if we’d give the R/T a shot. In their opinion it answered a lot of the questions I had been left with after getting out of the GT. Well, they were correct on all accounts.
What was so very interesting in driving these two models is that they are, outside of the powertrain and interior accouterments/styling upgrades, the same. It sounds dumb to say that out loud but I have to because of what I am going to tell you next. I have never, in over a decade of doing this, driven two vehicles of the same name and only differing in optional equipment experienced as marked a difference as I did between the GT and the R/T. The 288hp available with the 1.3L four cylinder and electric motor is awesome. The six speed automatic is well tuned for the different driving modes, and the options Power Shot which gives you a boost of 30hp for 15 seconds is not only fun sounding on paper, it is a riot in practice.
The double down on this is that I have never seen a vehicle transform dynamically as much as when the Sport button is pressed in the Hornet R/T. From steering weight, exhaust note, and suspension tautness, the entire character of the vehicle changes for the aggressive and it’s impossible to deny that the driving dynamics of the Hornet are easily the most responsive and fun in the CUV segment.
I have very often complained about this class of little SUV for the blandness, the droning engines, the 100% appliance feel to every element of them, from the numb steering feel, to the barely capable of merging with traffic power levels. The Hornet R/T is the anti-dote for this. Seriously. Capable of nearly clipping the 14-second bracket at the drag strip, it’s got plenty of guts. But that number only tells part of the story.
Of course, around town you are not making 1,320ft sprints through a city or your small town from a dead stop. The real fun in the Hornet R/T is in sport mode as the six speed works its way through the gears. Throttle response is very crisp and the little engine makes its power as the tach needle sweeps right, meaning that holding gears brings the spirit of the Hornet R/T out and will bring a smile to your face.
No, it does not sound like a 440 or a 426 Hemi, but in stock form, those engines would lose to this one at the drag strip as well. Love it or hate it, those are the facts.
With the R/T and Blacktop packages, the interior got a nice upgrade. The seats, front and back are black Alcantara with red accents. They are grippy and comfortable. As is the case with the GT version of the Hornet, the rear leg room is not totally copious for those over six feet tall but for non-stretched humans, it is not a squeeze. The front buckets are really nice with a great compromise between width and bolstering. They are not squeezing on you like a racing seat but they are holding you well when you want to run this thing through some corners in Sport mode, which we did and was a flippin’ riot. Rear stowage space is on par for this size SUV and will handle your groceries, sports gear, and small stuff at the local home improvement center. The privacy cover is easily removed in the rear for taller items.
The driver’s area gets high marks. Why? Well we have to look at things apples to apples when comparing different vehicles. In this class of vehicle, the CUV, not a single on in the price range of the Hornet has the engaging and enthusiast minded layout of this one. From the really thick steering wheel of relatively small diameter, the nice digital gauge layout, the aluminum trimmed pedals and more. The touch screen on the dash is easily accessible but the real win is the inclusion of actual buttons below it to make quick work of HVAC and other adjustments. Screens are cool but multiple moves to adjust the fan speed or other small work are annoying. The buttons make it quick. The massive paddle shifters behind the wheel could use a little shrinkage in our estimation. They work fine and are used to engage the Power Shot mode, but if they were half the size we’d like them better.
There’s not a lot of volume of engine under the hood but the little guy, combined with the battery and electric motor make for the best driving package in the CUV segment. With more than 30 miles of straight battery driving in EV mode and a combined range of 360 miles when run as a hybrid, you can handle all of your around town business without the engine ever coming on, if you so chose. We didn’t choose that because we loved the combined power, but it’s an option.
The sticker price of the this particular Hornet R/T Blacktop and Track Pack equipped ripper was $54,325. That may make you sweat a little but consider the fact that there are plenty of dealers out there looking to get you in one of these and also, don’t forget to look the price of other stuff in the segment that is not nearly as capable, powerful, or downright fun to drive. Good stuff tends to cost a couple extra bucks.
In closing, let’s reiterate what we said before. There is a UNIVERSE of difference between the Hornet GT and the R/T. They are the same shape, on the same chassis, but after that? It’s not even close. I came away from this little number impressed with the driving dynamics, performance, and the fact that it’s effectively the first time I have ever found myself behind the wheel of a small SUV thinking, “This is FUN!”. The Sport button makes a spicy package even hotter and Power Shot is 30hp of pure joy when you engage it.
If you are shopping the CUV segment and fail to drive this one don’t blame me. The enthusiast in you deserves it.
My wife and I are considering buying a vehicle in the next year. Unfortunately, with the loss of the Charger and 300, the pickings are getting slimmer for our needs. Our current Chrysler 300 (base V6, 170,000 miles) has been a trooper with minimal issues in 8 years.
For our grocery getter, local and long trip vehicle, there’s just not a lot of choices out there that do much for me for reasonable money…and my idea of reasonable money is probably less than most want to spend.
Cars like this seem to be forgettable, “throw away” cars to me. Like the mid-90’s cars that you never see anymore (Ford Tempo, Chevy Cavalier, Dodge Caliber, etc.)
I’m not a buy a car every 3 year guy, I’m the hold on to it and see it as an investment/commitment. Hybrids don’t feel that way to me, neither do CUV’s.
No idea what I’ll buy in the next year or so, we’ll probably look at everything, but not sure this one is too high on the list. Neat looking little car, but just not sure it fits us.
Just an old guy’s $0.02. Take it for what you will.