Dodge Hornet

Lore & Background

The Dodge Hornet name is a legacy trademark originating with the Hudson Hornet (1951–1957), a full-size car that gained fame for its dominance in NASCAR stock car racing in the early 1950s. After the merger of Hudson and Nash to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), the name was applied to their compact car line (1970–1977). Chrysler Corporation acquired AMC in 1987, gaining ownership of the Hornet trademark. The name appeared in 2006 for the Dodge Hornet concept car, a small five-door mini-MPV. In 2020, FCA (Stellantis) submitted an application to reserve the names 'Dodge Hornet' and 'Hornet'.

The Hornet was revealed in August 2022 as a 2023 model year vehicle. Its exterior design was led by Jeff Gale, son of former Chrysler design executive Tom Gale. The Hornet was offered in four trim levels: GT, GT Plus, R/T (plug-in hybrid), and R/T Plus. GT trims used a 2.0 L I4 engine with a nine-speed automatic producing 268 hp, while the R/T trim featured dual electric motors mated to a 1.3 L I4 and a six-speed automatic for 288 hp. The Hornet R/T had an electric range of over 30 miles. The GT could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, while the R/T with 'PowerShot' mode achieved 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.

Minor changes for 2025 included redesigned LED headlights and two new exterior colors. The Track package added steering-wheel shift paddles. A Car and Driver road test of a GT Plus resulted in 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The 2025 R/T trim received an extended electric range, and a new 11.5-inch infotainment touchscreen debuted on Plus trims. Despite American badging, the Hornet was produced in Italy alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Motor Trend noted that to keep prices low, Dodge reduced content in some areas. The imposition of a 25% import tariff in July 2025 led to the suspension of Hornet production in August 2025. In September 2025, Dodge head Matt McAlear said 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.

Reader's Guide

The Dodge Hornet represents a notable attempt by the brand to re-enter the compact SUV segment after the discontinuation of the Dodge Nitro in 2011. As Dodge's first plug-in hybrid and first all-new model since 2011, it marked a shift toward electrification for the brand. Its production in Italy as a rebadged Alfa Romeo Tonale highlighted Stellantis's platform-sharing strategy, offering a lower-priced alternative to the Tonale in North America. The Hornet's discontinuation after only three model years was driven by slow sales and the impact of a 25% import tariff imposed in July 2025, which made continued production uneconomical. The Hornet also spawned a rally variant, the Hornet R/T FC1-X, developed for the Nitrocross series in partnership with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. This car shared only the headlights and grille with the production crossover, featuring four axial flux electric motors producing 1072 hp and capable of 0 to 60 mph in 1.4 seconds. The Hornet GLH concept and planned production model continued the legacy of the Dodge Omni GLH and Shelby GLH-S from the 1980s, though the GLH model's production was announced for late 2025 as a 2026 model, after the Hornet's discontinuation had already been announced.

Did You Know?

• The Hornet R/T FC1-X rally car produces 1072 hp and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 1.4 seconds.
• The Hornet name originated with the Hudson Hornet, which dominated NASCAR in the early 1950s.
• The Hornet was Dodge's first plug-in hybrid vehicle.