Test bench | Dodge Hornet: a dose of sportiness

(Asheville, North Carolina) Resurrected as an SUV, the Hornet gets a dose of sportiness to get noticed.

Eric LeFrancois

special collaboration

live and survive

Dodge, an American manufacturer more than a century old, is preparing to play what looks very much like a jack-of-all-trades. On this model depends the maintenance in orbit of Dodge within the Stellantis galaxy.

Quick, quick, let’s turn the page! Ten years after the failure of the Dart – its last real novelty – Dodge is coming back to the fore with the Hornet. An SUV – are we surprised? – which the American brand has developed jointly with Alfa Romeo. The collaboration may seem surprising, but the positioning of these two companies is nonetheless similar (high performance and sportsmanship) in the eyes of their respective customers.

Performance at an affordable price

Although its aura has faded significantly, Dodge belongs to the restricted circle of major automobile brands. Wasn’t it Dodge who was the first to woo (awkwardly) the fairer sex with La Femme? Wasn’t it also Dodge, with the Caravan this time, which launched the minivan segment in North America? And didn’t the Dakota start the midsize pickup category?

But Dodge is also and above all a story of (high) performance. From the Charger Daytona of the years 1969-1970, the first to cross the 320 km/h mark in NASCAR competitions. And what about the Viper or the maddening versions of the Challenger? They all embody the current mission of the brand: “to offer raw performance at an affordable price”.

“Belle et bum” on four wheels

The Hornet presents itself as an attempt to reconnect with the great years of the brand. The first impression ? She’s pretty good.

With its two (functional) air intakes on the hood and pleated headlights ready to defy the road, the front end cultivates the bad boy side associated with Dodge.

In profile, the short overhangs and the barely raised chassis make up a whole that inspires empathy. From the rear now, its designers invoke the Durango, but it looks a bit like a Porsche Macan. True to the tradition of the brand, the colors are of the pop genre.

The passenger compartment, rather cramped for the category, plays on its side with color contrasts to hide the low number of storage spaces and the lack of softness of the bench seat. The file of this pin at its top three headrests which interfere with rear vision. The reversing camera and blind spot sensors do not solve everything. The driving position, on the other hand, does not bear any particular criticism, nor does the ergonomics of the controls and the user-friendliness of the infotainment system. On the other hand, in terms of presentation, the Hornet does not prove to be as rewarding as a Mazda CX-5, its main target. The plastics are generally of good quality, even certain details remain to be perfected, even to be refined.

driving machine

The new Dodge prefers to base its difference on the power of its mechanics and its dynamic behavior rather than running after versatility or after illusory off-road skills.

Produced in Italy, at the same time as its alter ego the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet is available in two flavors. The more accessible of the two, the GT, raises its hood to a turbocharged 2 L which is paired with a nine-speed gearbox. A duo that delivers its finest performances as long as you fill it with super fuel, which it does not save.

Raised by a few millimeters, calmer to drive and offering a slightly larger trunk, the GT should see its sales be much lower than those of the R/T, predicts its manufacturer. He believes that the R / T version with a rechargeable hybrid drive will be the most popular. Able to travel some 50 km in electric mode, this torque-rich power unit is also eligible for government rebates ($10,000).

Just as there are vehicles “to live”, there are vehicles “to drive”, and the Hornet is one of them. It negotiates the curves imperturbably and handles with all the more ease as its mechanics do not fall into excess of impetuosity.

The horses are not lacking in grip, but do not overthrow everything in their path. On board the R/T in particular, where the additional 300 kg generated by the presence of the hybrid hardware are more felt.

Faced with the swarm of soulless SUVs on the market, many will gladly welcome this SUV with its very frank reactions. The steering, lively and properly weighted, largely contributes to the pleasure that one experiences at the controls of this Dodge. It also benefits from a very sharp front axle and a frame that is rigid enough to contain body movements. On the other hand, some will regret the dryness of the suspensions (R/T) and the improvisation of the nine-speed gearbox (GT). One will hold one and the other responsible for the weak soundproofing of the cabin and one will criticize the hoarse voice of their respective propellant. This last aspect, promises Dodge, is about to be corrected. “This vehicle has to look like a Dodge, drive like a Dodge,” say its designers. It must also roar like a Dodge, right?

Technical sheet

Engine

• (GT) L4 DOHC 2.0L turbo: 268 hp (with premium gasoline), 295 lb-ft of torque
• (R/T) L4 DOHC 1.3L turbo/plug-in hybrid: 288 hp, 388 lb-ft of torque

Performance

• Curb weight: 1600 kg (GT), 1875 kg (R/T)
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 6.5s (GT), 5.6s (R/T)
• Towing capacity: 907 kg

Gearbox

• Standard: 9-speed automatic (GT), 6-speed automatic (R/T)
• Optional: none
• Drive mode: all-wheel drive

Tires

• 215/60R17 (GT)
• 225/55R18 (R/T)
• 235/40R20 (with track pack)

Tank capacity and recommended gasoline

• 51L (GT)
• 42L (R/T)
• Ordinary

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 2636mm, length: 4528mm, height: 1601mm¹width: 2082mm²

1. 1620mm for GT
2. exterior mirrors included

The origins of the name

Older readers will no doubt remember the Hornet from the time when it defended the colors of AMC (American Motor Corporation), a company founded in 1954. Renault bought it in 1979 and then sold it, eight years later. later, at Chrysler. As for the Hornet, it had disappeared from the automotive landscape several years earlier. Presented in 1969, this compact had a career between 1970 and 1977. Its modular platform was dressed in several different bodies (sedan, coupé, wagon) and gave birth to several other vehicles of the brand, including the Gremlin. Chrysler came up with the idea of ​​resurrecting the Hornet in the 2000s as a subcompact. This project never saw the light of day.

Show your muscles

As evidenced by this conceptual version of the Hornet, Dodge officials have an idea in mind. Called GLH (Goes Like Hell), this hypertrophied version of the Hornet will include several sets to enhance its performance. In addition to specific skins, this Hornet GLH will offer, among other things, its buyers to modify the engine and transmission mapping. These transformations will be covered by the warranty, provided that they are carried out by an authorized technician of the brand.