Dodge has revealed the main specs for its 2023 Hornet CUV, and they are offering a vehicle with classic muscle car power for less than $30,000.
News of the new Dodge Hornet in 2022 brought much excitement. And now Dodge has unveiled the full list of specifications on the new Hornet, billing it as the most powerful CUV underneath the $30,000 barrier. Another big focus point for Dodge is how this car is bringing a new gateway to Dodge muscle. IE, bringing muscle car like performance to the SUV world, while also costing less than your typical Dodge Challenger and Charger which are on their way out.
The new Hornet offers an array of powertrain options such as ICE and hybrid, with an electric version on the way for 2024. The Hornet also sports some impressive looks, and its near 300 hp means that this car is quite close to classic Dodge muscle cars in the power department. Dodge may have produced a winner.
How Much Does The 2023 Dodge Hornet Cost?
A big advertising campaign for the Dodge Hornet got us all excited, and now it is finally here. The question on everyone’s lips is just how much does the Hornet cost. Well, that depends on the variant. But the base 2023 Hornet GT is the cheapest. Dodge have said that the Hornet GT will cost the consumer under $30,000 excluding those destination charges. Heading onto the configurator sees the Hornet GT listed at $30,590. So Dodge isn’t revealing exactly how much that under $30k price is, although some outlets reported earlier this year that the base price was $29,995. Naturally though this goes up if choose a higher trim with the Hornet.
There are more trim levels to the Hornet, such as the $35,490 GT Plus. At the moment, the Hornet R/T Performance Hybrid is not yet on the pricing ladder but you can expect that to cost a fair bit more than the GT Trim. What you do get with the entry level GT though is a 268 hp engine that also has 295 lb-ft of torque. Nearly 300 hp for a car costing less than $30,000 with the mean looks of the Hornet is incredibly impressive. Very much bringing it into classic muscle car territory.
The 2023 Hornet Is As Powerful As Classic Dodge Muscle Cars
The first generation of the Dodge Charger came out in 1966, with the base engine back then a 318-cubic inch V8. This was good enough for 245 hp, less than the 2023 Hornet. The next level up, the 361-cubic inch V8 engine produced 265 hp. It wasn’t until the 383 four-barrel V8 that the Charger is more powerful than the Hornet, at 325 hp. It is a long way from the sometimes nearly 800 hp levels of modern Dodge Chargers. While the 1966 Dodge Charger was not the greatest in the muscle car’s history, the 2023 Hornet GT stacks up very impressively against what is still a muscle car classic.
The Hornet GT gets its power from the Hurricane4 turbo engine. This is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, as well as stop-start technology. This gives it the 268 hp that allows it to beat two versions of the 1966 Dodge Charger. Dodge are quick to point out that the Hornet GT is the industry’s quickest and most powerful utility vehicle below the $30,000 price tag. A nine-speed automatic transmission makes the power flow as seamlessly as possible. Dodge though are not stopping there.
Hybrid Power Adds Extra Choice For Hornet Customers
While the base level Hornet GT offers plenty of power, Dodge are also introducing the Hornet R/T Performance Hybrid. Dodge claims that this allows the Hornet to produce a segment leading 288 hp, with 383 lb-ft of torque. Under the hood this time is a 1.3-liter turbocharged all-aluminum engine. The 90 kW electric motor can offer more than 30 miles of all-electric range, with the power optimized further with a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This extra option for the consumer means there is plenty of choice within the Hornet range, and a hybrid offering is a good way of future-proofing the Hornet.
We don’t have a word yet on the price of the hybrid Dodge Hornet. The configurator currently just shows the GT and GT Plus, while Dodge hasn’t released a price yet in its press releases. However, don’t expect those numbers to be too far away.
Dodge’s Hornet R/T Will Electrify The Range
Something else to look forward too with the Hornet is the 2024 Hornet R/T. This is what Dodge are calling the “Head of hive” model, and it is an electrified version of the Hornet. Dodge have said very little about this version other than it will feature an on-demand PowerShot feature. This will deliver a burst of 30 hp, bringing the 0-60 mph time down by 1.5 seconds from the 5.6 second standard time. While this model isn’t coming until 2024, the Hornet GT still offers plenty for the consumer. A CUV with classic muscle car performance is exciting, and it looks like the range will have plenty of options for everyone.
Source: Stellantis
