One of the secrets of the auto industry is that car manufacturers often partner up on technology and even underlying components. The dashboard of a Toyota model might be designed by Mazda, for example, or a VW might share an engine component or even seats with its sleek Audi big brother. In the same way, Stellantis has been re-badging Alfa Romeo vehicles for the American market under the Dodge brand. One of their best pairings is the long-dormant Dodge Hornet model, which has a lot in common with the Alfa Romeo Tonale.
As a long-time fan of Italian car design, I've always had a soft spot for Alfa Romeo. It might not be quite as fabled as Lamborghini or Ferrari, but it still has cachet here in the States. Problem is, it's a tiny model by sales here in the USA (12K total, with the Giulia and Stelvio accounting for almost 10K of those sales). Solution? Rebadge it as a Dodge, a company that sells far more vehicles. In 2023, Dodge sold over 9,000 Hornets, split between the GT and the R/T electric.
With that background, I was enthused when Stellantis offered me a week behind the wheel of the 2024 Dodge Hornet GT with Track Pack & Blacktop AWD sedan. With its Blue Steele exterior and black interior, it looked sexy and Italian before I even unlocked the doors:
The double-slash of the Dodge is almost lost on the front grill design, but there's so much to appreciate with this stylish compact SUV. The wheels are worthy of note too: How many small SUVs have the brake calipers painted bright red in a racing style? The air scoops on the sides of the front help with engine cooling, which is useful with its zippy 2.0L I4 DOHC "Hurricane 4" Engine. In fact, it's a really fun drive because it's so responsive, particularly on tight curves, but I'll come back to that in a little bit.
For now, let's slip into the driver's seat to check out the dashboard:
No weird buttons or steering column sticks for this gearshift, this is a classic forward/backward shift with a big, comfortable handle. In fact, you can slide it left from the "D" drive position and manually change gears if you want, but you can also just rely on the 9-speed automatic transmission. For a modern vehicle there were surprisingly few buttons, actually, so few that I never did figure out how to open the rear hatch from the driver's seat. I'm sure there's a button somewhere, but... :-)
The infotainment system was a very pleasing size at 10.25-inches, running the usual Stellantis Uconnect. Sadly, no Italian details, no Alfa personality at all, actually, just a clean, functional system that includes CarPlay and Android Auto. Powered by Harmon Kardon, the stock sound system also sounded great (though to be honest, I mostly listen to audiobooks while I drive, not head-banging classic rock).
The steering wheel controls were functional and pleasingly symmetric, though I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to change the 12-3-inch digital instrument cluster info area with these controls when I first drove the Hornet GT. The real winner here is the placement of the SPORT button on the lower left. It's not labeled "NOS" like in Fast & Furious, but it's certainly a nod to the popular street racing franchise. And it does give the vehicle more pep in sport mode, though there's no nitrous oxide suddenly flowing through the engine, sorry to report.
Speaking of the main gauge display, it was at its best when in "map" mode, spreading the map across almost the entire surface:
No speedometer, no tachometer, discrete oil temperature and fuel gauges, there was lots to like about this almost austere fully digital display. In terms of fuel efficiency, for a sporty compact SUV, the Hornet GT did okay with 23.6 miles per gallon. The EPA rating is 21/29 (a surprisingly big spread) but I surmise it's difficult to hit that 29mpg without being completely focused on optimal fuel efficiency en route.
I've already mentioned the gear shift, and up close, it's as simple and straightforward as you would hope. A few safety feature buttons are incorporated into the area too, but in this instance, the standout element is the volume control which I'll call a scroll wheel for lack of a better name. I really like these thoughtful interface elements but will note that it ends up hidden behind the shifter when actually in motion. If you forget it's there, another volume control is on the steering wheel and yet another on the entertainment system itself. Sometimes redundancy is good with a user interface.
One of the best features are the front seats, which I found a bit narrow but quite comfortable. They look great and are part of the GT Blacktop + Track Pack Bundle, known as the Alcantara Non-Vented Seats with Red Accents. Whatever their name, it's the first time I shared a photo of the front seats for a vehicle writeup!
Speaking of seats, rear legroom was pretty typical for this class of vehicle; lacking. Slide up the front seats and you can offer some rear legroom, but it'd be a very cozy fit for four or five adults, no question:
Like so many vehicles in this class, however, I feel that perhaps the 2024 Dodge Hornet GT should really be considered a two seater plus space for kids and pets. There is decent space in the back, including a neat cutout for skis and other longer items:
I realize it looks a bit shallow due to depth of field in the above, but it's a good size for even an enthused Costco run. The pass-thru box is hidden behind a pull-down armrest on the back bench that will undoubtedly be popular with the smaller folk who might be back there on a road trip.
Finally, whether you look at the above and think "Alfa Romeo Tonale" or Dodge Hornet GT, there's a lot to like with this sporty compact SUV, from its zippy drive to many safety and drive refinements. There are some quirks you'll need to accept, including the lack of a rear hatch opener and inability to utilize the super helpful surround view camera system without tapping on the infotainment screen to move to the correct spot, but they're minor compared to the excellent style and solid drive experience. Made in Italy and Poland (it's 0% made in USA/Canada) the Hornet is one to check out, particularly if you want a sporty drive with all the conveniences of a smaller SUV.
2024 Dodge Hornet GT plus Track Pack and Blacktop AWD, powered by a 2.0L i4 DOHC "Hurricane 4" Engine and 9-speed transmission. BASE PRICE: $36,400. Options included: Blue Steele Paint, Tech Pack Plus (without park assist), GT Blacktop and Track Pack Bundle. AS DRIVEN: $44,825.
Disclaimer: Dodge loaned me the Hornet GT for a week in return for this candid writeup. This article originally appeared on PlanetDave with the title 2024 Dodge Hornet GT: Sleek, Zippy and Fun!.
