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About Hornet

The Dodge Hornet was meant to bring new buyers into a brand known for muscle cars. Introduced for the 2023 model year, it was a compact crossover built in Italy alongside its twin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and it borrowed a name from the Hudson and AMC Hornets of decades past. Dodge marketed it with a performance spin, promising an affordable entry to the brand with more spirit than the average small SUV, and it briefly became one of the brand's best-selling models.

Two versions were offered: the GT, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the R/T, a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor that added extra power and a short electric-only driving range. Reviewers praised its handling and the R/T's quick acceleration but criticized its price, which was high for the segment, its cramped back seat and its interior quality. Sales started well, helped by incentives, but the Hornet struggled to stand out in a crowded field of compact crossovers from Japanese and Korean brands.

Its Italian production proved its undoing. When tariffs on imported vehicles rose, the Hornet's costs climbed, Stellantis paused production for the next model year, and Dodge then confirmed that the model was discontinued, citing changes in the policy environment. The Alfa Romeo Tonale continued, but Dodge was left with only the Charger and Durango in its lineup. Owners continue to receive warranty coverage and parts support, and remaining inventory was sold off.

Because the Hornet is no longer built, the stories collected here are mostly about its afterlife and its lessons: reviews of the last model years, recall notices, used-car values and the trade decisions that ended its run. Watch for news on whether Dodge brings back a smaller, more affordable model to fill the hole it left, and for updates on the Tonale and other Stellantis vehicles built in Italy for American buyers. Used shoppers, meanwhile, may find a quick plug-in hybrid at a price that the original sticker never came close to.