The Dodge Hornet Brings Brand Back to Small Cars

• The Hornet brings Dodge into the intensely competitive compact crossover segment.

• Dodge says the Hornet will make at least 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque from the 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 under the hood of GT models.

• The Dodge Hornet R/T sees a 1.3-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that makes 285 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.

Crossovers. Compact crossovers are everywhere, and it's not by accident: People love them, small and large. Looking at market trends, Dodge is throwing its hat back into the small car game with the Hornet (following the Dart's 2016 departure). Based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Dodge Hornet helps put the brand on the map for mass-market consumers but also gives CUV buyers a taste of what Dodge is about: horsepower and fun.

In base GT trim, the Dodge Hornet’s 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 sends at least 265 horsepower and 295 lb-ft through a nine-speed transmission to the standard all-wheel-drive system. Dodge hasn’t finalized the output of the base powertrain yet, but 265 hp represents almost 10 hp more than the base-model Alfa Romeo Tonale.

Dodge will also offer the Hornet with a plug-in hybrid powertrain under its R/T guise, which offers 285 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. While the 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed automatic, the hybrid power comes from a starter-generator mounted on the engine and an electric motor that feeds the rear axle. The hybrid system uses a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which can feed all-electric power for 30 miles. This hybrid also uses a push-to-pass system called PowerShot, which adds another 25 hp and shaves the 0-60 time to 6.1 seconds.

These potent powertrains might not make up for the looming Charger and Challenger departure, but they do show that Dodge still cares about straight-line performance. Though the Hornet does more than just offer hot-hatch-esque speed, it’s also looking for the right handling. The Hornet GT sports a standard set of Koni dampers, with dual-stage dampers available in the track pack. Yes, the Hornet has a track pack. Alongside the uprated dampers, the track pack features four-piston Brembo brakes and Alcantara microsuede seat inserts. If that’s not enough, the folks at Direct Connection will support a GLH kit to give your Hornet some retro Dodge flair and more aggressive styling.