The Dodge Hornet GT Makes 265 HP and Has an LSD

Dodge has announced its first all-new product in a decade, the new Hornet compact SUV. The Hornet, a corporate sibling of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, debuts as the most powerful crossover available for under $30,000.

That's true whether you opt for the gasoline-powered GT or the plug-in-hybrid R/T. The GT comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo that makes over 265 hp. The plug-in is even more potent, with a claimed output of over 285 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Its powertrain uses a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor at the rear axle. It's not quite as powerful as the 302-hp Toyota RAV4 Prime, but the Toyota starts at a smidge over $40,000.

Total electric range from the plug-in's 15.4-kWh battery stands at 30 miles, again a bit behind the Toyota with its 42-mile range. But Dodge is clearly trying to market the Hornet as the enthusiast choice, highlighting a function called PowerShot that summons an extra 25 hp for a temporary boost. Dodge says the function reduces the 0-60 time of the Hornet R/T by nearly a second, allowing it to hit the magic number in 6.1 seconds. In Car and Driver testing, a RAV4 Prime accomplished the same in 5.4 seconds without a time-limited overboost. The gas-powered Hornet GT should hit 60 in 6.5 seconds, per Dodge. Dodge notes that no gas engine in the segment makes more power.