2023 Dodge Hornet GT First Drive

My day driving the 2023 Dodge Hornet around Asheville, North Carolina, began with an R/T Track Pack model, which blew my mind with the impressive combination of performance and hybrid function, but the second half of my day was spent in a GT Plus model. My 2023 Hornet GT Plus test vehicle was outfitted in Blu Bayou with the Blacktop package, adding the black badging, black mirror caps and black 18-inch wheels on the outside. Inside, my Hornet GT had the black leather seats with red contrasting trim, which is the standard look for the GT Plus package.

There are two key areas where the Hornet GT shown here differed from the R/T in which I started my day with the new Dodge compact crossover. The first being the drivetrain and the second being the handling attributes of the new Hornet without the optional Track Pack package.

Hornet GT Power in Action

The GT is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that offers 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with the power being channeled to all four wheels by means of a 9-speed automatic and a traditional all-wheel-drive system. For reference, the R/T is a plug-in hybrid model that has a turbocharged 1.3-liter engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, while the rear wheels are powered by an electric motor. With the Hornet GT using a traditional front-wheel-drive-based system, it has an acceleration feel like other front-drive CUVs. This system only sends power to the rear wheels as needed, so when you are cruising down the highway, it is functioning as a front-wheel-drive vehicle to improve fuel economy. The Hornet GT quickly reminds you that it is front-wheel-drive when you attempt a hard launch from a stop, as the turbocharged engine will spin the front tires for a brief instant until the all-wheel-drive system transfers some power to the rear wheels for added grip.

That bit of wheelspin helps to emphasize how quickly the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine roars up into the powerband, with the 9-speed gearbox shifting quickly, helping the compact Hornet sprint from a stop to 60 miles per hour in just 6.5 seconds with a sporty tone from the exhaust system. However, when you are not pushing the Hornet hard, the transmission gets from gear to gear smoothly, with the turbocharged engine quietly doing its job as efficiently as possible. When the need arises to suddenly put all of the available power to the ground, putting the throttle to the floor gets the transmission to jump down several gears, engine speed soars, boost levels peak and the Hornet GT climbs up over triple digits in a hurry.

While this model isn’t quite as powerful as the R/T PHEV, the GT is about 400 pounds lighter, so with the quick-shifting transmission, it feels just as sporty as the hybrid – albeit with a distinct front-drive feel. In fact, when pushing the Hornet GT to its limits in tight turns, it feels lighter on its toes and a bit more nimble, even without the added advantages of the R/T Track Pack – which is the second key difference between my first two Hornet test vehicles.

Sporty Handling is Standard

The Blu Bayou 2023 Hornet GT shown here does not have the Track Pack like the R/T I drove earlier in the day. That package adds Brembo brakes, adjustable dampers and 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport performance tires, improving every area of handling. Of course, GT buyers can add the Track Pack and get the premium handling goodies, but even with the standard mechanical features, the Hornet GT offers a higher fun-to-drive factor than the competitors in the segment.

The main reason that the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT handles so well is the Koni sport-tuned dampers, offering the perfect mix of ride quality and handling. This suspension setup isn’t quite as stiff as the Track Pack dampers, but they still do a nice job of keeping the car planted when carving through the corners while offering a slightly smoother ride. I would say that it is obvious that the suspension of the Hornet GT is intended to offer a sporty ride, especially compared to the dull, numb handling of the competitors, but unlike some sport models that lose ride quality, there is no compromise in comfort with the new compact Dodge. The Hornet is also surprisingly quiet when you are cruising down the open road, so the standard suspension system really does a nice job of keeping any imperfections in the road surface out of the cabin.

As for the braking system, the standard disc brake package that comes on all non-Track Pack Dodge Hornet models features big 12-inch rotors up front, leading to solid stopping power during stints of spirited driving. Even during repeated hard stops on a twisty North Carolina country road, there was no pedal fade or other signs of the standard brakes being overworked or overheating, even when I was driving the Hornet much harder than the average buyer would ever consider.

If you really want the best possible performance out of your 2023 Dodge Hornet GT Plus, you should seriously consider the Track Pack, but that is not essential for the turbocharged CUV to offer loads of fun-to-drive factor. The quick-revving engine and the quick-shifting transmission work together to allow the Hornet GT great acceleration from a dig and through the mid-range, while the standard Koni suspension setup offers a combination of handling and ride quality that is unrivaled by the competition.

The Dodge Hornet GT and GT Plus are the first models that will reach dealerships, with the first wave of deliveries planned for this month. This means that anyone interested in test driving a new Hornet will be able to experience the vehicle discussed here very soon. If you are considering a compact crossover and you want something that is actually fun to drive, the Dodge Hornet is really the only option in the segment. When you add in the standard 10.25-inch infotainment system, standard leather on most models and a surprisingly roomy cabin for a vehicle with such a small exterior footprint, the 2023 Dodge Hornet is the most engaging and enjoyable option in the booming segment.

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