However reasonably than scrap the entire assessment and fake like Stellantis by no means despatched me a crossover, I needed to assume. Why did it slip by means of the cracks within the first place? The reply was extra difficult than easy workplace procrastinating. I, together with the American automotive market have ignored the Dodge Hornet, it’s a strong dud. Why?

So, with weeks of readability and new comparability factors from driving different EV, plug-in hybrid, and even inner combustion crossovers in the marketplace, I went again to my notes from once I had the Hornet. I remembered my driving impressions and immediately understood why the crossover didn’t resonate with me, and why it didn’t resonate with most of the people.

It’s as a result of the Dodge Hornet R/T is annoying. And it’s too costly to be this annoying.

Stellantis may be the most effective within the biz at educating an previous canine new tips. The Dodge Charger and Challenger solely just lately went out of manufacturing, and each used a fundamental car platform that was launched once I was in fourth grade.

I’m now 31.

But, it labored. I’d argue that the LX platform that underpinned its iconic as soon as retro-inspired Hellcat sedan and coupe was on the prime of its sport. They might have eked at the very least one other 5 years earlier than folks complained that the chassis was previous, and even then, it nonetheless most likely would’ve printed cash.

Equally, the Dodge Hornet makes use of a really closely modified variant of the previous FCA Small-Large platform that we first noticed on the Fiat 500L. This old-as-hell platform sees service on loads of tiny (however disappearing) runabouts just like the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, and Fiat 500X. Most famously, the Hornet in Alfa Romeo Tonale with a couple of stylistic and mechanical tweaks, a lot to the chagrin of the parents at Alfa.

But, to Dodge’s credit score, the Hornet R/T feels nothing just like the form of dopey Jeep and Fiat crossovers it shares its fundamental guts.

On the entrance of the automobile sits a variant of Stellantis’s 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It feeds its energy solely by means of the entrance wheels through a six-speed torque converter automated. To offer the Hornet R/T each AWD and its PHEV capabilities, a lithium-ion battery pack feeds a rear-mounted 121 horsepower e-Axle that turns the rear wheels. So sure, when Hornet R/T is in its electric-only mode, it’s a rear-wheel drive automobile. It’s distinctive, however for those who’re a too-online weirdo who continued to look at British automobile exhibits, chances are you’ll know that is fairly much like the Peugeot Hybrid4 system it used on the primary technology Peugeot 3008. Collectively, Dodge claims 288 horsepower and as much as 383 ft/lbs of torque.

Anyhow, the Hornet R/T additionally comes with a “Powershot” mode that may add a lift of about 25 horsepower for 10 seconds, permitting the crossover to rocket to 60 mph in as little as 5.5 seconds. My R/T Plus additionally got here with the Plus Pack that added fancy Koni adjustable suspension, sporty tires and some different appearance-related goodies.

In some contexts, the Hornet could be a stellar on-road driving expertise, particularly for folk like me who get pleasure from a sporty really feel in a small bundle. Flip the driving mode into Sport, and the Hornet’s Italian DNA shines by means of. The candor of the character of the crossover in sport mode is harking back to the Fiat 500 Abarth I’ve bought at dwelling in my driveway. The 1.3-liter turbo is raspy and charmingly lumpen with respect to its energy supply, acquainted to anybody who cherished the 1.4-liter MultiAir unit in Fiat’s sporty automobiles from a couple of years in the past. The Hornet’s electrical rear axle interjects shortly to fill within the gaps from the gasoline engine, making the automobile really feel downright fast. The suspension and steering are most likely the quickest and most communicative within the compact crossover class, with pretty excessive ranges of grip and a composed chassis for being such a tall and not-so-light factor. It’s a deal with to drive.

Solely in sport mode, although. The entire level of a PHEV is to make use of the automobile’s gasoline engine as little as doable. In concept, the automobile ought to facilitate this, with a hybrid system and drive modes that make full EV miles, straightforward. But, when the Hornet is utilized in its engine-off EV mode, the Hornet’s belongings that make it a sporty drive might make it irritating as a substitute.

In EV mode, the Hornet is rear-wheel-drive. However, the Hornet has little to no traction administration on its rear axle. If the automobile senses any type of rear-wheel slip, the automobile will flip its gasoline engine on and energy the entrance wheels to right the issue. It sounds easy sufficient, however in apply, this meant {that a} snowy and wet week with the Hornet R/T meant the automobile was continually beginning its engine, and inserting itself into hybrid mode once I didn’t need it to. It’s not a clean course of both, a winter drive (albeit made worse by the automobile’s not-winter-ready tires) meant loads of begins from a cease made for the automobile fishtailing to the left solely to snap ahead after an uncomfortable delay from the automobile beginning it’s engine to get transferring ahead. The automobile would proceed on in hybrid mode with its engine working except I navigated by means of drive menus to manually put it again in electric-only mode. That’s actually annoying.

In reality, even once I didn’t have traction points the Hornet would randomly begin its engine. Throughout one PHEV vary check, the Hornet’s indicated vary randomly dropped from 4 miles left, to zero miles, prompting the automobile to start out its engine. One other time, I entered a driveway too quick, and the Hornet’s tremendous stiff suspension could have brought on a wheel to be somewhat extra unladen than regular. This triggered the automobile’s traction management, which made the automobile begin the engine.

Add within the terribly stiff trip, and the Hornet R/T is an annoying automobile to stay with.

The Dodge Hornet R/T has a 15.5 kWh battery pack (12 kWh usable), rated for 32 miles of vary. On my roughly 50/50 metropolis and freeway check loop, I bought 36.4 miles of vary earlier than the engine began. That’s a median of three.03 miles per kWh, not counting charging losses. Not unhealthy, particularly since this automobile was pushed throughout freezing temps, which is able to harm effectivity. A hotter day would have possible produced higher outcomes.

When out of EV vary, the Hornet R/T is rated for 29 MPG combined. I beat that, averaging 31 mpg combined. I suppose that isn’t unhealthy, however these numbers are almost an identical to the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid which is a a lot, a lot bigger automobile. I suppose simply leaving the automobile in “auto” mode would have elevated the automobile’s gasoline financial system score, however my aim with any PHEV can be to do as a lot engine-off driving as doable.

Like different PHEVs, the Dodge Hornet PHEV can’t DC quick cost. Nonetheless, its 7.4 kW onboard charger and small battery capability means Degree 2 charging occasions will possible be brief. Dodge claims the Hornet will go from flat to full in as little as 2.5 hours. I’d wager that the majority Hornet R/T drivers will use 110-volt Degree 1 charging. Go that route and Dodge says it is going to recharge absolutely in 7.5 hours.

In apply, the Hornet R/T labored properly. Typically, it performed properly with public degree 2 charging choices. Utilizing Degree 1 at my home, the crossover recharged from flat to full within the indicated 7.5 hours.

It’s clear that the Dodge Hornet R/T has inherited most of its inside from its upscale twin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale. After all, the Dodge Hornet doesn’t have as many soft-touch plastic items or the Tonale’s color-coded inside items. However, the remainder of the design, switches, and knobs are the identical as what you’d get within the Alfa Romeo.

That’s not a foul factor, although. The Hornet’s touchpoints really feel surprisingly good. The shifter strikes round with a strong thunk, the window switches really feel good, and the plastics all match collectively properly even when they’re all onerous, black plastic. My tester’s Alcantara seats have been well-bolstered, however the addition of the observe pack eliminated the ventilated choice.

Nonetheless, though Dodge payments the Hornet R/T as a compact crossover, its inside dimensions really feel as if its a category behind. Households could discover the Hornet’s cabin to be a bit slender and a bit comfortable in comparison with business stalwarts just like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. The rear seat feels considerably tight, made worse by the automobile’s excessive beltline and lack of inside glass. It’s an actual cave again there, people.

Like its hybrid minivan company sibling, the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, the Hornet R/T’s tech options are considerably restricted. There are some built-in charging scheduling options, a 4G LTE hotspot and Amazon Alexa, however that’s about it.

The Hornet R/T makes use of the identical U Join system making its manner throughout a lot of the Stellantis lineup. In a phrase, it’s fairly good – I personally would respect extra model and differentiation between Stellantis’s manufacturers that use the system, however as an entire, it is without doubt one of the finest within the enterprise. It’s dependable, snappy, and simple to navigate. It helps wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Nonetheless, the display screen itself is dinky. I didn’t thoughts it an excessive amount of, however the icons will be annoying to see and use since they’re somewhat bit small.

The Dodge Hornet R/T is about common for the category nowadays. It comes with Lively Driving Help, which isn’t fairly the Degree 2 semi-autonomous system but it surely does embody a couple of issues to make driving simpler. There’s a rear cross-traffic alert, a blind spot monitoring system, and lane maintain help, but it surely has pedestrian and site visitors avoidance techniques that may apply the brakes if wanted. However, it’s an non-obligatory function. Drivers who need these security gadgets should purchase the $2,245 Tech Pack Plus package.

Neither the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) nor the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) has examined the Dodge Hornet R/T.

To get the PHEV Dodge Hornet, patrons should purchase the R/T mannequin. This begins at $42,995 together with the automobile’s $1,595 vacation spot charge. The R/T Plus trim is $48,340, additionally together with the $1,595 vacation spot charge.

However, like most Stellantis autos, this automobile’s non-obligatory options are annoyingly embedded in surprisingly pricy pay-to-play choice packages. To get the swanky blacked-out badges and gloss black wheels, you’ll must go for the Blacktop bundle, which is $1,595. In the event you’re seeking an adjustable suspension, you’ll want the observe pack which is $2,595, however Dodge does supply a reduced Blacktop and Observe Pack combo for $3,590. In order for you fundamental ADAS options, you’ll want the tech bundle, which prices $2,245. In the event you needed the adjustable suspension and ventilated seats, properly that’s too unhealthy as a result of the observe bundle’s Alcantara seats aren’t ventilated. That’s annoying.

So, to get a Hornet R/T an identical to mine, which has the Observe Pack, Blacktop bundle, tech bundle, and the non-obligatory Sizzling Tamale Purple colour, you’ll want to present a Dodge seller $52,920. (Our tester had a $615 sunroof delete credit score bringing the worth right down to $52,305). Additionally, because the automobile is made in Italy, it doesn’t qualify for any purchase-level IRA plug-in tax credit. Now, you will get a $7,500 tax credit score if the Hornet R/T is leased, however I’m skeptical many patrons will go that route.

When the Dodge Hornet R/T confirmed up in my driveway, I didn’t have a look at the sticker straight away. “Oh, yeah, it’s like $35,000 I feel,” I advised a pal who was out there for a brand new plug-in car. Think about my shock to be taught the automobile was greater than $50,000.

And that’s the massive drawback: the Dodge is a really, very unhealthy deal.  At $52,305, the Hornet R/T, on this specification, is competing with automobiles from BMW, Audi, and Mini. The brand new Mini Countryman, whether or not or not it’s the gas-powered Countryman S, or electrical Countryman SE is roughly the identical worth as this Hornet R/T. And in contrast to the Hornet, I don’t assume the Mini would have a irritating driving expertise the place its vary calculator is improper or it refuses to stay in engine-off EV driving. For this worth, I want a better-executed product.

If Dodge have been to chop the worth, and they’re, as evidenced by studies of staggering on-the-lot reductions, I might perceive why some could possibly be taken in by the Hornet’s trendy physique and charming driving dynamics. Nonetheless, at its present worth with no incentives, nearly another SUV from another model can be a greater deal.

And that’s actually, actually annoying.

Contact the writer: kevin.williams@insideevs.com