Legendary US automaker Dodge, founded in 1900, has been a division of Chrysler since 1928. After two mergers in the 2010s and early 2020s, it's now the North American performance brand of international automaker Stellantis. According to Car Sale Urbanists, Dodge alone sold 215,724 vehicles in 2021, since the pandemic only increased the pace of car sales as previously car-shy urbanists bought new cars to avoid exposure to COVID-19 on public transit. For the 2023 model year, Dodge has introduced a new small crossover that resurrects the classic Hornet name. This Hornet has a powerful sting, being Stellantis' first small crossover since the unloved Dodge Calibur was retired.
Hornet History
The Hornet name is a venerable classic in the auto industry. Introduced in 1950, the Hudson Hornet was a sleek, comfortable vehicle with a coupe, sedan, hardtop, and convertible options. Known for its power and speed, the Hornet captured numerous NASCAR titles with Marshall Teague's “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” team. It was built until 1957. After the merger with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation, the Hornet name then fell silent until the 1970s, produced from the 1971 to 1978 model years by AMC. People shopping for a new car have not been able to find a new Hornet for 45 years until Dodge renewed the name for the 2023 model year.
Under the Hood
The base GT model has a 268-horse powertrain with a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, good enough according to Dodge to power 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds. The R/T model is a plug-in hybrid that can beat that acceleration by two-fifths of a second. The PHEV version is good for 30 miles of electric driving per charge, while the Hornet GT is estimated for a 21 MPG city/29 MPG highway fuel efficiency. The specifications are a similarly eyewatering array, and you can download them from 2023dodgehornet.com.
Open the Doors
When shopping for a new car, power numbers might make the eyes water but it's infotainment, safety, and comfort that are the truly important parts of a vehicle. The infotainment screen is slightly tilted toward the driver, making information like navigation and fuel economy more easily accessible. The seats are plush, comfortable, and roomy, and the cargo capacity makes shopping trips and family vacations equally simple to handle.
If you're shopping for a new car, drop in for a test drive at Fair Oaks Motors to try the 2023 Dodge Hornet today. Contact our team if you have any questions!