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Update: According to Dodge, the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT opened for orders in mid-August 2022 and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2022. The Dodge Hornet R/T is scheduled to arrive in spring 2023.

The small crossover segment is very popular these days, and Dodge aims to capitalize on this with the new 2023 Dodge Hornet. Also, considering that Dodge will end production of the Durango SUV in 2024, the automaker needs a new model to fill out its lineup. Find out what we think about the 2023 Dodge Hornet so far.

2023 Dodge Hornet specs: Same powertrain options as the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale?

Man standing next to a silver Dodge Hornet concept, highlighting release date and price of 2023 Dodge Hornet
Dodge Hornet concept | Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Car and Driver speculates that the 2023 Dodge Hornet might have the same two powertrain options as the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale. The first powertrain option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine, which is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its output is 256 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The second powertrain option is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It combines a 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four-cylinder at the front wheels with a 121-hp electric motor at the rear wheels — for a total system output of 273 hp. With its plug-in hybrid system, which is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Tonale PHEV provides an estimated 30 miles of electric-only driving range. 

All Tonale models feature an all-wheel drive system, but it’s unknown if this will be the case for the Hornet. Also, the Hornet might also offer a less powerful base engine. This would make the Hornet, a mainstream model, more affordable than the more luxury-orientated Tonale.

2023 Dodge Hornet design: What does it look like?

Dodge first unveiled the Hornet concept back in 2006. The automaker originally planned on releasing a production version of the Hornet in 2010, but following the 2009 financial crisis, Dodge dropped the Hornet.

Given the time that’s elapsed since then, Dodge decided to go back to the drawing board for the 2023 Hornet. While Dodge did not release any official images or video of the 2023 Hornet, spy shots from an Alfa Romeo factory in Italy showed a Hornet with a front end and interior with nearly the same design as the 2023 Tonale. Differences between the two models include reshaped headlights, a Dodge badge on the steering wheel, and added vents. 

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Mark Putzer

With seven years of experience writing in the automotive industry prior to joining MotorBiscuit in 2021, Mark’s work can be found on dealership websites across North America. A Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison sent Mark into the wilderness for environmental studies. Here, he discovered a passion for driving off-road trucks and SUVs off the beaten path.

During his extensive international travels, Mark developed an affinity for foreign cars and international automotive markets. Inspired by the industry-wide push toward environmentally-friendly EVs and hybrids, Mark covers topics about recent advances in the automotive industry, in addition to everything from off-road concepts to emerging EV technology.