The Cheapest New Dodge Model Also Has the Best Gas Mileage
Dodge is a well-known American automaker, but despite its name recognition, the company doesn’t actually have that many cars in its lineup right now. Dodge is aware of that, and the automaker plans to expand its lineup in the next few years. In fact, the cheapest new Dodge model also happens to offer the best gas mileage out of any Dodge car.
A look at the few cars in Dodge’s current lineup
Dodge is well-known for its legendary muscle cars, and unsurprisingly, muscle cars continue to dominate the automaker’s lineup. The Challenger is the company’s two-door muscle car. It starts at just under $31,000 and comes with a 3.6-liter V6 with 303 horsepower. That standard engine gets 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on highways, for 24 mpg combined.
Then there’s the Charger, which is larger than the Challenger as it’s a four-door muscle car. It starts at just over $32,500 and comes with a 3.6-liter V6 that gets 292 hp. This engine delivers the same fuel economy as the Challenger’s standard engine. Since both the Charger and the Challenger are muscle cars, Dodge gave them similar engine options. For example, they both can get a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that gets 807 hp.
The Durango is the automaker’s most expensive car, and it’s a midsize SUV with three rows of seats. It has a base price tag of $38,500, and the company gave it some powerful engines. It starts with a 3.6-liter V6 that gets 295 hp, allowing the SUV to get 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on highways, for 23 mpg combined. Dodge also offers a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, bumping power to 710 hp.
The 2023 Dodge Hornet is the newest car in the lineup
The cheapest car in Dodge’s lineup is also the newest. The Hornet debuts for the 2023 model year and has a starting price tag of about $30,500. That makes it a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Challenger. Like other cars in the company’s lineup, the Hornet has powerful powertrain options. Dodge offers a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that gets 265 hp and a 1.3-liter PHEV powertrain that gets 285 hp.
There currently isn’t official fuel economy data for the PHEV option, but its battery should allow drivers to go 30 miles in battery-only mode. According to Detroit News, Dodge expects the PHEV to get about 70 MPGe when it’s rated. The automaker also released data about the gas-powered 2.0-liter, and it gets 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways, for 25 mpg combined. That’s a better fuel economy than the other cars in the lineup, with the optional PHEV trims likely to offer even better gas mileage.
The future of Dodge is electric
The Dodge Hornet’s PHEV powertrain is currently unique in the automaker’s lineup as other Dodge vehicles are far from fuel efficient. Like many other automakers, Dodge is moving away from gas-powered cars and toward an electric future. Its current plan is to discontinue the Challenger and Charger and reintroduce them as electric muscle cars.
The Charger Daytona SRT EV is a concept car, but it points to the direction the automaker is driving toward. That said, there isn’t a rigid timeline for the company to reintroduce its legendary muscle cars as EVs. The company also hasn’t provided many details about its upcoming slate. The only fact known is that Dodge has more new hybrid and electric cars in development other than EV versions of the Charger and Challenger.
