Test Driving the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT

At Car Talk, we are the lucky few who get to test drive new vehicles every week or so. The manufacturers trust our expertise and our knowledge enough to let us drive around in their new cars, trucks and SUVs and then write about our experiences. Here is what we thought of test driving the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT Plus.

What We Liked:

Styling: The Dodge Hornet has upscale styling. If it looks out of place in a Dodge showroom, that’s because its based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but we’re not complaining. This thing looks goooood.

Steering and Handling: The Hornet’s Alfa Romeo roots shine through in its steering and handling. Steering is responsive and goes right up to the edge of being twitchy without going over. Handling is zippy – this is one of the rare compact SUVs that’s fun to take on curvy roads.

Interior Styling: Most all-black car interiors look bland, but the Hornet’s red stitching and red highlights in the seat backs and bottoms make it stylish.

Tech: The Hornet has Stellantis’s UConnect infotainment system, which is intuitive. We know most drivers will use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but UConnect is still a great system for climate control and for when you’ve forgotten your phone.

What We Didn't Like:

Acceleration: The Hornet’s acceleration just doesn’t match its handling. With 268 horsepower, it’s not exactly slow, but getting up to freeway speed just isn’t as much fun as taking corners.

Ventilated Seats: We tested the Hornet during a heat wave, and normally the ventilated seats would have been welcome. However, the fans in the seats were so loud, we couldn’t hear passengers in the backseat – and they were being pretty loud. The sound was so annoying we ended up turning the ventilation off and just sweating.