Video: 2023 Dodge Hornet: Up Close

And so knowing that, Dodge built this, the Hornet SUV which focuses on what Dodge wants out of a compact SUV, power and acceleration and being fun to drive. Let's check it out. The Hornet is Dodges spin on the Alpha Romeo Tonale. In fact, it will even be built in the same Italian factory as the Alpha. And really, who can blame Dodge? The Tonale holds a lot of promise, we still haven't driven one, but a more affordable Dodge branded version makes a lot of sense. The Hornet will come in two flavors. This is the GT, it's powered by a two liter turbocharged four cylinder gas engine making 265 horsepower and 295 pounds feet of torque. Dodge says it can do zero to 60 in as little as 6.5 seconds. And this isn't the performance version. The GT will come standard with 17 inch wheels, 18 inch wheels are optional. There's also an optional track package where you can get 20 inch wheels. The GT also gets a lot of interesting features like standard all wheel drive, Koni shocks and electronic limited slip differential and more. It's a really interesting performance oriented SUV but again, not the performance version of the Hornet. The Hornet RT, the performance version, is a plugin hybrid making 285 total horsepower and 383 pounds feet of torque from its 1.3 liter turbocharged gas engine and its 90 kilowatt electric motor. 18 inch wheels are standard on the RT, and it also gets a feature called power shot which gives it an extra 25 horsepower for up to 15 seconds. And Dodge says that can get it to zero to 60 in as little as 6.1 seconds. And just for fun while it is a performance car, the RT can travel an estimated 30 miles using only electric power with its 15.5 kilowatt hour battery pack. The Hornet is offered with two option packages right now, both available on the GT and the RT. First there's a black top package, gloss black accents around the windows, the mirror caps, and the badging, as well as black 18 inch wheels. This however is the track pack, which goes a step further performance wise. We get 20 inch wheels, Brembo breaks, dual stage adaptive damping suspension, and better performance tires for more spirited driving. Inside the Hornet, it's still very much a Tonale, as much as it is outside, it is inside. There's a few differences. You don't have the DNA drive mode selector over here, and no giant gear selector paddles behind the steering wheel, but you still get the same 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster, 10.25 inch touchscreen, driver oriented cockpit angled this way. And honestly, it's not bad. It feels a little cheaper than the Tonale. It does feel more cramped than say comparable SUVs in the class, but also those aren't performance SUVs, so that's a trade off. And as we mentioned, this is the track pack. So another feature of the track pack are these Alcantara and leather sport seats with some nice red accents. And Dodge does want to let you know that you an get red leather interior in the Hornet if you want, because why wouldn't you? In the back of the Hornet, it's the same story as up front, a little bit cramped, not terrible. I can fit behind my preferred driving position. My knees are a little more elevated than I would like. Not bad, little small for the class, but again this is a more performance oriented SUV, so there are gonna be some sacrifices. Headroom is also bordering on problematic. My hair's brushing the roof line here. There is no sunroof however, in this model, which usually eats into headroom, so be wary of that when you go to the dealership. You definitely want to test that out to make sure you fit. Otherwise, comfortable, materials aren't great, not terrible. This is an auto show so this isn't necessarily the final production version, but for an SUV that Dodge says is going to start at around $30,000, not bad. The Hornet is a handsome SUV, which makes sense because the Tonale is a handsome SUV. Dodge says the Hornet will start at just under $30,000 but full pricing hasn't been released yet. The Hornet GT is available for ordering now with delivery is expected to begin in December while the Hornet RT will be delivered in spring of 2023. That $30,000 price is likely to undercut rivals it's going to sit between like the Hyundai Kona N and the Mazda CX 30 2.5 turbo. In a world where nearly everyone is playing the same game, the Hornet stands out by playing an entirely different one. For more on the Hornet and the rest of the Detroit Auto Show, be sure to check out cars.com.