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The new Dodge Hornet R/T boasts a hybrid engine, handsome looks, a sporty cabin, and plenty of technology features.

With rising gas prices and emission rates, companies are trying hard to offer buyers fuel-efficient cars with both powerful and efficient powertrains. Dodge has finally launched its first hybrid vehicle to keep up with fuel efficiency and meet emission standards without compromising power. However, the shift towards hybridization of engines is a nightmare for Mopar fans and Dodge.

Nevertheless, the future seems to be all-electric until some fancy technology like hydrogen-powered automobiles becomes mainstream. Dodge has amused us with two major pieces of news this week. The first one was the introduction of the electric charger, and the second was the introduction of their first compact SUV, the Hornet.

Who'd have thought Dodge would go electric or launch a small SUV? *Sighs* The Dodge Hornet will be offered in two trims: the Hornet GT and the R/T Hybrid. Today let's talk about the Dodge Hornet R/T Hybrid CUV and find out whether Dodge has done enough to stand up in the segment.

Related: Here's What We Know About Dodge's Plans For An Electric Muscle Car

The Hornet R/T is powered by a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and a 120-hp electric motor. This unit is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and an all-wheel-drive system. With both the engine and electric motor activated, the Hornet’s hybrid engine offers 285 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of twist.

The Hornet R/T also comes equipped with a 15.5 kWh battery to offer an all-electric range of up to 30 miles. Dodge will provide a 7.4 kW Level-2 battery charger, which will charge the battery in 4.5 hours. For recharging, the braking system comes equipped with a regenerative braking function.

The Hornet R/T features the "PowerShot" feature, which once activated, offers 25 horsepower extra for 15 seconds, helping the Hornet R/T hit 0-60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. The Hornet R/T offers three different driving modes.

The Hybrid Mode takes advantage of both the engine and electric motor to optimize fuel economy and squeeze out maximum power. Once in electric mode, the car offers a range of up to 30 miles and offers more power when needed. The E-Save mode propels the car with the power produced by the engine.

Dodge has equipped the Hornet R/T with plenty of mechanical features to achieve sharp handling and admirable ride quality. The Hornet uses the FCA Small Wide platform, which also underpins the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Dodge has further strengthened the chassis to offer more rigidity and improve the weight distribution for better handling and faster steering response. The chassis has front and rear independent suspensions and class-exclusive Koni frequency selective dampers to deliver excellent ride quality and improve handling.

The wheels are coupled with Brembo high-performance brakes combined with brake-by-wire intelligent braking, offering a swift braking response in all conditions. The drivetrain also features a best-in-class torque vectoring system with electronic monitoring. The drivetrain also features an electronic limited-slip differential to offer better stability while taking sharp turns or corners.

Related: The Title Of Quickest, Most Powerful Compact Crossover Now Belongs To The Dodge Hornet

Albeit the Hornet R/T is a CUV, Dodge has designed it with its distinct "Dodge design cues" to look like Durango’s younger brother. The Hornet has a performance-focused appearance with exterior vents and straight body lines. Below, the Hornet gets an all-new wedge-shaped headlight unit. The fascia comes equipped with new signature DRLs and LED reflectors.

The fascia is heavily dominated by honeycomb grille inserts and a new "mail slot-styled grille". This combination makes the fascia look meaner and muscular. At the rear, the Hornet flaunts sleek extended LED taillamps with a new Dodge Rhombi logo. In addition, the Hornet R/T uses several Hornet and R/T badges to pay homage to the famous Hudson Hornet, a popular concept from the 1950s.

Like other Dodge products, the Hornet R/T’s cabin is constructed with durable materials, promising great build quality and appeal. The cockpit looks driver-centric and has a sporty look. Most parts are made of textured plastics, and other cabin parts, like door panels and dashboard parts, are covered with red-stitched soft leatherette trims to offer an upmarket vibe.

The controls are very intuitive and wisely placed, making them easy to operate on the go. The cabin seats five passengers. The front offers a pair of power-adjustable bucket seats with power lumbar support and heating, two cup holders, and an armrest. While we don't know how much space the seats will have, we anticipate that the front seats will have 39 inches of headroom and 40 inches of legroom.

The back seat may have less space, with approximately 38 inches of headroom and 37 inches of legroom. Like in other CUVs, the rear will offer a decent-sized cargo trunk followed by additional cargo space after you fold the rear seats. The driver’s side features a 12.3-inch digital color cluster along with a leather heated steering wheel.

For entertainment, Dodge has equipped the Hornet R/T’s cabin with numerous features. The interior comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen installed with the Uconnect5 interface, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, and a wireless phone charger. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice-assisted navigation, and Alexa-enabled voice recognition will all be available.

As the most modern Dodge, the Hornet R/T gets plenty of safety tech. The Hornet R/T will come standard with the Advanced Driver-Assistance System, which includes automatic emergency braking with collision mitigation and pedestrian detection; a lane support system with departure warning and keep assist, and a blindspot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Furthermore, as informed by Dodge, the Hornet R/T will offer an optional Tech Pack with a Level-2 autonomous driving system comprising intelligent speed assist with traffic sign recognition and low speed follow, a driver attention monitoring system, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, and traffic jam assist. In addition, as mentioned earlier, the wheels will come with high-performance Brembo brakes with 4-piston calipers.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T, the first compact SUV, and a hybrid car, of course, from Dodge, looks impressive. It has a Dodge-like mean look, a powerful hybrid powertrain, a sporty cabin, and plenty of features. However, only time will tell how it brushes up against the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid, and the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

Sources: Stellantis North America, Dodge

Sourav hails from Siliguri, a city very close to the Himalayas in the northern part of West Bengal, India. Anything that has to do with wheels fascinates him. He has a soft spot for Lexus and BMW. He rides a Royal Enfield Thunderbird and is often seen with his group of friends in nearby hill stations. He also loves doing photography and making music. After working with CARHP and CAR INDIGO for more than 15 months, he joined HotCars to continue in automotive writing. He's currently crushing upon the Triumph Tiger 1200.