@@mac7Attack1 Only for their older models and that's because they've been around long enough for Dodge to work on some of the thousands of quirks that all their products seem to have.
@@mac7Attack1 And the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV was the single least reliable vehicle in the last Consumer Reports survey. I wouldn't trust another FCA PHEV setup until they can prove themselves.
Doug literally the only guy on earth to complain that a car DOESN'T have an electric shifter. That physical shifter is probably the only thing on the car that will actually be reliable.
They knew that it would spend a lot of time in the shop with the battery disconnected, and a mechanic won't be able to move the car if it had an electric shifter, so that's probably why they stuck with the old school style physical shifter.
@@JosephDawson1986 does towing mode work when there's no power? I'm skeptical of everything these days...they don't want people working on cars anyhow, they'd rather force you to buy a new one.
@@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785 yes. All it does is put the transmission into neutral using an analog system, usually a hidden keyhole that once turned disengages the park to Neutral physically.
hovering around $50k for this is seriously insane. a few years ago this would’ve been an entry level ~mid $20-30k max cuv. the market is a lost cause lol
@@mikezerker6925 Yeah I think these will depreciate hard, and I think the styling wont age well either - It looks decent now, maybe a little cooler than the average Rav4, but I think these will look dated quickly.
I worked at a Dodge dealership briefly late 2023. My impression of the Hornet will be forever tarnished by a customer coming to pick up their Hornet after its first service and reversing out of the spot the technician put it in, only to be greeted by the squeal of (what sounded like all four) brakes. One of the salesmen told me a customer on the neighboring lot heard it (about 300 feet away).
I love how Dodge and the Fiat group DBZ fusion danced and managed to provide the nicest interior in any modern dodge, while simultaneously managing to somehow make an even less reliable dodge.
@thanosianthemadtitanic i wouldn't be surprised as of 2024 we have the hornet and the dinosaur durango. They still push that performance brand image despite not being one anymore. They need the charger challenger and id argue they need a new viper if they want to prove they are a performance brand
Their pricing is insane now. But even with those price tags, wranglers and grand cherokees are routinely among the best selling cars in America. Whether that’s mainly fleets or what not, they clearly sell and people are willing to pay for them. I don’t get it though.
These are going to be a nightmare to maintain long-term I can't imagine when the hybrid system starts having problems along with those smaller engines doing more work.
I've already seen some videos on these cars and they're just overrun with problems. Car Wow did one with the tonale, TFL did one with the hornet, just unfortunate
Doug complaining about the turn signals even though thats how BMW have done it for over a decade....probably why BMW owners don't use them come to think of it
I was at my local dealer doing some truck shopping and seen one of these. I never knew it even existed. I walked up to it and the sticker price was $48k. Insane
These things have been out for a while and I have seen exactly one on the roads. I think Dodge dropped the ball on this one Edit: In the few months since I posted this comment, I have seen exactly one more… bringing the total I’ve seen since they were released to an astounding TWO
I feel like Hornet is actually the most aggressive name of all the crossovers and keeps in line with some of Dodge’s other performance names (ex. the old super bee)
Doug is the type of guy to think that "Hornet", an animal known for being aggressive and threatening, isn't an aggressive or threatening enough name for a compact crossover.
Doug, thanks for an honest review of the Dodge Hornet. While I agree with you regarding spending a little more money on the Alfa Romeo Tonale vs the Hornet RT, I think that most people would find a lot more Dodge dealerships nearby than they would find Alfa Romeo dealers. So, unless Dodge dealerships will also service Alfa Romeo Tonale, more people will likely opt for the Dodge Hornet RT.
And you will be glad that the Dodge Dealer is close because this car will probably spend lots of time in the shop. Dodge has never been known for their reliability and neither is Alfa.
anyone shopping for a compact crossover would definitelly take one of the mazdas, crv, rav4 over this anyday. want something nicer? lexus nx over any italian garbage
@TheRealCatof had 45k miles on it, it was making a weird whining noise. The dealer said it was the turbo so they replaced it under my 3rd party warranty. I was running a jb4 tune on it for a year and pushed it pretty hard so I’m not super surprised. I just upgraded to the Stelvio QV so no need for extra power now.
Not where I was in SW Florida. I was shopping Alfa’s and you had to buy them at the Fiat dealer. Definitely a turn off. Bought an Infiniti instead at the Infiniti dealer.
The only way you can get an Alfa dealerships is to own a Fiat dealership first. The only way to own a Maserati dealership is to first own a Fiat and then Alfa dealership. It looked like you were getting serviced at a Fiat dealership but it was most likely for all three brands @@mattmcgriff5952
Doug, That transmission lever is simply BETTER. It’s SAFER for me, bc I’ve been using those for 40 years and it looks better too, I’m more accustomed to using it, and that ensure a superior response. Thanks.
They take up too much space and objectively are not as safe. I'd rather have it as a steering wheel stalk or something smaller electronic in the center console It's an automatic you don't need a traditional stick. Anything that gets the job done and takes up less space is the best
@@RayanMADAO Can you elaborate on how an electrical connection is inherently safer than a mechanical linkage? At best there should be no difference whatsoever. With a mechanical linkage, however, if the battery's dead, for example, I can still easily put the car in neutral. How do I accomplish this if the system is electronic? Is it another convoluted bit of nonsense that few consumers will every figure out and will require pricey dealer service to reset?
The Challenger and Charger would have continued to sell pretty much indefinitely. Doug even proposed making the Challenger the American version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen: keep the same body for 40 years and only update the engines as required by legislation. Stellantis seems to be getting out of the V8 game almost entirely as the Ram 1500 is going six-cylinder only. It's absurd because the Hemi is what sells them.
I am not a Dodge guy by any means (I’ve had the same ‘05 Grand Marquis I got when I was 16 and I’m 24 now and it is my “Ole Reliable”), but when I initially saw ads for the Hornet I thought, “oh that’s interesting, definitely a different direction for Dodge. A small crossover… that looks… kind of cool and exciting?!?” Considering all the Hellcat/Demon videos I see on RUclips, for some reason I was kind of waiting in anticipation for Doug to review the Dodge Hornet and his review didn’t disappoint!
You had the same kind of comments on the turn signal stalk as you did when you reviewed the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. I own a Stelvio and have no problem stopping the turn signal. You just have to be gentle and you only have to lift or push down slightly (depending on whether you are turning left or right) to get the flashing to stop.
14:06 they know with the dodge and alpha quality roots your going to be in the roadside repair area more than your average car owner. Gave you a nice little holder to lessen the blow
Regarding the turn signals - I just got an Alfa Giulia a few weeks back. The turn signals work the same way (i think BMW also work like this?). I actually prefer it. if you go 50% in one direction is flashes the blinker 3 times for lane change. If you go 100% it keeps it on until you turn or cancel. To cancel you just go 50% in the opposite way. It took me a few weeks but now i prefer it over my other car. I only mention it because i remember being frightened of it when Clarkson pointed out the same thing on the alfa QV.
Or just keep what worked? Jfc, what kind of nonsensical and unnecessary thing to do for something as basic a turn signal. They've been around for so long and yet some dumbass design engineer/manager thought he had a brilliant idea: "Hey guys, get a load of this, instead of using the turn signals like everyone has used for decades, let's make it more complex by adding an extra step to it. Trust me, it'll be soooo cool." Literally NO ONE asked for it.
@@thomasdemoor874 I'm struggling to find the extra step you mentioned here. No extra action required compared to a normal turn signal, to the point where you don't even notice it while driving. BMW did it two decades ago
@@thomasdemoor874 Since you're so smart... Articulate to me the extra step that is required to signal a turn with this style of signal stalk. I'll wait.
@@imdone1967 Meh. Thing is, if I were in the market for a crossover (and I'm decidedly not) this one would be near the top of my list. But it's roughly 98% identical to all other crossovers, so...stop it already, for the love of all that's good and decent in this universe.
As someone who sells these, the RT plug ins are heavily incentivized to lease. The lower trim GT gas models are retail pieces. Which is the direction CDJR is going. Expect very low lease numbers (high 3’s, low 4’s with taxes down)
Biggest issue I feel is Stellantis recycling old Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth/AMC names. Its long past time to move on, its not as if the old AMC Hornet is fondly remembered.
I don't fondly remember the AMC Hornet..I thought of it as a weird 4x4 car...I DO fondly remember the real Hornet though..the Fabulous Hudson Hornet from the early 1950's!...
Unless they get the extended warranty and sell at 100k miles - I could see some people choosing this if that's the case since I'd argue that the Rav4 styling doesn't look nearly as decent as this.
@@tmanawsomeguyhe’s saying that it’s safer because the old school ones can be left in gear accidentally. The electronic ones put the car in park when the door is opened or when the engine is shut off.
Electronic gears have more safety features and fall backs. They've been out for a while and don't really have issues. You don't need a stick/lever for an automatic, makes way more sense to have anything that takes up less space in the center or a stalk
i think he was only annoyed by it having a shift lever because of this cars ridiculous price. in a true sub $50k car its common to see shift buttons instead of shift levers but, thats stellantis for you
Hey Doug, try reviewing the new Ford Territory. I believe it is not available in the US, but it is available here in Mexico. Maybe there's one avid watcher that would be willing to let you borrow theirs, just like you were able to do with the Suzuki Swift!
*VIDEO IDEA* Please upvote! Since you have gotten very popular doing this for awhile (been watching since 17'-18', pre-Leno F1), I have been wondering what/ if any moments have happened where you've made a complaint about a vehicle, only to see it fixed to "Doug's" specifications. Top of my head was the G-wagon, but maybe you have more specific or direct stories. Video Title: (Doug's top "We have been watching you" moments.) Thanks, and if you're ever able to, please do a review on that late 90's/early 2000's Trans-am that I swear I imagined seeing in my youth.
The hornet name dates all the way back to Hudson in the 50s when they had the Hudson hornet. Hudson and Nash was the precursor to AMC and AMC also had a car in the 70s called the hornet. AMC would eventually get sold to Chrysler in the 80s.
One other thing that makes the inclusion of the new (well, 13+ years old) Dodge logo on the outside of the car is that when the new Ram brand scampered off with the old ram's head logo Dodge replaced it with *two* new logos. One was the two diagonal bars used in media and signage but the other was a sort of crosshair inside of a shield that matched the shape of the old ram's head insignia to save money so it could slot right in to existing grilles and steering wheel centers. The fact its use on the Hornet only highlights the fact that all other Dodge models date 2010 or before.
It is very funny watching this video 8 months later where dealer lots are filled with these cars. There are dodge dealers around me selling the R/T model new for 28k. For that price it might actually make sense since it now in the price range of the other compact crossovers. Starting these in the $40,000-$50,000 range was completely insane.
It’s a real bummer that the Challenger front end hasn’t trickle down to any of the other Dodge vehicles. Back in the day, it seems to me that that style was all over all Dodge vehicles, and it looks different than everything else. Interpreting that for the hornet And the charger would go a long way to differentiating those cars from everything else in the road. The hornet just looks like every other CUV. It’s possible that such design choices could’ve saved the dart, and might’ve usher in an opening to bring back the neon.
Personally I disagree with Doug saying this car is "exciting and punches above it's weight". As a former Muscle car brand I think the average Dodge buyer is more "car knowable" then many other brands. I think many will see this car as just a rebadged Alfa. Without this car the Durango would be the only Dodge model remaining now that the Charger and Challenger are discontinued. If I had to guess rebadging this Alfa as a Dodge was a last minute corporate decision to prevent Dodge from becoming a one vehicle brand like Chrysler.
If you drive to the freeway on electricity then gun it on the on-ramp, the cold engine starts up and has to deliver full power. Isn’t this bad for the engine?
90% of the time when the engine starts, it runs in neutral for a while to warm up, even if you're on the highway. I taught my wife to hit the E-Save button a few blocks before the onramp so it kicked the engine on and gets the fluids flowing so it's ready to give power before she pulls onto the ramp. But it does have enough power to get up to speed comfortably using only electric, at the expense of your electric range... even in pure electric it's still faster then a lot of the cheap budget body movers on the road.
I think the Hornet looks nice. I like the interior. I also like the fact the shift paddles are fixed aand they don't turn with the steering wheel. Another thing I like is the fact it has physical bottons for the climate control, controls for the heated steering wheel and seats, I don't care if they are on the screen, besides they are useless in my country, you don't need them. However I found annoying the turn signal lever issue. How do you turn them off? I think the GT + is good enough for me, it doesn't have the complexity of a hybrid, less weight I might think, unless you have a special connection to plug in the hybrid version
More crossover trash that the world doesn't need, especially in the automotive industry. We need to bring more great cars back like it was in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Those were the best eras ever for, not only the world in general, but vehicles.
Those type of turnstocks are super annoying while your driving. I figured out you have to get into the turn signal options and set the amount of times it blinks (when you tap it once).🤓
Even though the shifter acts old school it is still electronic and the car will auto park. Still think it's better than buttons, toggles, and dials for changing gear.
We just leased one cause the lease was cheap for 36 months. I have to say, we love it. We are both over 6’ tall and surprisingly, comfortable. This thing is powerful even in normal mode. In corners, she shines, no joke. Fun to ride, sound system is super. We can’t complain at all. Having said that, I would never buy one. The plug in is very complicated set up and OMG if something happens and you are after warranty.
Story time: one time I had to rent a car and all that was available was a small Dodge SUV which was quite possibly the most gutless and underpowered thing I have ever driven. Ever since that day, every time I see any Dodge SUV I think of one thing: weakness. Later on in life I bought an Alfa Romeo Sport TI and loved it. I drove it for a couple of years before selling it back to the dealer, and loved every minute of it. Imagine my surprise when Dodge announced the Hornet, which is basically stolen from the Alfa Romeo brand. I was, shall we say, less than pleased. Get your own stuff, Dodge! What's the matter, no engineers left on the payroll?
I’m in one I actually and really like it. Sucks the people don’t love it tho. It’s quite good looking. I got a lot of compliments in it. It’s very peppy / fast. Literally nothing but actual sports cars challenge it, and even then, you hang with R/T chargers and such for longer than you think.
read a review where they tested 0-60 and 1/4 mile times on the Hornet using powershot and the Tonale without it, both posted identical results in all tests. Pretty sure it's 100% marketing BS from dodge. That said, we/my wife has a Tonale and around 30-40mph if you're stuck behind a slow truck, it has some genuine acceleration to get up and pass a vehicle once you hit the kickdown switch. I suspect dodge just remapped the kickdown switch function in the Tonale to the paddles on the Hornet. I don't think there is any actual real HP boost over the Tonale.
Gotta say, I first saw the Tonale in person. A gorgeous red Speciale on my way to lunch yesterday. I usually forget what I wanted to look up after half an hour, but not this time. One of the *very* few pretty SUVs, if not the prettiest.
I feel like Dodge isn’t a low cost value brand at all. Their Durango models start at $41k and go up into the $90k range. Their trucks go over $100k, though they changed the brand to “Ram” for those, but they are Dodge still. The Dodge brand is more of a mid range sporty vehicle brand. They don’t even make the Journey anymore which was definitely a value model. Their cars are muscle cars. Their trucks seem to be trying to be luxury trucks. Their SUV’s are like a cross between a truck, muscle car and sporty car. None are particularly cheap unless you want to talk about base models that really are not very popular except the trucks maybe, because people buy them for work purposes.
Not actually, i had a 159 and did 75,000km on it, it lasted better than the Audi I had before it. In fact it was one of the most reliable and pleasurable cars I've had to own. But I agree, American cars like Dodge and Chrysler have a terrible reputation.
Tonale comes here in Italy with a 1.5 mild Hybrid with 131 or 160 hp and a diesel 131hp engine, the most expensive is the 1.3 plug-in Hybrid with 275 hp (lower than USA i think due to engine ECU tuning to contain emission)
I love the new Dodge logo. No more awful name plates. I've always thought putting a big ol letter plate announcing the car brand is so 1900s. Especially on the rear end. This dodge logo is clean and small, nice.
Those turn signals are just like the ones he had a hard time with on the Stelvio he reviewed....they are also the same as a lot of BMW's and my Mini. Push up/down to turn them on and just tap in that same direction to turn them off if you don't make a turn, it's NOT hard...don't wack them around like a 5-year old and they work just fine.
Thanks for the review Doug. I bought one of the GT models last September and I love it. It’s better without the plug in hybrid hassle The 2.0L engine is nice. I’ve owned several Dodge models and this is the nicest interior I’ve seen. The Italian/ European feel of it is really fun.
I got the Gt as a work vehicle and honestly I’m pretty impressed by it, I’ve driven the CRvs and Ravs this is probably the best in driving feel and interior quality from all of the rivals. Also I can’t forget to mention that the door thud is spot on.
If this is the Fiat 1.3l turbocharged engine, be prepared to a lot of of problems. Good thing is that it's always mixing the oil with the cooling fluid. So it's easier to maintain. Just put anything anywhere and the engine mixes for you.
Yep, these things are all starting to look the same... My 75 year old father just bought one of those new 3 cylinder (turbo) Chevy TRAX's, and I can barely tell it apart from AUDI SUV's at OVER TWICE the price! Obviously the powertrain isn't nearly as robust, with only ~135hp/165lb/ft, and the interior isn't as high quality. However the power feels perfectly adequate and it features a nice big touch screen center console (wireless carplay/android auto) & digital instrument cluster. And in terms of styling the ~20K TRAX compares VERY nicely.
Thanks for the video! Had a caliber SRT that I loved. was excited about the hornet. Of course I'm disappointed there's no manual option on the GT. I lol'd when you said there's no sunroof option on the hornet, as the "cheapa**" caliber SRT had one :D
I'm kind of the last person to care about reliability with modern cars, but it's kind of insane how unreliable the hornet has turned out to be. I recommended my mom get one but I'm a little glad she didn't get one.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
When I think about Dodge build quality and reliability, the first thing I think is always "You know what this needs? Italian flair."
Hahaha! Grazie! The comments are the best part of these dull suv reviews
Dodge actually came in the top 9 for reliability this year believe it or not
@@mac7Attack1 Only for their older models and that's because they've been around long enough for Dodge to work on some of the thousands of quirks that all their products seem to have.
@@mac7Attack1 And the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV was the single least reliable vehicle in the last Consumer Reports survey. I wouldn't trust another FCA PHEV setup until they can prove themselves.
@@austing4321 it was all 2020-2023 models
Doug literally the only guy on earth to complain that a car DOESN'T have an electric shifter. That physical shifter is probably the only thing on the car that will actually be reliable.
They knew that it would spend a lot of time in the shop with the battery disconnected, and a mechanic won't be able to move the car if it had an electric shifter, so that's probably why they stuck with the old school style physical shifter.
@@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785 except you don't need the shifter to move a car with an electronic shifter because they have a towing mode
@@JosephDawson1986 does towing mode work when there's no power? I'm skeptical of everything these days...they don't want people working on cars anyhow, they'd rather force you to buy a new one.
@@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785 yes. All it does is put the transmission into neutral using an analog system, usually a hidden keyhole that once turned disengages the park to Neutral physically.
Thank you for commenting this. Who on gods green earth would choose a electric shifter over a traditional one
hovering around $50k for this is seriously insane. a few years ago this would’ve been an entry level ~mid $20-30k max cuv. the market is a lost cause lol
In a couple of years on the used car market, this think will barely be worth $10k!
@@mikezerker6925 i give it til the end of this year 🤣
@@mikezerker6925 Yeah I think these will depreciate hard, and I think the styling wont age well either - It looks decent now, maybe a little cooler than the average Rav4, but I think these will look dated quickly.
They aren't selling.
These are 32k every where I looked not sure where you’re seeing 50k
I worked at a Dodge dealership briefly late 2023. My impression of the Hornet will be forever tarnished by a customer coming to pick up their Hornet after its first service and reversing out of the spot the technician put it in, only to be greeted by the squeal of (what sounded like all four) brakes. One of the salesmen told me a customer on the neighboring lot heard it (about 300 feet away).
An R/T with a 1.3L engine is my new favorite thing I've ever heard
It's the future bro
diet R/T , R/T lite
At first, I was like: "okay. It's $50k and called an R/T. At least they'll put the new Hurricane engine in it, right?" Nope ☠️
Dodge Macan R/T Junior
For me, the engine is fine. It's the battery size and electric power that's weak.
I love how Dodge and the Fiat group DBZ fusion danced and managed to provide the nicest interior in any modern dodge, while simultaneously managing to somehow make an even less reliable dodge.
Well Fiat saved Chrysler but Stellantis decided to kill it all
at this point I think stellantis is trying to kill dodge on purpose
It’s their nature, they are incapable of doing anything resembling excellence
@thanosianthemadtitanic i wouldn't be surprised as of 2024 we have the hornet and the dinosaur durango. They still push that performance brand image despite not being one anymore. They need the charger challenger and id argue they need a new viper if they want to prove they are a performance brand
@@crazyone3494Toyota C-HR and Dodge Hornet RT Plus both have $80.000 price tags.
Stellantis has gotten carried away with their pricing. No way this is a nearly 50k compact crossover. Same goes for the Grand Cherokee and Wranglers.
Their pricing is insane now. But even with those price tags, wranglers and grand cherokees are routinely among the best selling cars in America. Whether that’s mainly fleets or what not, they clearly sell and people are willing to pay for them. I don’t get it though.
Let them sit on the lot and rot and depreciate in value until the dealers are willing to haggle.
But, the metal shift paddles....
Dodge is delusional because they’ve been carried by their Hellcats and trucks for years now, they’re screwed.
They have good discounts, GC are like 15% off everywhere and leases for maybe 300/month
These are going to be a nightmare to maintain long-term I can't imagine when the hybrid system starts having problems along with those smaller engines doing more work.
I've already seen some videos on these cars and they're just overrun with problems. Car Wow did one with the tonale, TFL did one with the hornet, just unfortunate
A Dodge built in Italy, sounds like a perfect recipe for reliability!
When Italians get together to cook that's great. When they start building cars, run. Just run as fast as you can
as an Italian ... i don´t trust our cars =)
sounds like the axis of evil for a mechanic😂
Absolutely. Two Negatives makes a positive
I've driven a Ram Promaster for over a year (basically a Fiat). They're crap
Doug complaining about the turn signals even though thats how BMW have done it for over a decade....probably why BMW owners don't use them come to think of it
I was at my local dealer doing some truck shopping and seen one of these. I never knew it even existed. I walked up to it and the sticker price was $48k. Insane
but it's from italy danny🇮🇹😢
@@thanosianthemadtitanic so is my wife and sometimes I wish I turned and walked away as quickly as seeing that window sticker.
@@dannyv2335Are you available for bar mitzvah's and weddings by any chance ? 😅
@@dannyv2335lmao 💀
👋😂👉yeah! And that’s where they’re gonna stay! On the dealer floor rotting away! Fail
Love how Doug stays true to letting manufacturers know they need to have physical heated seat buttons 💪
Yet he says they need an electric gear selector instead of a traditional one.
These things have been out for a while and I have seen exactly one on the roads. I think Dodge dropped the ball on this one
Edit: In the few months since I posted this comment, I have seen exactly one more… bringing the total I’ve seen since they were released to an astounding TWO
That’s just dodge doing their thing
Hey! I’ve seen two!!
Trust me there’s no money right now
It didn't help that these encountered numerous glitches and issues in press reviews.
Ive still not seen a single one lol
I feel like Hornet is actually the most aggressive name of all the crossovers and keeps in line with some of Dodge’s other performance names (ex. the old super bee)
If you are old, like me, you remember the AMC Hornet. Maybe there would be a Dodge Hornet Levi's edition with denim upholstery!
And they put a 1.3L i4 in it. Ruining the name.
You referenced dodges old naming but failed to bring up that it’s a recycled name. Chrysler acquired AMC in the 80s. Hence AMC Hornet.
You forgot the OG Hudson hornet before it became AMC.
I agree it's a good name for a sporty car. A hornet's an ornery animal.
Stellantis and Italian SUVs, talk about a combination for extreme depreciation. Wow!
Targeting lowest IQ buyers everywhere
real
Bouta see one of these in Detroit hoods in the next 5 years!
I’m leasing one and I can smell it depreciating every mile I drive it. It’s a nice car though.
@@jasonmyneni8605 You will still be paying a bit more that depreciation as leases are often based on expected residuals.
A Dodge built in Italy. The hallmark of quality and reliability!
Doug is the type of guy to describe "Power Shot" mode in detail.... and then fails to demonstrate it.
Ikr lol
I was thinking the same thing. Also was wondering why he didn't show driving it in electric mode only.
@jamesb5863 because it just sends a "power shot" to your transmission , grenading it then sending you straight to the dealer.
FR
It's 30hp... He probably did and it was unnoticeable. 😅
Doug is the type of guy to think that "Hornet", an animal known for being aggressive and threatening, isn't an aggressive or threatening enough name for a compact crossover.
Yes. And it's a compact no less. The name is perfect.
It's sad that the Hudson Hornet was where this name came from
@@callumdonington2227yes. The legendary Hudson Hornet from CARS 1. We will never forget you, doc.😢
The should make a Hellcat Hornet...before the EV crap kills all the gas cars.
@@callumdonington2227 Are you sure it wasn't the AMC Hornet? (yeah yeah... Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator in 1954).
Can you imagine spending $40,000+ on a first generation Dodge PHEV compact SUV made in Italy?
Exactly this thing will be worth $12.73 in 2 years. Also probably broken.
So true!
that's turbo charged and AWD😂. Range rover reliability who?
No but if you lease you will probably spend half that amount. Which is what anyone crazy enough to get one of these over a crv or rav4 will do.
@@thanosianthemadtitanic These will make Range Rovers look reliable.
Doug, thanks for an honest review of the Dodge Hornet. While I agree with you regarding spending a little more money on the Alfa Romeo Tonale vs the Hornet RT, I think that most people would find a lot more Dodge dealerships nearby than they would find Alfa Romeo dealers. So, unless Dodge dealerships will also service Alfa Romeo Tonale, more people will likely opt for the Dodge Hornet RT.
That would be my concern as well.
And you will be glad that the Dodge Dealer is close because this car will probably spend lots of time in the shop. Dodge has never been known for their reliability and neither is Alfa.
Will there even be Alfa deals in 3 years?
anyone shopping for a compact crossover would definitelly take one of the mazdas, crv, rav4 over this anyday. want something nicer? lexus nx over any italian garbage
@@alexk3694 Ideally you just wouldn't buy a compact crossover lmao.
This is the latest car to avoid on the road, the Nissan Altima is no longer in a class of its own
Tbf you should avoid all dodge/ crystler/ram, etc. drivers.
It does have Big Altima Energy
Oh boy in 5-10 years when these are heavily depreciated I’m envisioning some pretty good Big Altima Energy!
@@mzrzfxr They'll be in the junkyard by then with all their "Italian influence" 😂
@@AdamG1983yep. Many say its like next gen Nissan Altima.
Doug: light up badges are dumb
Also Doug: 5:42 "they're kinda cool"
Doug is the kind of guy to...
...change his mind.
A lot.
If you get the Alfa, you will have a MUCH nicer dealer and service experience. That difference alone is enough to recommend it over the Hornet hybrid.
Yep. Brought my Giulia in and they gave me a free Maserati grecale for 3 weeks
@TheRealCatof had 45k miles on it, it was making a weird whining noise. The dealer said it was the turbo so they replaced it under my 3rd party warranty. I was running a jb4 tune on it for a year and pushed it pretty hard so I’m not super surprised. I just upgraded to the Stelvio QV so no need for extra power now.
Not where I was in SW Florida. I was shopping Alfa’s and you had to buy them at the Fiat dealer. Definitely a turn off. Bought an Infiniti instead at the Infiniti dealer.
The only way you can get an Alfa dealerships is to own a Fiat dealership first. The only way to own a Maserati dealership is to first own a Fiat and then Alfa dealership. It looked like you were getting serviced at a Fiat dealership but it was most likely for all three brands @@mattmcgriff5952
Doug,
That transmission lever is simply BETTER. It’s SAFER for me, bc I’ve been using those for 40 years and it looks better too, I’m more accustomed to using it, and that ensure a superior response.
Thanks.
They take up too much space and objectively are not as safe. I'd rather have it as a steering wheel stalk or something smaller electronic in the center console
It's an automatic you don't need a traditional stick. Anything that gets the job done and takes up less space is the best
@@RayanMADAO And if the battery dies? What then?
Yeah, doesn't Jeep have issues with the electric shifters?
I would suspect that this is an electronic shifter but with the mechanical feel.
@@RayanMADAO Can you elaborate on how an electrical connection is inherently safer than a mechanical linkage?
At best there should be no difference whatsoever. With a mechanical linkage, however, if the battery's dead, for example, I can still easily put the car in neutral. How do I accomplish this if the system is electronic? Is it another convoluted bit of nonsense that few consumers will every figure out and will require pricey dealer service to reset?
No way the Challenger died for this
Yup…sad
The Challenger and Charger would have continued to sell pretty much indefinitely. Doug even proposed making the Challenger the American version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen: keep the same body for 40 years and only update the engines as required by legislation. Stellantis seems to be getting out of the V8 game almost entirely as the Ram 1500 is going six-cylinder only. It's absurd because the Hemi is what sells them.
Actually the dodge journey died for this
@@bwofficial1776I guess Dodge is too cheap to update their hemis 😂
its been rumored for the new daytona to have a I6?
I’d drive a 2008 RAV4 off a bridge before paying 50k for a Dodge compact crossover. Car industry is in tough shape
I keep hearing how terrible the reliability was on these. Several reviewers had their press cars break down during their testing.
Good. Maybe it won't even last more then 1 model year
Yeah they are extremely unreliable
*COUGH COUGH* Chrysler.
@somerandomness4285 than*
I am not a Dodge guy by any means (I’ve had the same ‘05 Grand Marquis I got when I was 16 and I’m 24 now and it is my “Ole Reliable”), but when I initially saw ads for the Hornet I thought, “oh that’s interesting, definitely a different direction for Dodge. A small crossover… that looks… kind of cool and exciting?!?” Considering all the Hellcat/Demon videos I see on RUclips, for some reason I was kind of waiting in anticipation for Doug to review the Dodge Hornet and his review didn’t disappoint!
You had the same kind of comments on the turn signal stalk as you did when you reviewed the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. I own a Stelvio and have no problem stopping the turn signal. You just have to be gentle and you only have to lift or push down slightly (depending on whether you are turning left or right) to get the flashing to stop.
Thank you.. that was driving me crazy, he didn't say how to stop it😅😅😅
I have the Giulia quad. The turn signals are stupid and unnecessary. So is the stupid shifter.
this engine also comes in the Jeep Renegade, Compass and Commander, Fiat Toro and Abarth Pulse here in LATAM
14:06 they know with the dodge and alpha quality roots your going to be in the roadside repair area more than your average car owner.
Gave you a nice little holder to lessen the blow
If ever you could make a Mopar more unreliable, add in some European “flair”
Regarding the turn signals - I just got an Alfa Giulia a few weeks back. The turn signals work the same way (i think BMW also work like this?). I actually prefer it. if you go 50% in one direction is flashes the blinker 3 times for lane change. If you go 100% it keeps it on until you turn or cancel. To cancel you just go 50% in the opposite way. It took me a few weeks but now i prefer it over my other car.
I only mention it because i remember being frightened of it when Clarkson pointed out the same thing on the alfa QV.
Just like my 2010 Dodge Charger. I like it also.
Or just keep what worked? Jfc, what kind of nonsensical and unnecessary thing to do for something as basic a turn signal. They've been around for so long and yet some dumbass design engineer/manager thought he had a brilliant idea: "Hey guys, get a load of this, instead of using the turn signals like everyone has used for decades, let's make it more complex by adding an extra step to it. Trust me, it'll be soooo cool." Literally NO ONE asked for it.
@@thomasdemoor874 I'm struggling to find the extra step you mentioned here. No extra action required compared to a normal turn signal, to the point where you don't even notice it while driving. BMW did it two decades ago
@@d47000 Of course you're struggling with something that requires thinking. BMW depends on it.
@@thomasdemoor874 Since you're so smart... Articulate to me the extra step that is required to signal a turn with this style of signal stalk. I'll wait.
Oh joy, another SUV. Just what the market needs; there certainly aren't nearly enough already.
crossovers sell ...
Not this one though! 😂
@@imdone1967 Meh. Thing is, if I were in the market for a crossover (and I'm decidedly not) this one would be near the top of my list. But it's roughly 98% identical to all other crossovers, so...stop it already, for the love of all that's good and decent in this universe.
@@sponk2112 500 plus day supply. This isn't selling.
@@imdone1967 Never disputed that, and it's not at all surprising
Doug is the kind of guy to complain about a compact crossover SUV being compact inside.
Because when you think of reliability, you think of a Dodge electrified with Fiat parts lol
As someone who sells these, the RT plug ins are heavily incentivized to lease. The lower trim GT gas models are retail pieces. Which is the direction CDJR is going. Expect very low lease numbers (high 3’s, low 4’s with taxes down)
Do you recommend the hybrid or base model?? Looking into them. If you are in the metro detroit area let me know
Just so we are being clear this trim costs as much as a loaded Acura RDX. Similar power and the RDX is way bigger inside and has a great AWD system.
The DHor is one of those cars that gives off vibes like it already has mechanical issues before it drives off the lot.
at this point I think stellantis is trying to kill dodge on purpose
Their trying to make it the “American Alfa Romeo”
Watching Doug’s reviews have strengthened my knowledge on breaking a car down from the body to the Engine. When buying one ✍🏽
Italy.... Alfa Romeo... Dodge.... The reliability ratings will be VERY interesting to see!
race to the bottom
That rear lightbar absolutely works. The rest may be a hard sell.
Biggest issue I feel is Stellantis recycling old Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth/AMC names. Its long past time to move on, its not as if the old AMC Hornet is fondly remembered.
The Hornet / Tonale itself is a recycled Jeep Compass.
I don't fondly remember the AMC Hornet..I thought of it as a weird 4x4 car...I DO fondly remember the real Hornet though..the Fabulous Hudson Hornet from the early 1950's!...
Was waiting for the double paddle boost? Sounds like it will make a very good rental car, will look for it at Avis.
Mom: we have a cx-5 carbon edition at home
The cx-5 carbon edition at home
Buying this over a RAV4 is the worst decision possible.
Unless they get the extended warranty and sell at 100k miles - I could see some people choosing this if that's the case since I'd argue that the Rav4 styling doesn't look nearly as decent as this.
Or even a CX 5
@@chynacash3138mine will be extended warranty 85000 mile you were correct sir that’s what sold me
Only doug would be annoyed by a car having an actual gear lever for the transmission 🙄
Right. Not sure how electrical buttons would be safer than having a physical linkage to the transmission.
@@tmanawsomeguyhe’s saying that it’s safer because the old school ones can be left in gear accidentally. The electronic ones put the car in park when the door is opened or when the engine is shut off.
yea that was surprising considering his manual million doller porsche
Electronic gears have more safety features and fall backs. They've been out for a while and don't really have issues. You don't need a stick/lever for an automatic, makes way more sense to have anything that takes up less space in the center or a stalk
i think he was only annoyed by it having a shift lever because of this cars ridiculous price. in a true sub $50k car its common to see shift buttons instead of shift levers but, thats stellantis for you
The sunroof wasn't included with the pre-production vehicles used for the press to test. The GT and R/T Plus models have it as standard equipment.
Hey Doug, try reviewing the new Ford Territory.
I believe it is not available in the US, but it is available here in Mexico. Maybe there's one avid watcher that would be willing to let you borrow theirs, just like you were able to do with the Suzuki Swift!
*VIDEO IDEA*
Please upvote!
Since you have gotten very popular doing this for awhile (been watching since 17'-18', pre-Leno F1), I have been wondering what/ if any moments have happened where you've made a complaint about a vehicle, only to see it fixed to "Doug's" specifications.
Top of my head was the G-wagon, but maybe you have more specific or direct stories.
Video Title:
(Doug's top "We have been watching you" moments.)
Thanks, and if you're ever able to, please do a review on that late 90's/early 2000's Trans-am that I swear I imagined seeing in my youth.
Doug is the type of guy who gets excited for a dodge built in italy
I can't wait to buy the only one of these that still works in 5 years on Cars & Bids.
The hornet name dates all the way back to Hudson in the 50s when they had the Hudson hornet. Hudson and Nash was the precursor to AMC and AMC also had a car in the 70s called the hornet. AMC would eventually get sold to Chrysler in the 80s.
Here's the comment I was looking for, naming the two previous iterations of its name.
One other thing that makes the inclusion of the new (well, 13+ years old) Dodge logo on the outside of the car is that when the new Ram brand scampered off with the old ram's head logo Dodge replaced it with *two* new logos. One was the two diagonal bars used in media and signage but the other was a sort of crosshair inside of a shield that matched the shape of the old ram's head insignia to save money so it could slot right in to existing grilles and steering wheel centers. The fact its use on the Hornet only highlights the fact that all other Dodge models date 2010 or before.
I predict a Stellantis government bail out in the near future.
It is very funny watching this video 8 months later where dealer lots are filled with these cars. There are dodge dealers around me selling the R/T model new for 28k. For that price it might actually make sense since it now in the price range of the other compact crossovers. Starting these in the $40,000-$50,000 range was completely insane.
It’s a real bummer that the Challenger front end hasn’t trickle down to any of the other Dodge vehicles. Back in the day, it seems to me that that style was all over all Dodge vehicles, and it looks different than everything else. Interpreting that for the hornet And the charger would go a long way to differentiating those cars from everything else in the road. The hornet just looks like every other CUV. It’s possible that such design choices could’ve saved the dart, and might’ve usher in an opening to bring back the neon.
Personally I disagree with Doug saying this car is "exciting and punches above it's weight". As a former Muscle car brand I think the average Dodge buyer is more "car knowable" then many other brands. I think many will see this car as just a rebadged Alfa. Without this car the Durango would be the only Dodge model remaining now that the Charger and Challenger are discontinued. If I had to guess rebadging this Alfa as a Dodge was a last minute corporate decision to prevent Dodge from becoming a one vehicle brand like Chrysler.
If you drive to the freeway on electricity then gun it on the on-ramp, the cold engine starts up and has to deliver full power. Isn’t this bad for the engine?
My theory is that it doesn’t need to last long
90% of the time when the engine starts, it runs in neutral for a while to warm up, even if you're on the highway. I taught my wife to hit the E-Save button a few blocks before the onramp so it kicked the engine on and gets the fluids flowing so it's ready to give power before she pulls onto the ramp. But it does have enough power to get up to speed comfortably using only electric, at the expense of your electric range... even in pure electric it's still faster then a lot of the cheap budget body movers on the road.
I think the Hornet looks nice.
I like the interior. I also like the fact the shift paddles are fixed aand they don't turn with the steering wheel. Another thing I like is the fact it has physical bottons for the climate control, controls for the heated steering wheel and seats, I don't care if they are on the screen, besides they are useless in my country, you don't need them. However I found annoying the turn signal lever issue. How do you turn them off?
I think the GT + is good enough for me, it doesn't have the complexity of a hybrid, less weight I might think, unless you have a special connection to plug in the hybrid version
More crossover trash that the world doesn't need, especially in the automotive industry. We need to bring more great cars back like it was in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Those were the best eras ever for, not only the world in general, but vehicles.
Those type of turnstocks are super annoying while your driving. I figured out you have to get into the turn signal options and set the amount of times it blinks (when you tap it once).🤓
Even though the shifter acts old school it is still electronic and the car will auto park.
Still think it's better than buttons, toggles, and dials for changing gear.
Changing gear you do with a manual. If I wanna drive an auto I get an EV. Those are fast.
@@scrubplaceholder6216 * for changing shift positions* my bad
We just leased one cause the lease was cheap for 36 months. I have to say, we love it. We are both over 6’ tall and surprisingly, comfortable. This thing is powerful even in normal mode. In corners, she shines, no joke. Fun to ride, sound system is super. We can’t complain at all. Having said that, I would never buy one. The plug in is very complicated set up and OMG if something happens and you are after warranty.
Fun fact about the Hornet... Dodge purposely added to the 0-60 time in their official stats so Power Shot mode looked more impressive.
Story time: one time I had to rent a car and all that was available was a small Dodge SUV which was quite possibly the most gutless and underpowered thing I have ever driven. Ever since that day, every time I see any Dodge SUV I think of one thing: weakness. Later on in life I bought an Alfa Romeo Sport TI and loved it. I drove it for a couple of years before selling it back to the dealer, and loved every minute of it. Imagine my surprise when Dodge announced the Hornet, which is basically stolen from the Alfa Romeo brand. I was, shall we say, less than pleased. Get your own stuff, Dodge! What's the matter, no engineers left on the payroll?
I bet that gutless dodge you were driving was a Mitsubishi power train. Like the old journey, patriot etc….gutless they were
So… how DOES the turn signal turn off? A lane change on the highway wouldn’t be enough of a steering wheel turn to turn it off.
I would only buy one of these if I found one at Car max with the amazing warranty.
I love the BMW inspiration with the turn signals… no idea why they had to complicate them like that. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
If thats a dodge hornet then im a harlem globetrotter
I’m in one I actually and really like it. Sucks the people don’t love it tho. It’s quite good looking. I got a lot of compliments in it.
It’s very peppy / fast. Literally nothing but actual sports cars challenge it, and even then, you hang with R/T chargers and such for longer than you think.
How has the reliability/maitnence been?
Curious how the Power Shot feature felt. I didn’t see that in the review.
read a review where they tested 0-60 and 1/4 mile times on the Hornet using powershot and the Tonale without it, both posted identical results in all tests. Pretty sure it's 100% marketing BS from dodge. That said, we/my wife has a Tonale and around 30-40mph if you're stuck behind a slow truck, it has some genuine acceleration to get up and pass a vehicle once you hit the kickdown switch. I suspect dodge just remapped the kickdown switch function in the Tonale to the paddles on the Hornet. I don't think there is any actual real HP boost over the Tonale.
The sunroof is standard on the GT+ and RT+. Doug just happened to get an early model when it was deleted for production
I like the look of the old gear lever way better than buttons and how the heck are they safer lol
Only safer in that the parking brakes automatically apply. PRNDL is so ingrained that the changeover will be an issue for awhile.
Doug is the only person that can make a hybrid SUV look attractive.
Doug the kind of guy who operates an illegal chop shop for Hot Wheels
😂 yall are creative
😂😂😂 never a dull moment on the Doug Demuro channel.
The worst part is that both the Tonale and Hornet are sold in US. I would understand if Tonale wasn't sold there
Gotta say, I first saw the Tonale in person. A gorgeous red Speciale on my way to lunch yesterday.
I usually forget what I wanted to look up after half an hour, but not this time. One of the *very* few pretty SUVs, if not the prettiest.
I feel like Dodge isn’t a low cost value brand at all. Their Durango models start at $41k and go up into the $90k range. Their trucks go over $100k, though they changed the brand to “Ram” for those, but they are Dodge still. The Dodge brand is more of a mid range sporty vehicle brand. They don’t even make the Journey anymore which was definitely a value model. Their cars are muscle cars. Their trucks seem to be trying to be luxury trucks. Their SUV’s are like a cross between a truck, muscle car and sporty car. None are particularly cheap unless you want to talk about base models that really are not very popular except the trucks maybe, because people buy them for work purposes.
Why not just get the Alfa? Both are going to be terrible after about 20 000km
Not actually, i had a 159 and did 75,000km on it, it lasted better than the Audi I had before it. In fact it was one of the most reliable and pleasurable cars I've had to own. But I agree, American cars like Dodge and Chrysler have a terrible reputation.
Dodge just might just hold resale value better, somehow.
@@MaximilianvonPinneberg Oh 159 brilliant! Glad to hear it lasted 75 000km
@@Midlife_Crisis_ True since Americans know little about Alfas
The better question is, why not get anything other than this or the Alfa? Literally, anything else at the $40k price range would be better.
Tonale comes here in Italy with a 1.5 mild Hybrid with 131 or 160 hp and a diesel 131hp engine, the most expensive is the 1.3 plug-in Hybrid with 275 hp (lower than USA i think due to engine ECU tuning to contain emission)
Yeah, it is ridiculous. They get a much cooler version for cheaper!
Jeep had a chance to win a lot of money making the last SRTs... instead of these lawnmowers engines.
I wish Doug woulda done a video on the non hybrid version first.
THIS and THIS and THIS and THIS and THIS !
I love the new Dodge logo. No more awful name plates. I've always thought putting a big ol letter plate announcing the car brand is so 1900s. Especially on the rear end. This dodge logo is clean and small, nice.
Ah yes, the BMW style turn signal. Something to aspire to.
Well done, Stellantis
Those turn signals are just like the ones he had a hard time with on the Stelvio he reviewed....they are also the same as a lot of BMW's and my Mini. Push up/down to turn them on and just tap in that same direction to turn them off if you don't make a turn, it's NOT hard...don't wack them around like a 5-year old and they work just fine.
Saw one of these last week and I honestly like it. It's much different than traditional Dodge, which is definitely a good thing
Doug. Have you done the Honda Element? I can’t find a video, but seems like the perfect car for you with lots of features and quirks.
Thanks for the review Doug. I bought one of the GT models last September and I love it. It’s better without the plug in hybrid hassle The 2.0L engine is nice. I’ve owned several Dodge models and this is the nicest interior I’ve seen. The Italian/ European feel of it is really fun.
I got the Gt as a work vehicle and honestly I’m pretty impressed by it, I’ve driven the CRvs and Ravs this is probably the best in driving feel and interior quality from all of the rivals. Also I can’t forget to mention that the door thud is spot on.
Interested to see a review of the Gt these Rt's seem too expensive/complicated/heavy..
If this is the Fiat 1.3l turbocharged engine, be prepared to a lot of of problems. Good thing is that it's always mixing the oil with the cooling fluid. So it's easier to maintain. Just put anything anywhere and the engine mixes for you.
We have officially entered the modern-malaise era *cues Dodge Aspen* - God helps us all.
Yep, these things are all starting to look the same... My 75 year old father just bought one of those new 3 cylinder (turbo) Chevy TRAX's, and I can barely tell it apart from AUDI SUV's at OVER TWICE the price! Obviously the powertrain isn't nearly as robust, with only ~135hp/165lb/ft, and the interior isn't as high quality. However the power feels perfectly adequate and it features a nice big touch screen center console (wireless carplay/android auto) & digital instrument cluster. And in terms of styling the ~20K TRAX compares VERY nicely.
Thanks for the video! Had a caliber SRT that I loved. was excited about the hornet. Of course I'm disappointed there's no manual option on the GT. I lol'd when you said there's no sunroof option on the hornet, as the "cheapa**" caliber SRT had one :D
I'm kind of the last person to care about reliability with modern cars, but it's kind of insane how unreliable the hornet has turned out to be. I recommended my mom get one but I'm a little glad she didn't get one.
I drove the GT & was not expecting much. I was surprised at the interior & HP. I would say that it's the one to get over the RT.
I think these are awesome 👍🏼 I would love to have one as a daily
If you were to buy it, buy it used. Resale on this is gonna drop like a rock.
@5:54, thats a wild assumption to say when they advertised there cars, im sure more to none know the double strip logo is a dodge brand. 🤦🏽♂️
This is NOT what Dodge's audience asked for.