2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline added a fastback flair, while ribbed detailing enhanced its muscular profile. This combination of SUV bulk and athletic, car-like elements gave the GV70 a unique blend of ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige models further distinguished themselves with unique styling features, including large vents on the front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior embraced an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalist design that incorporated a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased a front end that unmistakably displayed Dodge's muscle-car DNA. Its wide, aggressive "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, and dual extractors exuded a bold presence. The illuminated Rhombi logo on the taillights added a distinctive touch. While the Hornet's rear quarter design resembled that of a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, it retained a unique Dodge identity. The Hornet's design choices aimed to strike a balance between muscle-car aesthetics and a more premium feel, thanks to its Alfa Romeo Tonale-based platform. The standard silver 17-inch wheels, though smaller, offered a machined surface, while the Blacktop and Track Pack packages provided larger, more stylish wheel options. The Hornet continued Dodge's tradition of "High Impact Paint" with seven vibrant exterior color choices.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a more powerful 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), setting it apart from competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, which featured rear-wheel drive (RWD) in their base versions. The GV70 also included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, features more commonly associated with sporty coupes. The Sport+ drive mode further emphasized the GV70's sporty character, enhancing throttle response and transmission behavior. However, the GV70's chassis and steering fell short of the sharpness seen in rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. While it excelled on highways and in urban settings, the GV70's ride was firm, even in Comfort mode, and lacked the solidity expected from a luxury vehicle.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted impressive performance figures, with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine delivering 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power output outshone many competitors, including the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona. The Hornet's base model emitted a low, menacing rumble, adding to its appeal. Sport mode sharpened throttle responses, tightened steering, and optimized upshifts, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. While not groundbreaking, this performance surpassed most rivals. The Hornet GT exhibited peppy acceleration from a standstill, though it experienced a noticeable lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain addressed this issue, providing smoother pickup.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided front-seat headroom comparable to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to the BMW X3. Legroom in both rows was adequate, and rear-seat visibility was good due to relatively thin rear pillars. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing the GV70 in the middle ground between competitors like the Infiniti QX50 and Lexus NX. The interior's daring design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports for phones and rear-seat climate controls. The Sport Prestige test car featured heavily bolstered front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

In the 2023 Dodge Hornet, the GT Plus-trim's leather seats offered superior comfort compared to the base GT's cloth-covered seats. The four-way powered lumbar adjustment and memory settings added convenience for multi-driver households. The Track Pack's Alcantara seats provided similar features. The cockpit's driver-oriented layout featured a screen angled toward the driver, with natural placements for the shift lever and start button. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar's angle occasionally obstructed the view of oncoming traffic. This quirk was more noticeable during left turns on busy roads and depended on the driver's position.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its tech offerings, featuring a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it user-friendly, while the glass rotary controller added functionality with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trim levels offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation, driver profiles, last-mile guidance, and valet mode, all included free for three years.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a driver-focused cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa integration. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless charging pad, and navigation. The navigation system generally performed well, though it occasionally continued giving instructions after route cancellation.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist with automated lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable, the GV70's safety features impressed during testing.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet offered a range of standard advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, a rear backup camera, and rear park-assist. The Tech Pack added front, side, and rear park-assist, driver-attention monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. It also enabled Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities, including lane-centering and intelligent adaptive cruise control. Like the GV70, the Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.