2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers like grandparents or carpoolers. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering the same capacity as a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, with its kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim adding a touch of flair.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Hornet embraced its muscle-car heritage with a bold front end featuring a wide "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, and illuminated Rhombi logo. While the rear design borrowed elements from the Porsche Macan or Cayenne, it still retained a premium feel. The Hornet's exterior color options, such as Acapulco Gold and Hot Tamale, added to its vibrant personality. Inside, the Hornet offered performance-inspired features like red stitching and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The GT Plus trim provided more comfort with leather seats and additional adjustability, while the Alcantara seats in the Track Pack added a sporty touch.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered a smooth driving experience, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, making it enjoyable for daily commutes. However, the Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, which were available in competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. The Odyssey's fuel economy was estimated at 22 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 22.6 mpg. One downside was the brakes, which tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted "best-in-class performance" with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, delivering 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power output surpassed most competitors, with only the Mazda CX-30 coming close. The Hornet's Sport mode enhanced throttle response and steering, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. While the Hornet was peppy from a standstill, it experienced some lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Track Pack and Direct Connection parts offered further performance enhancements for enthusiasts seeking more power.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a low ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. Storage space was abundant, with various compartments for stashing items. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim offered more comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and memory settings. The cockpit layout favored the driver, with a screen and controls angled for easy access. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed the view. The Hornet's interior emphasized performance, with features like a flat-bottomed steering wheel and red stitching. The Alcantara seats in the Track Pack added a sporty touch, while the GT Plus trim included heated and ventilated seats for added comfort.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system lagged behind competitors. Starting with the EX trim, it offered an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring and Elite trims added navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk systems. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display, but it felt outdated compared to rivals. The Elite trim featured an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad, but the overall infotainment experience was underwhelming.

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

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, sometimes issuing false warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet offered standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. The Tech Pack added advanced features like a 360-degree camera and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it offered a comprehensive suite of safety technologies.