2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Toyota Sienna stood out in a market where minivans were becoming increasingly rare, as many manufacturers shifted focus to SUVs. Despite this trend, Toyota remained committed to the minivan segment, evolving the Sienna over several generations since its debut in 1998. The latest model, launched in 2021, embraced a more SUV-like style while retaining its minivan identity, evident from its sliding side doors. The Sienna featured a bold front end and cleverly designed door hinges that concealed the slider channel, giving it a sleek profile. Inside, the Sienna offered a spacious and practical interior, with ample storage and seating options, including available second-row captain’s chairs and a standard third-row bench that folded into the floor.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Hornet exuded a strong Dodge DNA with its muscle-car styling cues, such as the wide "raccoon mask" face and bulging hood. The Hornet's rear design, reminiscent of a Porsche Macan, added a premium touch, reflecting its Alfa Romeo Tonale roots. The Hornet offered a range of wheel options, from standard 17-inch silver wheels to 20-inch wheels with the Track Pack package. Dodge continued its tradition of vibrant exterior colors, enhancing the Hornet's appeal. Inside, the Hornet emphasized performance with red stitching accents and a driver-focused cockpit. The GT Plus trim offered more luxurious seating options, including eight-way power-adjustable leather seats, while the base GT trim featured manual-adjust cloth seats.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. This setup, similar to other Toyota hybrids, offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. The AWD system utilized an additional electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the drivetrain. The Sienna's electronically controlled CVT provided smooth power delivery and enhanced fuel efficiency, with selectable drive modes for varied driving conditions. The Sienna's handling was surprisingly agile for a minivan, thanks to its TNGA platform, and it boasted impressive fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg combined for FWD models and 35 mpg for AWD models.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet, on the other hand, boasted "best-in-class performance" with its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, delivering 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power output surpassed many competitors, making the Hornet a standout in its class. The Hornet's Sport mode enhanced throttle response and steering, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. While the Hornet excelled in acceleration from a standstill, it experienced some lag during mid-speed acceleration. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain offered improved pickup, addressing this issue.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna excelled as a family workhorse, capable of accommodating a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. Its sliding second row provided flexibility for cargo loading, with cargo space measuring 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also offered a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate added convenience, especially when hands were full.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's interior comfort varied by trim, with the GT Plus offering more luxurious leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and memory settings. The Alcantara seats in the Track Pack provided similar features. The Hornet's cockpit was driver-oriented, with a screen layout favoring the driver. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed views during left turns. The Hornet's interior design emphasized performance, with a focus on driver engagement.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. While it lacked wireless connectivity for these features, it offered a range of telematics services and a 12-speaker JBL audio system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was available, enhancing family entertainment options. The Sienna also featured a head-up display on Platinum trims, providing essential driving information without diverting attention from the road.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's technology centered around a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 system. The Hornet offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system on the GT Plus trim. The navigation system was intuitive, though it occasionally continued providing instructions after route cancellation. The Hornet's tech features emphasized driver convenience and connectivity.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna earned top safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, forward collision warning, and more. The Sienna also offered 10 airbags and multiple LATCH connectors for child seats, enhancing family safety.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The Tech Pack added features like a 360-degree camera and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. However, the Hornet had not yet been evaluated by major safety organizations, leaving its safety ratings unconfirmed.