2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased a front end that unmistakably displayed Dodge DNA, featuring muscle-car styling cues like the wide, mean “raccoon mask” face, bulging hood, dual extractors, and the classic Dodge “mail slot” beneath the illuminated Rhombi logo. From the rear, the Hornet bore a resemblance to the Porsche Macan or Cayenne, with upward-pointing windows giving it a premium feel. This design choice, while not traditionally Dodge, seemed to fit well within the family vehicle segment.

The Hornet’s standard silver 17-inch wheels appeared cheap from afar, though the design had its merits up close. The Blacktop package offered 18-inch black alloy wheels and other blacked-out elements, while the Track Pack added 20-inch wheels and red Brembo brake calipers. Dodge continued its tradition of “High Impact Paint” with seven vibrant color options. Inside, the Hornet featured performance-inspired elements like red stitching and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The GT Plus trim offered more luxurious options like eight-way power-adjustable leather seats, while the Track Pack’s Alcantara seats provided a racier feel.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, true to its brand, didn’t take itself too seriously. It featured classic Mini styling cues, an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered numerous paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs. However, dark tinted rear privacy glass was an option rather than standard equipment.

The 2024 Countryman lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with different drivetrains. The Cooper had an underpowered turbocharged three-cylinder engine, while the Cooper S and John Cooper Works used a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in two states of tune. The Cooper SE was a plug-in hybrid with an 18-mile electric range. Trim packages included Classic, Signature, and Iconic, with special editions frequently rolled out. Our test car, a Cooper S with Iconic trim, featured premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a semi-autonomous parking system.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted “best-in-class performance” with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power output far exceeded competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona. The Hornet’s Sport mode sharpened throttle responses, tightened steering, and optimized upshifts, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. While the base Hornet GT was peppy from a standstill, it experienced significant lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T’s hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace.

The 2024 MINI Countryman’s John Cooper Works model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission. This setup allowed the JCW to reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, was quick enough for most drivers, achieving 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The Cooper S offered a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with FWD or an eight-speed sport automatic with AWD. The Countryman excelled in daily driving but wasn’t as engaging for spirited driving, despite its adaptive damping suspension and summer performance tires. Our test vehicle averaged 25.4 mpg in combined driving, slightly below its EPA rating of 28 mpg.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s GT Plus trim featured comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings. The front passenger seat matched the driver’s for adjustability, though it lacked memory function. Both seats were heated and ventilated in the GT Plus trim. The driver-oriented cockpit layout favored the driver, with the screen and controls angled accordingly. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed the view of oncoming traffic.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. Our test vehicle, with Iconic trim, featured dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Countryman’s seats were small but supportive, and the steering wheel was a delight to grip. While the SUV had seatbelts for five, four passengers were more comfortable. The Countryman offered excellent outward visibility and easy parking, though it lacked a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a driver-focused cockpit with 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, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless charging pad, and navigation.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn’t a technology powerhouse but offered useful features. Our test vehicle had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing, used BMW’s iDrive technology and offered five interaction methods: touchscreen, physical controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob on the center console, and voice recognition. The system lacked Android Auto but included Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim added a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, 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, enabling Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered limited advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, rear parking sensors, and an emergency SOS call button. Adaptive cruise control was optional. The Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera. The IIHS rated the Countryman highly in crashworthiness evaluations.