2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

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 Rhombi logo. The rear of the Hornet, with its illuminated Rhombi logo and taillights spanning the vehicle’s width, ensured it stood out in traffic. However, from the side and rear quarter, the Hornet resembled a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, which, while premium, didn’t feel particularly Dodge. This design choice, based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, might have been a shift for Dodge loyalists, but it added a premium touch to the family vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in multiple trims, maintained a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias and cool color options like deep blue, red, or green. The XSE trim, with its sporty black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels, kept the “swagger wagon” vibe alive. The Woodland Edition, designed for off-road readiness, featured roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance. The Sienna’s design was both stylish and functional, catering to families with its kid-friendly features and practical design elements.

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 significantly outperformed competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona. The Hornet’s Sport mode enhanced throttle response, steering, and upshifts, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. While the base Hornet GT was peppy and responsive at lower speeds, it experienced a noticeable lag during mid-speed acceleration. The Hornet R/T’s hybrid powertrain improved this pickup pace, offering a more consistent performance.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. Despite the sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna felt sluggish off the line, with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributing to a less engaging driving experience. While smooth, the acceleration was slow, especially during highway merging or climbing. Around town, the Sienna provided a pleasant, if unremarkable, driving experience, with modes like Normal, Eco, and EV for different driving conditions. The brakes were a bit grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, making it easy to maneuver.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s interior featured comfortable leather seats in the GT Plus trim, with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings. The driver-oriented cockpit layout, with a screen angled towards the driver and natural placement of controls, enhanced the driving experience. However, the A-pillar’s angle occasionally obstructed the view of oncoming traffic. The front passenger seat matched the driver’s for adjustability, and both seats were heated and ventilated in the GT Plus trim. The Track Pack offered Alcantara seats with similar features, adding a sporty touch.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. The front featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox with an available wireless charging pad. The second-row captain’s chairs, which could slide fore and aft 25 inches, provided up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn’t be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row offered ample legroom and tilting seats for comfort. The Sienna’s tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim, ensured a comfortable environment for all passengers. The rear liftgate, activated by a kick motion, revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubes with the second and third rows stowed.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a driver-focused cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen angled towards 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 system, wireless charging pad, and navigation. The navigation system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving instructions after ending the route.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, equipped with older infotainment technology, featured a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera’s grainy view was disappointing. The analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display provided essential information. Standard features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. The Sienna also offered a rear-camera mirror and in-dash navigation, though most users would likely prefer Google Maps. USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet were scattered throughout the cabin, providing ample charging options.

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 a rear park-assist system. The Tech Pack added front, side, and rear park-assist, driver-attention monitoring, and a 360 “ParkView” surround-view camera, enabling Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, featuring lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The adaptive cruise control worked well, though the lane-keeping assist caused some side-to-side movement. The Sienna had plenty of airbags, including side curtain airbags for all three rows, and reminders for rear passengers and cargo. The NHTSA rated the Sienna with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave it top scores in crashworthiness and child restraint systems but rated its front crash prevention as “Average.”