2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Dodge Hornet

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L continued the legacy of its predecessors with a design that balanced toughness and luxury. The Hydro Blue model with the High Altitude package featured a blacked-out grille, logos, and door handles, complemented by dark gray 21-inch wheels and black leather with gold stitching. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were classic Jeep, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and body-color bumpers added a contemporary touch. The interior of upper trims was impressive, with 90 percent of the materials feeling justified for a $70,000 truck. The polished black dash, metal dial for the gear selector, and diamond-patterned stitching on the seats added to the classy feel.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased Dodge's muscle-car styling cues with a wide, mean "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, and dual extractors. The rear end resembled a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, giving it a premium feel. The standard silver 17-inch wheels looked cheap from afar, but the available Blacktop and Track Pack packages offered better options. The Hornet came in seven fun exterior colors, including Hot Tamale and Blu Bayou. Inside, the GT Plus trim featured comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings. The driver-oriented cockpit layout and screen positioning favored the driver, though the A-pillar angle could obstruct the view of traffic from the right.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard V6 engine was its weakest element, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The sport mode improved throttle response but didn't allow the eight-speed automatic transmission to upshift to top gear in regular driving. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque was recommended, especially for towing, with max ratings of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 with the V6. Fuel economy for 4x4 models was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined with the V6, while the V8's ratings were 14/22/17. The chassis felt solid and stiff for confident handling, and the air suspension provided a smooth ride. Jeep offered three 4WD systems, with the Quadra-Drive II being the most advanced.

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. The Hornet's sport mode sharpened throttle responses, tightened steering, and optimized upshifts, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. The base Hornet GT was peppy from a standstill but had a significant lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace. The available Track Pack package and Direct Connection parts from Dodge's "Power Broker" dealers offered performance enhancements for those seeking more.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, with second-row captain's chairs standard on all trims. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for kids under 12. The driver's seat offered good sight lines and visibility, though the infotainment system's graphics and text had legibility issues. Cargo space was ample, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim featured comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings. The driver-oriented cockpit layout and screen positioning favored the driver, though the A-pillar angle could obstruct the view of traffic from the right. The front passenger's seat matched the driver's for adjustability, and both seats were heated and ventilated by default for GT Plus. The rear seats offered adequate space, and the cargo area was practical for a CUV of its size.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. The Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was generally quick and easy to use. The McIntosh sound system with 19 speakers was good but lacked surround imaging from the rear speakers. The night vision and Active Driving Assist were impressive, and the passenger screen in the dash was superb, offering video and music playback, navigation control, and 360 cameras.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's cockpit featured 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 connectivity. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium system, wireless charging pad, and navigation. The nav system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving verbal instructions after ending the route.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023 and five stars in every NHTSA test except for rollover, which scored four stars. Standard safety features included driver and passenger front knee airbags, forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included front cross-traffic braking, backup camera washer, and 360-degree cameras.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with 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. The Hornet was capable of Level 2 autonomous driving with lane-centering, intelligent speed assist, and intelligent adaptive cruise control with traffic-sign recognition and stop & go functionality. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.