2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2023 Subaru Outback

For 2023, Subaru gave the Outback a facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design made it appear as though the Outback had large air intakes at each corner. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights nestled into oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model gave the 2023 Outback a more aggressive appearance.

The Onyx Edition, one of six trim designations for the Outback, became more accessible in 2023 with the base powertrain option, starting at $33,495. Outbacks equipped with the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine ranged from $28,395 to $39,845, while the turbocharged XT models ranged from $38,445 to $42,295. Our test vehicle, a Touring trim with the standard powertrain, had a Cosmic Blue paint job and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, with an MSRP of $41,070. The interior of the Touring trim was upscale and cohesive, with Java Brown leather contrasting beautifully with the otherwise black interior.

The new Hornet’s front end displayed unmistakable 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 Dodge Rhombi. The standard illuminated Rhombi logo punctuated taillights that spanned the vehicle’s width. From the side and rear quarter, the Hornet CUV resembled a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, with windows that pointed upward, cat-eye-fashion. This design choice felt more premium, reflecting the Hornet’s basis on the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The Hornet’s standard silver 17-inch wheels looked cheap from afar, though the design had its merits up close. The available Blacktop package swapped these for 18-inch black alloy wheels and added Gloss Black badging, mirror caps, and moldings. The Track Pack package offered 20-inch wheels and red Brembo brake calipers. Dodge continued its “High Impact Paint” tradition with seven fun exterior color options, including Acapulco Gold, Blu Bayou, and Hot Tamale.

Subaru’s 2023 Outback used horizontally opposed engines, known as boxer types, which helped reduce the vehicle’s center of gravity for better handling. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. However, our 3,781-pound test vehicle felt underpowered, especially when passing or climbing. The EPA estimated 28 mpg in combined driving, but we achieved only 25.6 mpg over 600 miles. The Outback XT models, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, offered 260 hp at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 rpm and 4,800 rpm, providing a more satisfying driving experience.

The Outback’s CVT was programmed to mimic an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. All 2023 Outback models included an Active Torque Split AWD system and an X-Mode traction system for challenging terrain. The standard Outback had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, while the Wilderness trim offered 9.5 inches. The Outback excelled in off-road conditions and snowy weather, but the standard engine’s lack of power was a drawback. The suspension tuning provided a firm ride at lower speeds and excellent ride quality at higher speeds.

Dodge touted the Hornet’s “best-in-class performance,” with the Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This outperformed 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. The base Hornet GT was peppy from a standstill but exhibited significant lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T’s hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. Our Touring test vehicle had a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with a manually-adjustable thigh support bolster and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat. Both seats were heated and ventilated, with the rear outboard seats also heated. The Outback’s interior was comfortable, with plenty of legroom and storage space. The cargo area offered 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

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

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control. The base Outback had a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered wireless connectivity, a navigation system, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Starlink system was improved for 2023 but still had confusing graphics and poor voice recognition. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s 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, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium system, a wireless charging pad, and navigation. The navigation system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving instructions after ending a route.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster, earning top marks from the IIHS. The Base model included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Automatic Emergency Steering. The Outback’s adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems felt artificial, and the rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways.

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, a 360 “ParkView” surround-view camera, and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.