2024 Dodge Hornet vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from Volvo's past boxy designs. It showcased a purposeful yet understated front end, with an assertive grille and the distinctive "Thor’s Hammer" headlights. The Platinum Gray paint added a touch of richness, while the interior exuded elegance with two-tone leather, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design, complemented by wood deco inlays, created a serene and sophisticated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Dodge Hornet retained the brand’s muscular styling, featuring a bold front end with integrated heat extractors and a distinctive Rhombi logo. The tail lamp extended across the width of the crossover, emphasizing its performance-oriented design. Inside, the Hornet benefited from its Italian lineage, offering a modern feel with Alcantara upholstery and a driver-focused center stack. However, some elements, like the steering wheel buttons, felt outdated. The back seat, despite decent legroom and headroom on paper, felt cramped due to the high beltline and dark interior.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. The B5 engine delivered 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 engine, equipped with both a supercharger and turbocharger, produced 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency slightly and provided smoother operation. The XC90 offered a comfortable and quiet ride, with impressive handling for its size, and a solid braking system. However, it lacked extensive customizable driving dynamics, focusing instead on simplicity and ease of use.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet offered two main powertrains: the GT with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and the R/T with a plug-in hybrid setup combining a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, a 15.5-kWh battery, and two electric motors, resulting in 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The R/T featured an electric AWD system and a six-speed automatic transmission, while the GT had a nine-speed automatic and mechanical AWD. The R/T’s performance was enhanced by features like Sport mode and Powershot, providing an extra 30 horsepower for short bursts. Despite its weight, the Hornet R/T offered a balanced ride with minimal body roll and accurate steering.

The 2023 Volvo XC90’s interior was elegant but had some practical limitations. The front seats were comfortable, but storage space was limited, with no dedicated spot for a cell phone and a small center console bin. The second row was reasonably spacious but adjusting the seats was challenging. The third row was difficult to access and offered limited space. Cargo capacity was decent, with 12.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats down, though it fell short compared to some competitors.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet prioritized front passenger comfort, offering good headroom and visibility. However, the back seat felt cramped due to the high beltline and dark interior. The R/T’s PHEV battery reduced cargo capacity slightly, with 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 50.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, compared to the GT’s 27 and 54.7 cubic feet, respectively. Both versions offered less cargo space than the Hyundai Tucson PHEV.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Google OS, with built-in Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant. The 12.3-inch driver information display also integrated Google Maps. While the system was smart and user-friendly, it relied heavily on the touchscreen for many functions, which could be frustrating. More physical buttons and redundant controls would have been appreciated.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet boasted a 12.3-inch digital driver information display and a 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment display running UConnect 5. The system was user-friendly and customizable, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Our test vehicle included a premium Harman Kardon audio system and a wireless phone charger. Despite occasional slow response times, the system generally performed well and offered a high level of personalization.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, earning a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. It came standard with advanced driver safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist, which helped maintain distance and lane position.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came standard with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Tech Pack added level 2 autonomous driving functions, enhancing safety and convenience.