2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Dodge Hornet

The 2024 Dodge Hornet and the 2024 Genesis GV70 both presented themselves as distinct and attractive options, each with its unique design language. The Hornet, although not a big, V8 muscle car like the Dodge Charger or Dodge Challenger, carried the brand's aggressive styling. From its muscular front end to the integrated heat extractors on the hood, the Hornet looked robust. Its grille featured large openings and a new logo called the Rhombi, prominently placed at the center, asserting its Dodge identity. The tail lamp extended across the rear width, incorporating an illuminated Rhombi. Oversized tailpipes further emphasized its performance-oriented nature. Available in four trims—GT, GT Plus, R/T, and R/T Plus—the Hornet's R/T Plus trim, tested with the Blacktop Package, included black wheels and darker accents.

Built alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet shared some visual similarities but maintained a blunt nose true to Dodge’s design. Inside, it adopted a modern edge thanks to its Italian association. Our test vehicle with the $2,595 Track Pack included Alcantara seats adorned with the Dodge Rhombi logo. The center stack tilted slightly towards the driver, with a row of physical climate control switches and a widescreen infotainment display adding to the sporty feel. The steering wheel was appropriately sized, although some buttons felt outdated, and the heavily bolstered seats catered more to sportiness than everyday comfort.

In contrast, the Genesis GV70 stood out both in the Genesis lineup and among its competitors thanks to its sleek styling. It retained Genesis’s signature split headlights and large shield-like grille for brand recognition but was sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80. Standout details included a hatchback-like rear window profile and large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim. The available 21-inch wheels offered distinctive designs.

The GV70 balanced SUV presence and luxury-car style effectively, distinguishing it from competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Porsche Macan. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same luxurious appeal, with an almost unchanged design save for a flashy grille doubling as a charge port.

Inside, the GV70 boasted one of the most distinctive interiors, featuring quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. Unique elements included an elliptical pod housing for climate controls and an infotainment system rotary controller. The dashboard's rounded cross-section echoed an airplane wing, showcasing Genesis's commitment to different yet appealing designs.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet and the 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a range of powertrains tailored to varying preferences. The Hornet was available in GT and R/T trims, each with a “Plus” variant. The GT trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD.

In contrast, the R/T trim, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), combined a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 15.5-kWh battery, and two electric motors, producing a total of 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The R/T had an electric AWD system and a six-speed automatic transmission. Despite weighing 425 pounds more than the GT, the R/T was quick and offered a 30-mile all-electric range, practical for short commutes. The Hornet R/T could drive in all-electric mode, save the battery for later, or operate as a hybrid.

On the other hand, the Genesis GV70 had no changes for 2024 in its powertrains. The standard gasoline version came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 offered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both were equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70 had twin electric motors producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from a 77.4-kWh battery pack, with a "Boost Mode" increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts.

The GV70 didn't excel in providing either sporty driving or extreme comfort but found a balance. While the Electrified GV70 offered vigorous straight-line acceleration, its chassis felt heavier and less agile compared to sportier rivals like the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan. It was reasonably comfortable but lacked the float-over-bumps feel of pricier SUVs. The Electrified GV70, slightly heavier, did not feel more cumbersome than its gasoline counterpart.

From a space and comfort perspective, the Dodge Hornet mainly prioritized its front passengers. The front seats offered good headroom and outward visibility. However, the back seat felt cramped due to the high beltline and dark interior. Despite 38 inches of headroom and legroom on paper, occupants felt confined. The R/T PHEV’s battery sacrificed some cargo capacity, reducing it to 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.5 cubic feet with them folded, less than the GT’s 27 cubic feet and 54.7 cubic feet, respectively. Both figures fell short of the Hyundai Tucson PHEV's nearly 32/72 cubic feet.

In comparison, the Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space. It provided slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but had fractionally more front-seat legroom than its BMW and Mercedes rivals, and slightly less than the Audi. Rear legroom was almost identical to the Q5 and GLC, slightly better than the X3. The GV70 had 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, better than the Mercedes (21.9 cubic feet), marginally better than the BMW (28.7 cubic feet), but less than the Audi (29.5 cubic feet). With the rear seats down, it offered 56.9 cubic feet, less than any of its German competitors.

The GV70's Electrified model saw minimal changes to interior space due to the battery pack, with a slight reduction in legroom and headroom. Cargo space differences between the gasoline and electric versions were negligible. However, the stylish interior design of the GV70 diminished small-item storage space. Despite this, amenities like a dedicated phone storage nook and automatic side bolsters in Sport mode added to its appeal.

The Dodge Hornet impressed with its tech features, starting with a 12.3-inch digital driver information display that was customizable and clear. The standard 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment display looked luxurious and operated on the Android-based UConnect 5 system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, along with a premium Harman Kardon audio system and wireless phone charger. Although the system occasionally lagged, it was likely due to our test pre-production model. The tech system’s easy personalization through dedicated user profiles and widgets was a highlight.

Conversely, the Genesis GV70 borrowed from the Hyundai parts bin for its infotainment, resulting in a simpler system compared to its BMW and Mercedes rivals. The GV70 featured a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher trims boasted a 12.3-inch unit with a nostalgic 3D effect and an available 12-inch head-up display. A 16-speaker Lexicon audio system was also available. The touchscreen's large tiles and intuitive layout made it easy to use, complemented by a high-quality rotary controller. Additional tech included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and a digital key from Hyundai.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet hadn’t yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it included standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was standard, with a more advanced version available. Level 2 autonomous driving functions were optional with the $2,245 Tech Pack, which performed adequately during our tests.

The Genesis GV70’s gasoline versions received the IIHS’s highest Top Safety Pick+ award, and the Electrified GV70 had the same rating for 2023. The NHTSA gave the 2024 gasoline GV70 four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings, with the 2023 gasoline version receiving a five-star overall rating. The GV70 included standard safety features like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. The advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 added lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring.