Kia Seltos vs Dodge Hornet

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh that included subtle yet effective tweaks. The Seltos featured updated headlight and grille designs, with a light strip now connecting the smaller taillights, presenting a modern face-lift without a significant price hike. Our test model sported the new “Pluton Blue” color, exuding a sharp and fresh look.

The interior of the Seltos received two new color options: “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green”. Our test model, however, had the standard black interior. The most eye-catching change inside was the large digital panel occupying two-thirds of the dash, which integrated a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

Trim levels for the Seltos included LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX. The LX came equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, two USB ports, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S trim added features like fog lights, LED daytime running lights, larger digital instruments, and combination cloth-and-synthetic leather upholstery.

The EX trim offered solar glass, synthetic leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and wireless device charging. The X-Line, replacing the Nightfall Edition, boasted 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, a dark gunmetal grille, and black sport design roof rails but dropped the wireless charging pad.

The SX trim came fully loaded with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED bi-function headlights, an electrochromatic rearview mirror, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The available SX Sunroof Package included additional amenities such as a power sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, ventilated front seats, and digital key 2.0.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet flaunted Dodge’s muscular design, even though it wasn’t a V8 muscle car. The big and brawny front end, complete with integrated heat extractors on the hood, gave it a robust look. The grille featured a large opening at the bottom, a smaller "mail slot" in the middle, and a new Rhombi logo situated front and center. The tail lamp stretched across the width of the crossover, emphasizing the illuminated Rhomb at its center.

Available in four trim levels—GT, GT Plus, R/T, and R/T Plus—the Hornet’s GT and GT Plus featured a regular gas engine, while the R/T and R/T Plus came with a more advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain. Our review model, an R/T Plus, included the Blacktop Package adding black wheels, mirror caps, and darker badging.

Sharing its platform with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet retained a blunt nose that screamed Dodge, contrasting the more streamlined front of its Italian sibling. Inside, the Hornet leveraged its Italian connections for a modern aesthetic. The $2,595 Track Pack added Alcantara-upholstered seats and Dodge Rhombi logos. Despite some outdated buttons and heavily bolstered seats, the Hornet's interior stood out for its sporty driver-centric design and well-laid-out physical switches.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engines. The base model came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). All-wheel drive was standard on the LX trim, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive with optional AWD.

The X-Line and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, powered through a new eight-speed automatic transmission. This turbocharged engine demonstrated noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in 40-to-60 mph situations, despite some initial turbo lag at lower speeds.

On the 2024 Dodge Hornet GT, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced an impressive 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. However, it required premium fuel, increasing running costs.

Our R/T test vehicle featured a plug-in hybrid setup with a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, a 15.5-kWh battery, and two electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The R/T also boasted an electric AWD system and a six-speed automatic transmission. While the R/T was heavier by 425 pounds due to its battery, it still delivered rapid acceleration and sporty driving dynamics. The "Powershot" feature added 30 horsepower for 15 seconds when activated by pulling both paddle shifters.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 26.6 cubic feet with the seats in use. The range-topping SX trim included a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos also provided ample headroom and solid driver visibility, along with significant rear legroom, even for taller passengers. Various storage options were present, including decent-sized in-door cupholders and cubbies for both front and rear doors.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet focused on front passenger comfort, with good headroom and visibility. However, the rear seats felt cramped despite having 38 inches of legroom and headroom on paper. The R/T's plug-in hybrid setup reduced cargo space, offering 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, compared to the GT's 27 and 54.7 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen in the base trim, with higher trims upgrading to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with physical volume and tuning dials. Higher trims like the SX included a Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone-based remote access.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet boasted a 12.3-inch digital driver information display, with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Operated by Dodge’s UConnect 5 system, it offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and a wireless phone charger. The system was customizable and user-friendly, despite occasional slow response times.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with standard safety features including forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. Higher trims like the S added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The top-tier SX trim included advanced features such as smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, with a more advanced version available at an extra cost. The Tech Pack added level 2 autonomous driving functions, enhancing the car’s ability to maintain lane positions and safe speeds.