2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Dodge Hornet

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler was a testament to rugged design, reminiscent of driving a brick with its fourth-generation JL model. It offered a choice between a two-door Wrangler and a four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, with the option to remove doors for an open-air experience. The Wrangler's windshield could fold down, and it featured various top options for those who craved open-air exploration. Its design was simple yet functional, with wide fenders, Jeep's iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and old-school exterior hood latches. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted for easy cargo access. Inside, the Wrangler maintained practicality with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats, a body-coloured dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet, while not a V8 muscle car, still carried the distinctive Dodge styling with a muscular front end and integrated heat extractors on the hood. Its grille featured a large opening at the bottom, a smaller "mail slot" in the middle, and a new Rhombi logo front and centre. The tail lamp extended across the width of the crossover, with an illuminated Rhombi at its centre. The Hornet was available in four trim levels: GT, GT Plus, R/T, and R/T Plus, with the R/T Plus trim featuring a Blacktop Package. Built alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet shared visual similarities with its Italian sibling but retained classic Dodge design elements. Inside, the Hornet's interior had a modern feel, with Alcantara upholstery, a centre stack tilted toward the driver, and a widescreen infotainment display.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler was a powerhouse for off-road enthusiasts, offering solid axles front and rear and optional differential lockers. It came with various engine options, including a standard Pentastar V6 engine with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Torque lovers could opt for the 3.0-litre Ecodiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-litre V8 engine with 470 horsepower and torque, capable of accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in roughly 4.5 seconds. The Wrangler 4xe was a plug-in hybrid with two electric motors and a 17.3-kWh battery pack, offering 35 kilometres of all-electric range. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were enhanced by different transfer cases, with the Xtreme Recon package providing a crawl ratio of 58:1. However, the 392 model had flaws in its brakes and steering, which were not as pronounced in other trims.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet offered different powertrains, with the GT trim featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim was a plug-in hybrid with a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 15.5-kWh battery, and two electric motors, producing 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. Both trims came with all-wheel drive, with the R/T using an electric AWD system. The R/T was quick, with a heavy pedal and a Sport mode for added performance. The suspension was soft enough to absorb road imperfections while maintaining stability during cornering. The R/T's all-electric driving range was approximately 53 kilometres, with a fuel economy of 3.1 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres in hybrid mode. The GT trim had a fuel economy of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.2 on the highway, and 9.9 combined.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler offered comfortable front seats, with heated options available in specific trims or through a cold-weather package. The rear seat could fit three passengers in four-door models, but space was tight, and the small rear doors made access challenging. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash and small glove box and centre console. The Wrangler's cargo space was 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded, slightly less than the Bronco. The hard top could be removed in one piece, and the soft top was easy to remove, although the plastic rear window could be cumbersome. The Sky One-Touch power soft top provided a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler featured multiple charging points, including USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, and a 115-volt outlet.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet prioritized front passenger comfort, with good headroom and visibility. Leather seats were available, but the rear seat felt cramped due to the high beltline and all-black interior. The R/T's PHEV battery reduced cargo capacity, offering 648 litres behind the rear seat and 1,430 litres with the seat folded, compared to the GT's 764 litres and 1,549 litres, respectively. Both trims fell short of the Hyundai Tucson PHEV's cargo space. The Hornet's interior was designed with front passengers in mind, but rear passengers experienced a more confined space.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Jeep's Uconnect infotainment system, while our tester had the larger 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system appeared complex at first but was intuitive once familiar. It included off-road pages with information on power distribution, temperatures, oil pressure, pitch and roll, and GPS coordinates. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity were standard. The Wrangler had a forward-facing camera for off-road trails and auxiliary switches for aftermarket lighting, but lacked advanced tech features like a digital key or over-the-air updates for vehicle performance.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet boasted a best-in-class 12.3-inch digital driver information display and a 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment display. The UConnect 5 system was user-friendly and customizable, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Our test vehicle included a premium Harman Kardon audio system and a wireless phone charger. The system was easy to personalize, allowing users to set up dedicated profiles and add widgets to various screens.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler had limited standard safety features, including a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on top trims or available as part of an option package. The Wrangler received mixed ratings from the IIHS, with some trims receiving Poor rankings for headlights. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler four out of five stars for frontal crash tests and three out of five for rollover ratings.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet had not been evaluated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included an impressive selection of standard advanced driver assistance systems. These features included 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. The Tech Pack added level 2 autonomous driving functions, enhancing the Hornet's safety capabilities.