1 Brand-New Dodge Is Selling for Half of MSRP
With the Dodge Durango enjoying its best sales in 20 years, the automaker has decided to axe its smaller Hornet crossover. It’s official. The Italian-built Dodge is going the way of the dodo. But not before dealerships dump any Hornets left on the lot at deep discounts.
We have Stephen Rivers at Carscoops to thank for spotting the trend. Dealerships across the country are slashing asking prices for gently used and even brand-new Hornet crossovers. This includes 2024 GT models with zero miles on the odometer. Some are listed for under $20,000.
Yes, that’s a brand-new crossover with a full manufacturer warranty for under $20K. Right now, no other new crossover touches that price.
That discovery made me curious. I opened MotorBiscuit’s car-buying tool. Sure enough, there are new Hornets listed near Detroit for around $20,000. You can use the same tool to check Dodge Hornet listings near you.
Why the Dodge Hornet never found its audience
While Stellantis retooled North American factories that once built the Charger and Challenger, it needed something besides the Durango to fill dealer lots. Its solution was to rebadge the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Dodge sold it as the Hornet.
Many muscle-car fans mocked the “puny” four-cylinder crossover. Some called it a “fake Dodge.” I’ll admit it. I made some fun of it.
But as Matt Smith at CarGurus pointed out, Stellantis actually delivered something industry experts said Americans needed. The Hornet became one of the few affordable four-cylinder plug-in hybrid crossovers on the market. If it had worn a Chrysler badge—or kept the Alfa Romeo name—fewer people might have laughed.
The AWD PHEV version is the Hornet R/T. And it started at nearly $50,000. Reviewers agreed that it couldn’t compete with the luxury PHEVs at that pricepoint. But at the price of a Chevrolet Trax, it’s a steal. You can see Smith’s original review embedded below:
