Compare the2023 Dodge HornetVS 2023 BMW X2

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Dodge Hornet are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X2 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Hornet has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X2 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Hornet offers optional Rear Park-Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The X2 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Hornet. But it costs extra on the X2.

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The X2 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Hornet has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the X2’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Hornet has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the X2.

The Hornet’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The X2 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Hornet and the X2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Hornet 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Dodge dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Hornet has a standard 160-amp alternator. The X2’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (268 vs. 228) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the X2’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 331) than the X2 M35i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 30 miles. The X2 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Hornet has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X2 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Hornet, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X2.

For better traction, the Hornet’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X2 (235/40R20 vs. 225/50R18).

For greater off-road capability the Hornet GT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X2 (8.1 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Hornet to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Hornet has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X2.

The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X2 with its rear seat up (27 vs. 21.6 cubic feet). The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X2 with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Hornet’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The X2 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Hornet has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The X2 has no towing capacity.

The Hornet offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X2 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Hornet has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X2 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Hornet keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X2 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.