Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2024 Chevrolet Blazer

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 Blazer 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 for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Blazer 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 Blazer.

The Hornet has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Blazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Hornet has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Blazer.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The Hornet’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fifth.

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 Chevrolet 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, Chevrolet 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 Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet GT’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 270) than the Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 113 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 270) than the Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hornet R/T 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Chevrolet Blazer V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running on electricity gets better mileage than the Blazer:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Blazer:

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Blazer can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Hornet R/T’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Blazer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Hornet R/T has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Blazer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the Hornet R/T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Blazer:

The Hornet stops much shorter than the Blazer:

The Hornet GT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Blazer’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Blazer RS/Premier’s optional 45 series tires.

The Hornet has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Blazer’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Hornet offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Blazer’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Blazer’s (60.1% to 39.9%). This gives the Hornet more stable handling and braking.

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the Blazer RS 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Blazer RS 4x4 (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Hornet R/T’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Hornet GT’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Hornet GT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Blazer RS/Premier (8.1 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Hornet to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Dodge Hornet may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 pounds less than the Chevrolet Blazer.

The Hornet is 1 foot, 1.8 inches shorter than the Blazer, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Hornet’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Hornet’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Hornet the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Blazer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Hornet’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Blazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Hornet offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Blazer doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Hornet’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Blazer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Hornet will be $2827 to $7991 less than for the Chevrolet Blazer.