Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2024 Ford Edge

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Hornet are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Edge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Edge 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 Edge doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Edge 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.

Both the Hornet and the Edge 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

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 Ford 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, Ford is rated lower.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (268 vs. 250) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hornet GT 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Ford Edge turbo 4 cyl.:

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

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

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Edge 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 Edge 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 Edge. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Dodge Hornet higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford Edge (5 to 6). This means the Hornet produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Edge every 15,000 miles.

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 Edge.

The Hornet stops much shorter than the Edge:

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 Edge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the Edge Titanium pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Edge Titanium (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Hornet R/T’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Edge’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The Hornet GT’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Edge’s (38 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Dodge Hornet may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the Ford Edge.

The Hornet is 10.8 inches shorter than the Edge, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Hornet’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Edge’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Edge 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 Edge’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Hornet’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Edge SEL/ST-Line/ST/Titanium.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Hornet will be $7205 to $9139 less than for the Ford Edge.