Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2024 Honda CR-V

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 CR-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Hornet has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Honda charges extra for Cross Traffic Monitor on the CR-V and its not available on the LX.

Both the Hornet and the CR-V 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 driver alert monitors.

There are over 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Hornet has a standard 700-amp battery. The CR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 18th.

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 Honda 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, Honda is rated below average.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 78 more horsepower (268 vs. 190) and 116 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet GT’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (268 vs. 204) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 247) than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 84 more horsepower (288 vs. 204) and 136 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 247) than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Honda CR-V:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V:

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

Both the Hornet and the CR-V have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Hornets have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

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

The Hornet stops much shorter than the CR-V:

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 CR-V LX’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Hornet offers optional 20-inch wheels. The CR-V’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Hornet is 6.8 inches shorter than the CR-V, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Hornet has .4 inches more front legroom and .9 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V.

The Hornet’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Hornet has a much higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V (1195 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Hornet has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the CR-V (1245 vs. 850 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Hornet and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Hornet is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

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

The Hornet’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/Sport.

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 CR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Hornet has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CR-V EX/Sport.

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 CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.