Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2024 Lexus UX

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

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX 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 UX 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

There are almost 10 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 10th.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 87 more horsepower (268 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 107 more horsepower (288 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Lexus UX:

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

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

Both the Hornet and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Hornet has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.5 vs. 10.6 gallons).

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 UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Hornet stops much shorter than the UX:

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

The Hornet’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Hornet offers optional 20-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Hornet offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Hornet is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Hornet has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (27 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

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

The Hornet has a much higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1195 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Hornet has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (1245 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Hornet uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Hornet and the UX 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 UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.