Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2023 Audi Q3

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 Q3 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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Hornet and the Q3 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 around view monitors.

Dodge’s powertrain warranty covers the Hornet 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Audi 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 Q3’s 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Hornet has a standard 700-amp battery. The Q3’s 680-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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 81 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 30th, 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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

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 Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (288 vs. 228) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hornet GT 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Audi Q3:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet R/T running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q3 45 TFSI (77 city/77 hwy MPGe vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q3:

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Q3 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 Q3.

The Hornet stops much shorter than the Q3:

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 Q3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet GT handles at .83 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Q3 (26.8 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Hornet R/T’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Q3’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The Hornet GT’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Q3’s (38 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Hornet R/T has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (6.1 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Hornet to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Hornet GT’s minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the Q3 (8.1 vs. 5.5 inches).

The Dodge Hornet may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

The Hornet has 1.7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more rear headroom and 1.9 inches more rear legroom than the Q3.

The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (27 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Hornet’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Hornet’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Hornet’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Q3 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 $1497 to $2689 less than for the Audi Q3.