Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2023 Jeep Cherokee

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Hornet and the Cherokee 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 19th.

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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 88 more horsepower (268 vs. 180) and 124 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 171) than the Cherokee’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (288 vs. 270) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 295) than the Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Jeep Cherokee:

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

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

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee. 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 Jeep Cherokee (5 to 6). This means the Hornet produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

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

The Hornet stops much shorter than the Cherokee:

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 Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Cherokee Altitude LUX’s optional 60 series tires.

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

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

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the Cherokee pulls only .77 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 Cherokee (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Hornet R/T’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Cherokee Trailhawk’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Hornet is 4.9 inches shorter than the Cherokee, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Hornet has .6 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room and 3.6 inches more rear hip room than the Cherokee.

The Hornet has a higher standard payload capacity than the Cherokee (1195 vs. 1000 lbs.).

The Hornet has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Cherokee (1245 vs. 1000 lbs.).

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 Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Dodge Hornet offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.