Compare the2024 Honda HR-VVS 2024 Dodge Hornet

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Honda HR-V have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Dodge Hornet doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Honda HR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Hornet doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the HR-V and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Honda HR-V has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Hornet has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the HR-V for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Hornet.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the HR-V’s reliability 43 points higher than the Hornet.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 16 places higher in reliability than Dodge.

On the EPA test cycle the HR-V gets better mileage than the Hornet running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda HR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The HR-V has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (14 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda HR-V higher (7 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (6 to 7). This means the HR-V produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

The HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Hornet doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the HR-V’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Hornet:

The HR-V stops shorter than the Hornet:

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the HR-V Sport’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (37 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the HR-V LX/EX-L has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (7 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the HR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 800 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

The HR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Hornet doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has .6 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

The HR-V has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (55.1 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

The HR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Hornet doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $255 to $1265 less than the Hornet over a five-year period.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 58.09% to 59.84% of its original price after five years, while the Hornet only retains 51.34% to 51.35%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $8516 to $9651 less than for the Dodge Hornet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Hornet isn't recommended.

The Honda HR-V outsold the Dodge Hornet by over 13 to one during 2023.