Compare the2025 Dodge HornetVS 2023 Hyundai Kona N

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Dodge Hornet has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona N doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The Hornet has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona N doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Hornet offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona N only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Hornet and the Kona N have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Hornet has a standard 160-amp alternator. The Kona N’s 150-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 Kona N’s 640-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Dodge higher than Hyundai.

Engine

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 289) than the Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (288 vs. 276) and 94 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 289) than the Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet R/T running on electricity gets better mileage than the Kona N (77 city/77 hwy MPGe vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

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

			MPG
Hornet
	AWD	1.3 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
Kona N
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Kona N 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 Kona N doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Hornet’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Kona N doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Dodge Hornet uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Kona N requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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 Kona N doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

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 Kona N.

Brakes and Stopping

The Hornet stops shorter than the Kona N:

	Hornet	Kona N
100 to 0 MPH	334 feet	342 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	168 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

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

The Hornet has a standard space-saver spare (not available on R?T) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kona N; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Hornet’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Kona N (103.8 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The Hornet’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Kona N’s (63.9% to 36.1%). This gives the Hornet more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Hornet GT has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona N (8 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Hornet to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Hornet has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona N (98 vs. 94.1).

The Hornet has .2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona N.

Cargo Capacity

The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona N with its rear seat up (27 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Hornet has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona N with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Hornet’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Kona N doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Hornet has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona N has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Hornet uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kona N 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.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Hornet, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and radio stations. The Kona N doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Hornet’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kona N has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Kona N’s 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 Kona N can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Kona N’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Kona N’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Both the Dodge Hornet and Hyundai Kona N offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Hornet features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Kona N’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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 Kona N 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 Kona N doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Hornet’s 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. The Kona N doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Hornet and the Kona N offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Hornet has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona N doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Hornet has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Kona N doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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 Kona N doesn’t offer an automated parking system.