Compare the2025 GMC TerrainVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

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 Terrain are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Terrain and Hornet have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Terrain has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Terrain and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 around view monitors.

The Terrain’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Hornet’s (6 vs. 5 years).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Terrain has a standard 760-amp battery. The Hornet’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. With 100 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Dodge.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Terrain uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (14.8 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 13.5 gallons).

The Terrain FWD 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 traction, the Terrain has larger tires than the Hornet (235/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Terrain’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Hornet (107.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Terrain is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Hornet.

For better maneuverability, the Terrain’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (37.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Terrain’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (37.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

The GMC Terrain may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 550 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

The front grille of the Terrain uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Hornet doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Terrain 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 Terrain has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Hornet with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 27 cubic feet). The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

The Terrain’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Hornet doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Terrain’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Hornet has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Terrain’s standard Keyless Open and Start allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Hornet doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Terrain has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

When the Terrain with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Hornet’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Terrain has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Hornet. The Terrain also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Hornet.

The Terrain has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Hornet.

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

The GMC Terrain outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost 8 to one during 2023.