Compare the2025 Dodge HornetVS 2025 Hyundai Tucson

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 Tucson 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 Tucson doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Hornet. But it costs extra on the Tucson.

Both the Hornet and the Tucson have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

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.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Hornet has a standard 160-amp alternator. The Tucson’s 150-amp alternator 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.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (268 vs. 187) and 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 178) than the Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (288 vs. 187) and 205 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 178) than the Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Hyundai Tucson:

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

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet R/T running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Tucson AWD (29 city/29 hwy vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson.

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

The Hornet stops shorter than the Tucson:

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 Tucson’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Tucson’s optional 55 series tires.

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

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

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the Tucson Limited AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tucson Limited AWD (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Hornet R/T’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.6 feet). The Hornet GT’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (38 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Hornet is 4.7 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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 Tucson’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

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 Tucson can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Hornet has standard Keyless Enter-N-Go that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited offers a Proximity Key.

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 Tucson’s standard 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 Tucson doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Hornet’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited.

Both the Dodge Hornet and Hyundai Tucson 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 Tucson’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Hornet has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited.

Both the Hornet and the Tucson 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 Tucson doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.