A short life, officially over
The Hornet's obituary is confirmed: production at the Naples, Italy plant paused in July 2025 over US tariffs and ended permanently, per Dodge, in January 2026. Just 9,365 sold in 2025. The compact crossover that was supposed to be Dodge's volume future lasted three model years — and its leftovers are now some of the most aggressively discounted new metal in America, with warranty, service and parts support continuing as normal.
What the discounts buy
More than the sales chart suggests. The GT packs a 268-hp 2.0 turbo with standard AWD — on paper the quickest mainstream compact crossover of its era — while the R/T plug-in hybrid pairs 288 combined hp with ~32 miles of EV range and a PowerShot temporary boost. Underneath sits Alfa Romeo Tonale hardware: the chassis genuinely handles, the steering is quick, and nothing else at a discounted-Hornet price drives like it.
Original stickers ran ~$31,400 (GT) and ~$41,400 (R/T); real-world clearance pricing is the entire reason this article exists.
The honest assessment
The risks are exactly what you'd guess. Resale will be weak — orphaned nameplates depreciate hard, so the purchase discount must be deep enough to pre-pay that. The rear seat is tight, the reliability and dealer-experience record drew complaints even when new, and the R/T's hybrid complexity now belongs to a dead model line (though Tonale parts commonality softens the long-term parts question).
The buyer this works for: keeps cars long, buys on driving feel, and negotiates without mercy. The buyer it doesn't: anyone who trades every three years.
The questions buyers actually ask
How big a discount is enough? Enough to undercut equivalent Mazda CX-30/Sportage deals by a wide margin — that gap is your depreciation insurance.
GT or R/T? The GT is the simpler, safer orphan. The R/T's PHEV hardware is the better drive but the riskier long-term hold.
Will parts be a problem? Unlikely — Tonale production continues and Stellantis support obligations stand. Dealer familiarity, not parts, is the friction.
- Confirmed dead January 2026 (tariffs + weak sales); support continues
- Clearance stock: 268-hp AWD GT, 288-hp PHEV R/T
- Genuinely sharp Tonale-based chassis — the class's sleeper drive
- Weak resale is certain: buy only at a deep discount, hold long
- Rivals (for price checks): Mazda CX-30 Turbo, Kia Sportage, Tonale itself
Key takeaways
- Confirmed dead January 2026 (tariffs + weak sales); support continues
- Clearance stock: 268-hp AWD GT, 288-hp PHEV R/T
- Genuinely sharp Tonale-based chassis — the class's sleeper drive
- Weak resale is certain: buy only at a deep discount, hold long
- Rivals (for price checks): Mazda CX-30 Turbo, Kia Sportage, Tonale itself
Sources & further reading
- Dodge/Stellantis statements (January 2026)
- sales data
- US clearance-market coverage, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
