Dodge Hornet Kingston: Choosing Between the Gas Version and the Plug-In R/T for Ontario Driving
The Dodge Hornet is Dodge's small SUV, and the single most useful thing to know about it is that every Hornet in the Government of Canada's fuel consumption ratings is all-wheel drive.
The second most useful thing: two quite different vehicles wear the badge. One is a gas four-cylinder, and one is a plug-in hybrid called the R/T.
At Jim Thompson Chrysler on Gardiners Road, we are a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership, so the Hornet is one of ours to talk through, appraise your trade against, finance and service.
This guide covers what the Hornet is, which version suits which Kingston driver, and how trade-ins and financing work at our store, O.A.C.
Key Takeaways
Every Dodge Hornet in the federal fuel consumption ratings is all-wheel drive. There is no front-wheel-drive Hornet in the Canadian data, in any model year.
Those federal ratings run 2023, 2024 and 2025, so every figure below is pinned to one of those three years.
The gas Hornet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, rated in those same federal ratings at 9.9 L/100 km combined on regular fuel in all three years. No model year is meaningfully thriftier than another.
The Hornet R/T is a plug-in hybrid: a 1.3-litre four-cylinder and an electric motor, rated in the same federal data for 53 kilometers of electric range with a four-hour recharge in 2024 and 2025. It only earns its keep if you actually plug it in.
You can see what your current vehicle is worth online before you come in, and financing is available through our online credit application, O.A.C.
What Is the Dodge Hornet? The Short Answer for Kingston Drivers
The Hornet is the compact one. Dodge is known around here for the big stuff, and this is the small SUV that sits well underneath the Durango.
That size is the whole point of it. It is a vehicle you are happy to park on a downtown block on a Saturday, and it still takes the 401 to Toronto on Monday without feeling out of its depth.
With all-wheel drive standard underneath, that makes it a Thousand Islands Parkway long-weekend vehicle as easily as a school-run one.
All-wheel drive is not an option box on the Hornet; it is simply what a Canadian Hornet is.
Every Hornet in the federal ratings for 2023, 2024 and 2025 is listed as an all-wheel-drive vehicle. There is no front-drive version in the data to go looking for.
Those federal ratings stop at the 2025 model year, which is why this guide covers 2023 through 2025 and makes no claim at all about a newer one.
If you want to know what is in the current Dodge lineup this month, ask our sales team rather than a chart, and watch our new inventory.
Which Dodge Hornet Fits You: The Gas Version or the Plug-In R/T
Answer one question and the rest follows: can you plug a vehicle in where you park it overnight?
If the honest answer is no, you are shopping the gas Hornet. If it is yes, the Dodge Hornet Kingston drivers plug in overnight — the R/T — is worth a serious look.
The Gas Hornet
The gas Hornet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, driving all four wheels, and it runs on regular fuel.
Its combined rating in the federal data is 9.9 L/100 km for 2023, 2024 and 2025 — the same number three years running, so there is no model year to chase for economy.
So between two used Hornets a year apart, pick the one with the better condition, history and kilometers — the fuel side is a wash.
The Hornet R/T Plug-In Hybrid
The R/T is a different machine wearing the same name. It pairs a 1.3-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic, and it is also all-wheel drive.
The federal ratings list it for 2024 and 2025 with 53 kilometers of electric range, a combined 3.1 Le/100 km while it is running on electricity, and a four-hour recharge.
Run out of charge and it does not strand you. The same data lists a combined 8.1 L/100 km on gasoline for those two model years, which is how it behaves once the battery is done.
How the Two Compare on Paper
Here is everything the federal ratings say about the Hornet, each figure beside the model year and version it belongs to.
2023 Hornet, gas. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rated in the federal ratings at 9.9 L/100 km combined on regular fuel.
2024 Hornet, gas. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rated in the federal ratings at 9.9 L/100 km combined on regular fuel.
2024 Hornet R/T, plug-in hybrid. A 1.3-litre four-cylinder plus an electric motor on a six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rated in the federal ratings for 53 kilometers of electric range, 3.1 Le/100 km on electricity, 8.1 L/100 km on gasoline and a four-hour recharge.
2025 Hornet, gas. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rated in the federal ratings at 9.9 L/100 km combined on regular fuel.
2025 Hornet R/T, plug-in hybrid. A 1.3-litre four-cylinder plus an electric motor on a six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rated in the federal ratings for 53 kilometers of electric range, 3.1 Le/100 km on electricity, 8.1 L/100 km on gasoline and a four-hour recharge.
Where these numbers come from: the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, published by Natural Resources Canada, read September 25, 2026.
What is not in that source is just as important: trim names, equipment, horsepower, towing and cargo space are not published there, so we do not quote them. Those belong to the original window sticker on the specific vehicle in front of you.
If you would rather build one from scratch and see the versions laid out, start with the Build and Price tool and bring what you put together to our sales team.
All-Wheel Drive and a Kingston Winter
Standard all-wheel drive is the Hornet's best argument in this city, because it takes the worst decision out of a February morning.
You are not deciding whether to spend extra for traction. Every Hornet in the federal ratings, gas or plug-in, already has it.
What it buys you is grip getting moving: pulling out of an unplowed side street in the west end, climbing the hill on Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard, or merging onto the 401 in slush behind a transport.
What it does not buy you is stopping distance. All-wheel drive helps you go, and winter tires are what help you stop and steer.
So the honest Kingston setup is all-wheel drive plus four winter tires, ideally on their own rims so the swap is quick.
Get that booked before the first storm rather than after it — our service department is at its busiest the week after the first real snowfall, every single year.
Living With a Plug-In Hybrid in Kingston: Can You Charge Where You Park?
If You Cannot Plug In Where You Park
If you cannot charge where you park, do not buy the R/T. That is the whole answer.
A plug-in hybrid you never plug in is a hybrid carrying a battery it cannot fill. The federal figure that describes that life is the 8.1 L/100 km combined gas number for the 2024 and 2025 R/T, not the electric one.
Condo parking, street parking and a workplace with no outlet all point the same way: the gas Hornet is the honest pick, and you can watch our new inventory for what is listed.
If You Can Plug In: What 53 Kilometers Buys You Here
Now the better half of the answer. If you have a driveway or a garage with an outlet, the 53 kilometers of electric range in those federal ratings covers a lot of Kingston days.
A run from the west end to downtown and back, a school-and-groceries loop, a shift at the hospital or the base — plenty of weeks here never ask much of the gas engine at all.
The catch is the recharge. The rated time is four hours in the same federal data, and the outlet you actually have at home decides whether you hit it, so look at what is on that garage wall before you count on it.
Then the part people forget about a plug-in hybrid. The gas engine is still under the hood, so you never plan a trip around where you can charge.
A run to Ottawa, a weekend up the Thousand Islands Parkway, the 401 to Toronto and back the same day — all of it is just a drive, with no route planning and no watching a percentage.
And on a cold morning with charge in it, the R/T pulls away on the electric motor before the engine has anything to say about it.
Who the Dodge Hornet Isn't For
A compact SUV is a compromise, and it is a bad one for three kinds of buyer.
If you need a third row, you are shopping a bigger vehicle. Our Dodge Durango guide covers the three-row side of the Dodge lineup and is the better place to start.
If towing a trailer is a regular part of your week, a pickup is the honest answer instead of a compact SUV. Our Ram 1500 guide walks through that decision.
And if you want the cheapest possible fuel bill on a highway-only commute, a small all-wheel-drive SUV is not where that is found.
None of that makes the Hornet a bad vehicle. It makes it a specific one, and it is worth knowing before you spend a Saturday on it.
If one of those three is you, our used inventory is a good place to start looking at something bigger.
What to Confirm on a Dodge Hornet in Kingston Before You Sign
Confirm which vehicle you are actually buying, because "Hornet" names two of them.
The cue that settles it for certain is the VIN, and running one is something we do in our own building. We are a Dodge store with our own service department on Gardiners Road, so the number goes into the manufacturer's system while the customer is standing at the counter.
What comes back is which powertrain that specific vehicle has, what factory coverage is still live on it, and whether any recall work is outstanding on it.
Work down this list before you sign anything:
Which powertrain it is. The R/T is the plug-in hybrid and the gas Hornet is the 2.0-litre, and a badge is not proof on a used one — the cue you can see for yourself is the charge port, because only the plug-in has one.
The model year and what came with that specific car. Trim names and equipment are not published in the ratings we work from, so read the original window sticker rather than a chart.
If it is an R/T, the charge cord. Confirm the cord is with the vehicle, and check the outlet at home before you count on a four-hour recharge.
The tires. Check the tread and find out whether a winter set comes with it, and if you are unsure what you are looking at, bring it to our service department and we will measure the tread and tell you straight.
Remaining factory coverage and any open recall. Bring us the VIN, or bring us the vehicle, and our service department will check it against the manufacturer's system and book any open work while you are here, instead of leaving you to work through the public Transport Canada database on your own.
A proper look underneath on a used one. Book a pre-purchase inspection with our service department before money changes hands, on any used vehicle, whoever is selling it.
The last judgement call is yours: read the kilometers against the vehicle's age and the service records.
Trading In and Financing a Dodge Hornet in Kingston (O.A.C.)
Yes to both, and they are easier together than apart.
Trading In What You Are Driving Now
See what your current vehicle is worth online first, so you walk in with a starting number rather than a feeling.
We appraise it in person and put the value in writing, based on its condition, kilometers, history and what the same vehicle is doing in Eastern Ontario right now.
Bring the ownership, every key you have, the service records, and your lender's details if there is still a loan on it.
If there is a loan, with your permission we request the payout from your lender and show it beside the appraisal on one page, so nothing is hiding.
We also buy vehicles outright, so an extra vehicle can be sold to us even if you are not buying anything today.
Financing It, O.A.C.
Financing is available on new and pre-owned vehicles at Jim Thompson Chrysler through our online credit application, O.A.C.
Approval depends on your application, income, credit, the vehicle and the lender's requirements, so nobody here is going to promise you an outcome before we have seen the file.
Pre-approval is available, O.A.C., it is not binding, and it does not commit you to a Hornet or to anything else.
Lease options are available on new vehicles as well, O.A.C., and our finance office will walk through the difference in plain language rather than jargon.
Why Buy Your Dodge Hornet in Kingston at Jim Thompson Chrysler
Because the people who sell you the vehicle and the people who look after it work in the same building on Gardiners Road.
With a large selection of new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles in stock, Jim Thompson Chrysler has one of the largest selections in the area. Stock changes daily, so the live listings are the only honest picture of what is here today.
What we do:
Walk you through the gas version and the R/T against your actual week, not against a brochure.
Appraise your trade in person and put the number in writing, whatever make it is and whether or not it is paid off.
Take an application online so the finance side is moving before you visit, O.A.C.
Run the VIN, check what factory coverage is still on the vehicle, and handle any open recall in our own service department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dodge Hornet all-wheel drive?
Yes. Every Dodge Hornet in the Government of Canada's fuel consumption ratings for 2023, 2024 and 2025 is listed as all-wheel drive, gas and plug-in hybrid alike.
There is no front-wheel-drive Hornet in the Canadian data to look for. Pair it with four winter tires and you have a sensible Kingston setup.
What is the difference between the gas Hornet and the Hornet R/T?
The gas Hornet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, rated in the federal ratings at 9.9 L/100 km combined on regular fuel for 2023 through 2025.
The R/T is a plug-in hybrid, a 1.3-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor, rated in the same data for 53 kilometers of electric range in 2024 and 2025. Both are all-wheel drive.
How far can a Dodge Hornet R/T go on electricity?
The federal fuel consumption ratings list 53 kilometers of electric range for the 2024 and 2025 Hornet R/T, with a four-hour recharge.
Once the battery is used up it runs on gasoline, rated by the same federal data at 8.1 L/100 km combined for those model years. If you cannot charge where you park, buy the gas Hornet instead.
Which model years of the Dodge Hornet are there?
The federal fuel consumption ratings cover the Hornet for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The gas version appears in all three years and the R/T plug-in hybrid in 2024 and 2025.
For what is in the current Dodge lineup this month, ask our sales team rather than a chart.
Can I trade in my vehicle and finance a Dodge Hornet at Jim Thompson Chrysler?
Yes. See what your vehicle is worth online, then Jim Thompson Chrysler on Gardiners Road in Kingston appraises it in person and puts the value in writing, any make, paid off or not.
Financing is available on new and pre-owned vehicles through our credit application, O.A.C., and pre-approval is not binding.
Find Your Dodge Hornet in Kingston
Decide the charging question first and the rest of the Hornet decision gets simple.
See what your current vehicle is worth, then send our quick online credit application so the finance side is moving before you arrive, O.A.C.
Listings change daily, so browse our full new inventory and our used inventory, and tell our sales team what your week looks like so they can point you at the right version.
Then come see us on Gardiners Road, just off Highway 401, whether you are coming from downtown, the west end, Amherstview, Odessa, Napanee, Gananoque or off the Wolfe Island ferry.
Visit us at 805 Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON K7M 7E6
Browse inventory online, value your trade, get pre-approved on approved credit, book service, or contact our team.
Local: (613)-389-4426 Sales: (877)-251-9249 Parts: (888)-711-5309 Service: (888)-713-0742
About the Author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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