- Due to slow sales, dealers still have many in stock and will likely be selling them for most of 2026.
Dodge has canceled production of its Hornet small SUV. In a statement to the media, the company blamed “shifts in the policy environment.” It pledged to continue “customer support, service, warranty coverage, and sustained parts supply.”
Parent company Stellantis builds the Hornet in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy. It shares nearly all of its parts with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which remains in production. That subjects it to a 15% tariff under an agreement with the European Union.
The high duty makes it difficult for automakers to profit from their least-expensive vehicles, helping push the companies toward producing more expensive cars. The Hornet never established much of a foothold in the U.S. market, competing against better-known rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V that dominate sales in its category.
Our test drivers found things to like in the Hornet. It boasted the most powerful standard engine in its class with 268 horsepower, and was available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that allowed up to 32 miles of driving on battery power.
But the Hornet never lived up to the high-adrenaline advertising Dodge gave it. However, if you want a practical compact SUV with a secret burst of power on tap, it might be an attractive choice.
It will likely remain one for most of 2026. Dealers entered January with a jaw-dropping 302 days’ worth of Hornet models in stock – about five times as many as they traditionally like to keep.
So the Hornet will remain on sale for many months after production stops. Dealers sometimes accept lower offers for cars that a manufacturer has stopped advertising.
