[SomeDoug]

21 City, 29 Highway, 24 Combined
2023 Dodge Hornet AWD (fueleconomy.gov)


Found out about the numbers being available at this site: Dodge Hornet gas mileage finally revealed – Stellpower

 

[DogsRule]

Hmm. Good info. I hear the R/T is 75mpg-e while on batteries. Don't know yet about all combined.

 

[Hornet Buzz]

If they say 24 combined, that tells me to expect 22 mpg with normal driving on 93 octane-

I've put 110k on a 1.6 turbo GDI HYUNDAI.
It runs on regular, but needs premium to get maximum performance...

Power and MPG take a pretty big hit trying to burn 87-

 

[DogsRule]

If they say 24 combined, that tells me to expect 22 mpg with normal driving on 93 octane-

I've put 110k on a 1.6 turbo GDI HYUNDAI.
It runs on regular, but needs premium to get maximum performance...

Power and MPG take a pretty big hit trying to burn 87-

I agree. My 1.4L FIRE engine by FIAT in my Jeep Renegade gets 87 in the winter as the cold avoids knocking but the summer has to get 91+. Then power goes up and economy does too by 3-4mpg. But today, there's a $1 per gallon difference in premium and all 10gals thats going in today will be burnt on interstate with cruise. So regular unleaded she gets.

Added: I expect my R/T to need every drop of ethanol-free premium. Then I won't have money for food but well worth it.

 

[MoparFTW]

Interesting to see the Hornet GT makes 68 hp and 50 lb-ft more over the Jeep Compass but loses 3 mpg over its platform sibling. Not a bad trade off for all that extra performance.

Dodge Hornet GT lags behind Jeep Compass for fuel economy - Autoblog

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates Dodge Hornet GT fuel economy, the compact crossover not far behind its less powerful Jeep Compass sibling.

www.autoblog.com

"The 2023 Dodge Hornet is third in the trio of Stellantis' compact crossovers taking advantage of the Hurricane4 engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that also powers the new 2023 Jeep Compass and 2023 Jeep Cherokee. We wrote about fuel economy figures for the two Jeeps a few days ago. The Environmental Protection Agency is ready with the fuel economy numbers for the Hornet GT, the platform sibling of the Compass rated at 21 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 24 combined. Compared to the Compass, the Hornet gets three fewer miles per gallon across the board even with an additional cog in its nine-speed automatic transmission compared to the eight-speed auto in the Compass. However, the Hornet has a lot more power, the engine making 268 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque in the Dodge, a which is 68 more ponies and 50 more pound-feet than the Jeep,"

 

[SomeDoug]

The EPA lists it as using Regular Unleaded. From the owners manual, "This engine is designed to meet all emissions requirements, and provide satisfactory fuel economy and performance, when using high-quality unleaded regular gasoline having an octane rating of 87, as specified by the (R+M)/2 method. The use of 91 or higher octane premium gasoline will allow these engines to operate to optimal performance. This increase in performance is most noticeable in hot weather or under heavy load conditions such as while towing."

I know if you want to be sure you get the max horsepower and torque performance, you should use premium gas. I wonder if premium would help with the fuel economy as well...

 

[RumbleBee]

The EPA lists it as using Regular Unleaded. From the owners manual, "This engine is designed to meet all emissions requirements, and provide satisfactory fuel economy and performance, when using high-quality unleaded regular gasoline having an octane rating of 87, as specified by the (R+M)/2 method. The use of 91 or higher octane premium gasoline will allow these engines to operate to optimal performance. This increase in performance is most noticeable in hot weather or under heavy load conditions such as while towing."

I know if you want to be sure you get the max horsepower and torque performance, you should use premium gas. I wonder if premium would help with the fuel economy as well...

From my understanding as long as you use the recommended fuel grade that's the best way to optimize fuel economy. I don't think using a higher grade makes much of a difference.

 

[RumbleBee]

Interesting to see the Hornet GT makes 68 hp and 50 lb-ft more over the Jeep Compass but loses 3 mpg over its platform sibling. Not a bad trade off for all that extra performance.

Dodge Hornet GT lags behind Jeep Compass for fuel economy - Autoblog

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates Dodge Hornet GT fuel economy, the compact crossover not far behind its less powerful Jeep Compass sibling.

www.autoblog.com

"The 2023 Dodge Hornet is third in the trio of Stellantis' compact crossovers taking advantage of the Hurricane4 engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that also powers the new 2023 Jeep Compass and 2023 Jeep Cherokee. We wrote about fuel economy figures for the two Jeeps a few days ago. The Environmental Protection Agency is ready with the fuel economy numbers for the Hornet GT, the platform sibling of the Compass rated at 21 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 24 combined. Compared to the Compass, the Hornet gets three fewer miles per gallon across the board even with an additional cog in its nine-speed automatic transmission compared to the eight-speed auto in the Compass. However, the Hornet has a lot more power, the engine making 268 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque in the Dodge, a which is 68 more ponies and 50 more pound-feet than the Jeep,"

If that's the different when it comes to real world numbers that'll be pretty impressive on Dodge's part.

 

[Hornet Buzz]

The reason I suspect the Hornet GT will get better mileage on high octane fuel, digs into the basic principle of how a TGDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine can run on low octane fuel in the first place.

The engine management system runs a much richer mixture with lower octane fuel. Timing is also altered to prevent LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) which can cause premature catastrophic failure.


Most people who run cheap gas also opt for cheap oil and extended drain intervals, which is a sure recipe for disaster in a tgdi engine-

Carbon deposits, fuel residue in the oil due to the slower burn of low octane fuel, lspi are all documented issues that can be avoided.

 

[Chris...]

From my understanding as long as you use the recommended fuel grade that's the best way to optimize fuel economy. I don't think using a higher grade makes much of a difference.

It won't, but it may provide higher horsepower.

That said, ouch! That's not great. I got tired of waiting and picked up a 2023 Nissan Rogue, granted its only 205hp, but it is a bigger vehicle and its rated 30 city / 37 highway with a variable compression turbo engine (pretty neat technology) paired to a new CVT-X transmission.

I prefer the higher power and traditional 9-speed automatic of the Hornet, but that's a tough pill to swallow to go from the 33mpg combined I'm getting now to the 24mpg combined promised by the Hornet, while sacrificing some size. Hmmm...

My order is for a regular GT (still no VIN anyway), but I may end up passing. The PHEV may have to compete with the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which will probably end up being the more practical option being slightly bigger with an "emergency" third row to add additional 2-seats in a pinch. Its rated 64mpge.

 

[Chris...]

The engine management system runs a much richer mixture with lower octane fuel. Timing is also altered to prevent LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) which can cause premature catastrophic failure.

Not true, it will only richen the mixture and retard timing when its encountering knock, but even during the summer months you aren't likely to encounter knock when cruising as the engine load (and boost) are so low.

You are most likely to encounter knock at high RPMs, high boost, and under high load. So if you were track racing, absolutely the lower octane might have lower mileage, but when you're driving 30 miles to work cruising at 70mph on the highway, you're not going to be anywhere near knock on 87 octane for it to be altering those parameters. That's why on long trips on our turbo Mercedes that in fact recommends 93 octane, we put in 87 octane and see no difference in fuel economy driving Texas to North Carolina.

 

[Chipshot]

Interesting to see the Hornet GT makes 68 hp and 50 lb-ft more over the Jeep Compass but loses 3 mpg over its platform sibling. Not a bad trade off for all that extra performance.

Dodge Hornet GT lags behind Jeep Compass for fuel economy - Autoblog

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates Dodge Hornet GT fuel economy, the compact crossover not far behind its less powerful Jeep Compass sibling.

www.autoblog.com

"The 2023 Dodge Hornet is third in the trio of Stellantis' compact crossovers taking advantage of the Hurricane4 engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that also powers the new 2023 Jeep Compass and 2023 Jeep Cherokee. We wrote about fuel economy figures for the two Jeeps a few days ago. The Environmental Protection Agency is ready with the fuel economy numbers for the Hornet GT, the platform sibling of the Compass rated at 21 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 24 combined. Compared to the Compass, the Hornet gets three fewer miles per gallon across the board even with an additional cog in its nine-speed automatic transmission compared to the eight-speed auto in the Compass. However, the Hornet has a lot more power, the engine making 268 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque in the Dodge, a which is 68 more ponies and 50 more pound-feet than the Jeep,"

The Compass must be running a much milder tune. That same basic engine in the Cherokee has 270 hp. All but the Sport model cost as much more more than the base Hornet, making the Hornet look like a better deal than the Compass.

 

[Hornet Buzz]

Not true, it will only richen the mixture and retard timing when its encountering knock, but even during the summer months you aren't likely to encounter knock when cruising as the engine load (and boost) are so low.

You are most likely to encounter knock at high RPMs, high boost, and under high load. So if you were track racing, absolutely the lower octane might have lower mileage, but when you're driving 30 miles to work cruising at 70mph on the highway, you're not going to be anywhere near knock on 87 octane for it to be altering those parameters. That's why on long trips on our turbo Mercedes that in fact recommends 93 octane, we put in 87 octane and see no difference in fuel economy driving Texas to North Carolina.

Actually, I noticed the biggest difference rolling on aired up low resistance rubber, cruising at 1850 rpm at 53 mph-

I'm talking 35 vs 32 mpg...

As far as my opinion goes, I'll give you a sample 😉

Any used car with a tgdi and over 100k is a bad investment, due to common inadequate owner maintenance-

And it's exactly what the manufacturer intended...

They hate people who can keep these engines running for 15 years and >200k

 

[Chipshot]

The right oil makes a big difference. Stay on spec.

 

[Chris...]

Actually, I noticed the biggest difference rolling on aired up low resistance rubber, cruising at 1850 rpm at 53 mph-

Not a scientific or large scale test and goes counter to common sense and basic mechanical engineering knowledge (octane is resistance to detonation and does not affect the calorie density of the fuel and so would have no effect when under conditions where knock is not likely) and so is meaningless, especially when combined with confirmation bias.

Its your money, but this is not a novel or new topic. A quick google will show a variety of sources explaining why you're not going to get higher fuel economy to justify the large price difference between 87 and 93.

No, premium gas won’t save you money by making your car more fuel efficient

High-octane gas rarely improves mileage, and when it does, the benefit is outweighed by the premium cost.

www.verifythis.com

Sources:

• Federal Trade Commission
• Consumer Reports
• Meineke
• Department of Energy
• Study conducted for the Department of Energy
• U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Greg Brannon, AAA Director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations

This is all you need to know:

“For most vehicles, higher octane fuel may improve performance and gas mileage… by a few percent during severe duty operation, such as towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads, especially in hot weather,” says a Department of Energy website. “However, under normal driving conditions, you may get little to no benefit… The cost increase is typically higher than the fuel savings.”

But hey, maybe its a conspiracy theory and even Car and Driver auto-enthusiast mag is in on it: Is Premium Gas Worth It? We Test High Octane on 4 Popular Vehicles