The Dodge Hornet does 26 mpg combined (24.2 city, 29 highway), which works out to about $1,477 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.3L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid does 29 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 24 — a difference of $276 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Dodge Hornet engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge Hornet ranges from 29 down to 24 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $276 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 29 / 29 | 2024–2025 | $1,324 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21 / 29 | 2023–2025 | $1,600 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge Hornet burns a gallon every 26 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 462 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.123 |
| Fuel per year | $1,477 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,385 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$17 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,420 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge Hornet gives up 4.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29 out there against 24.2 in town, a 20% drop worth $263 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 24.2 mpg | $1,587 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29 mpg | $1,324 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.8 mpg (20%) | Typical for its type |
How the Hornet changed over the years
The Hornet peaked in 2025 at 26.5 mpg (25 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2023 at 24 — 2.5 mpg apart, or $151 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 car does 26.5.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 / 29 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2024 | 25 / 29 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2023 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 5 EPA ratings of the Dodge Hornet — 2 engines across 2023–2025. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,420. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge Hornet get?
26 mpg combined on average — 24.2 in the city and 29 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2023–2025.
How much does a Dodge Hornet cost in fuel per year?
About $1,477 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,385 over five years, or 0.123 dollars a mile.
Which Hornet engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid at 29 mpg, against 24 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $276 a year.
Is the Hornet good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Hornet figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Dodge Hornet is $2,420 against the $1,477 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 29 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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