Production on the 2025 Dodge Hornet wrapped in early 2026, and there won't be a 2026 model. Discontinuation reshapes the whole conversation about whether one makes sense for Irondale buyers right now. What was a slow-selling compact crossover is now a final-run vehicle sitting on dealer lots, and it still packs more horsepower than anything else in its class. Irondale residents who push into Birmingham on I-20 every day face a fair question. Do you chase one of the last Hornets, step into the brand-new 2026 Jeep Compass, or size up to the 2026 Dodge Durango for more room to grow? None of those three answers is wrong; each is simply right for a different kind of driver and a different weekly routine.
- 2025 Dodge Hornet (final model year): The performance pick. AWD standard, 268-288 hp depending on trim, and a 33-mile EPA electric range on the R/T PHEV. Tradeoff: it's discontinued, and cargo space is tight at 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat.
- 2026 Jeep Compass: The everyday workhorse. EPA-rated 24 city/32 highway, up to 59.8 cubic feet of folded cargo space, and a current-production model with uninterrupted dealer support.
- 2026 Dodge Durango: The step-up. Three rows, genuine towing capacity, and a bigger footprint when compact is the wrong conversation entirely.
- PHEV note: The Hornet R/T's 33-mile electric range covers the average Irondale-to-downtown Birmingham round trip on electricity before the gas engine ever fires.
How Do These Three Actually Compare?
These three split cleanly by purpose, with the Hornet chasing power, the Compass leaning on everyday efficiency and cargo, and the Durango stepping up in size, so the right comparison depends on what you're asking an SUV to do each week. Two hundred sixty-eight horsepower in a compact crossover is not a number the segment takes seriously very often. The 2025 Dodge Hornet GT produces exactly that from its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and the R/T PHEV steps it up to 288 hp with 383 lb-ft of torque delivered partly by an electric motor on the rear axle. Every trim comes standard with all-wheel drive. Performance is the Hornet's clearest argument, and that's where the comparison gets interesting, because the Jeep Compass and the Dodge Durango chase something else.
| Hornet GT (2025) | Hornet R/T PHEV (2025) | Jeep Compass (2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 268 hp | 288 hp | 200 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 383 lb-ft | 221 lb-ft |
| EPA City / Hwy | 21 / 29 mpg | 29 mpg combined (hybrid mode) | 24 / 32 mpg |
| EV Range | None | 33 miles (EPA est.) | None |
| Cargo (seats up) | 22.9 cu ft | 22.9 cu ft | 27.2 cu ft |
| AWD | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| 0-60 | ~6.5 sec | 5.6 sec | Not published |
| Production status | Final year (discontinued) | Final year (discontinued) | Current model |
The Hornet wins every power column. On efficiency, cargo space, and the simple fact that Jeep still builds it, the Compass wins. Read as a whole, that's the decision in compressed form.
What Does "Discontinued" Actually Mean for Your Ownership?
Discontinuation mostly comes down to two practical concerns for you, parts supply and long-term support, and neither is as alarming as the word suggests once you look at how Dodge is handling the wind-down for owners. Dodge has issued a statement confirming that the company is committed to sustained parts supply for existing owners. The underlying platform adds some comfort here too. The Hornet shares its architecture with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which Stellantis continues to produce. Shared platforms mean shared parts. That won't eliminate long-term risk entirely, but it beats buying a vehicle on an orphaned platform with zero production siblings.
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We're not going to pretend discontinuation carries zero downside. For buyers who plan on putting very high mileage over many years, the Compass is a cleaner long-term bet. For buyers who want the Hornet's specific combination of AWD, horsepower, and PHEV range in a compact footprint, nothing else on our lot delivers it. Both statements are true at once, and that's the tradeoff.
Does the Jeep Compass Fill the Compact Gap?
Yes, though it fills that gap differently than the Hornet does, since the 2026 Jeep Compass runs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. You're trading some of the Hornet's punch for a more rounded daily package.
The EPA rates it at 24 city and 32 highway. You'll feel that gap against the Hornet GT's 21-city figure on Birmingham's longer suburban runs, especially when gas prices push efficiency up the priority list in August heat.
Cargo space is where the Compass makes its clearest case over the Hornet. Up to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat gives you room for real hauling (Home Depot runs, gear for weekend trips toward the Talladega National Forest, or the relentless rotation of kid equipment Birmingham families load and unload). The Hornet's 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat is honest and workable, but it isn't generous.
The Trailhawk trim adds Jeep Active Drive Low with a 20:1 crawl ratio for buyers who use the gravel and switchback roads east of Irondale on a regular basis. It's not a Wrangler. But it handles the mixed pavement and unpaved conditions of Alabama's rural edges with more confidence than a base compact crossover delivers.
The Compass does give up something, and it's milder to drive. If the reason you're drawn to the Hornet is the feeling of a quick SUV on a Birmingham on-ramp, the Compass won't scratch that itch the same way.
Which Vehicle Is Actually Right for Your Situation?
Size is the deciding factor between these three, and the 2026 Dodge Durango becomes the right answer the moment the compact conversation turns out to be the wrong one for a growing household that needs more seats, more towing, and more room than either compact can give. Families who need three rows, buyers who tow trailers, or anyone whose first reaction to the Hornet's 22.9-cubic-foot cargo hold was that it isn't enough should skip both compact options and look at the Durango instead. The Durango exists for exactly that kind of buyer, and it makes no apologies for its size.
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For Irondale commuters who are genuinely between the Hornet and the Compass, here's how we'd frame it. The Hornet R/T PHEV makes the most sense if your round-trip commute is consistently under 33 miles and you can charge at home overnight. The EPA estimates 77 MPGe in combined electric operation, and a full charge on a Level 2 connection takes about 2.5 hours. For a predictable daily drive, the fuel savings are real and measurable. The GT makes sense if you want the horsepower and AWD without the PHEV complexity. The Compass makes sense if you want a current-production vehicle, more cargo room, or better steady-state highway fuel economy for longer commutes.
The team at Hallmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram works with all three of these vehicles. We see buyers land on very different answers depending on what they do with an SUV every week, and we'd rather walk you through the real tradeoffs than push you toward whichever one has the most units on the lot. Stop in, tell us your commute and your cargo situation, and we'll show you what fits.
By the Hallmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Team | August 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Dodge Hornet still worth buying now that it has been discontinued?
Yes, with real conditions attached. The 2025 Dodge Hornet carries standard all-wheel drive across every trim, and the GT's 268-horsepower turbocharged engine is the most powerful gas engine in its segment. Dodge has formally committed to continued parts supply for all existing Hornet owners. The genuine risk is long-term parts availability beyond the purchase window, which is harder to guarantee for any discontinued model. For buyers who want this specific combination of AWD, performance, and PHEV range in a compact package, the 2025 Hornet is the last time it's available new. For buyers who plan on keeping a vehicle for a very long time and value the security of a current-production model, the 2026 Jeep Compass is the more straightforward choice.
How does the 2026 Jeep Compass compare to the 2025 Dodge Hornet for daily Birmingham-area driving?
The 2026 Jeep Compass is more practical for most daily drivers. The EPA rates it at 24 city and 32 highway, compared to the Hornet GT's 21 city and 29 highway. It also offers up to 59.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded, nearly triple the Hornet's 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat. For Irondale and Birmingham-area buyers who need cargo flexibility or plan on longer commutes, the Compass has a clear practical edge. The Hornet wins on outright power: 268 horsepower in the GT versus the Compass's 200, and 288 horsepower in the R/T PHEV with 383 lb-ft of torque. Buyers who prioritize performance and whose daily commute is short enough for the R/T's 33-mile electric range will find the Hornet the more compelling driver's choice.