- Fewer than 3,000 Dodge Hornets remain on dealership lots across the United States.
- Tariffs imposed by President Trump forced the company to pause Hornet production.
- The Durango lineup will switch entirely to V8 power options for the new model year.
The future of the Dodge Hornet looks uncertain as trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could bring an early end to the compact SUV. It was a model with promise, one that Dodge hoped would deliver meaningful sales, but it never fully lived up to expectations.
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Instead of dwelling on the loss, though, Stellantis appears ready to lean harder into its performance roots, capitalizing on relaxed emissions rules by making V8 engines more widely available.
Read: US Tariffs Just Hit This Dodge So Hard It May Skip 2026 Entirely
Dodge had been assembling the Hornet at Stellantis’ Naples, Italy plant alongside the closely related Alfa Romeo Tonale, but production has now been indefinitely paused due to Trump’s tariffs. According to Dodge chief executive Matt McAlear, the brand rushed to import all remaining 2025 Hornets before the 27.5 percent tariffs kicked in this spring. There are currently fewer than 3,000 Hornets on dealership lots, and they’ll likely all be sold before the end of the year.
Tariffs Take Their Toll
Speaking with The Detroit News, McAlear said Dodge wanted to drive up sales of the Hornet by cutting its price to roughly $30,000, but then the tariffs kicked in. Now, according to him, “if the tariffs don’t change then there won’t be a ’26 model year.”
Dealers don’t appear upset at the Hornet’s likely demise. One of them, who is located in Seattle, commented that “The Italians trying to sell Italian vehicles in the United States has just been a big miss,” noting that the Hornet has faced frequent quality concerns from owners.
Shifting Back to Muscle
Last year, Dodge sold more than 20,000 Hornets in the States, so its absence will impact the company’s total numbers. However, by recommitting to gas-guzzling V8s, it can once again ingratiate itself with enthusiasts, many of whom have been turned off by engine downsizing and its decision to launch the all-electric Charger Daytona muscle car.
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For the 2026 model year, all Durango models will come standard with the marque’s Hemi V8 in 360 hp and 475 hp guises. Additionally, the Durango SRT Hellcat will soldier on with its 710 hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8.
A Charger Rumor Gains Steam
Perhaps even more exciting than the Durango going all-in on V8s is talk that the new Charger could be modified to adopt a Hemi V8. While Dodge has yet to confirm this is happening, industry experts believe it’s just a matter of time before the latest iteration of the muscle car gains the eight-cylinder powerplant it rightly deserves.
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