2025 Dodge Hornet R/T: Manahawkin Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: 2025 Hornet R/T
The R/T starts the plug-in hybrid half of the Hornet lineup at $41,645 MSRP plus $1,595 destination. It swaps the GT's gas-only turbo four for a 1.3L turbocharged engine paired with an electric rear axle, no mechanical driveshaft involved, for 288 hp and 383 lb-ft combined, a 5.6-second 0-60, and about 33 miles of EPA-estimated electric-only range before the gas engine takes over. A full charge on a Level 2 home charger takes roughly 2.5 hours. Add R/T badging, red brake calipers, and regenerative braking, and it's the quickest and most efficient way into a 2025 Hornet that isn't the range-topping Plus trim. Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, at 188 Route 72, has carried R/T stock, including customer leases on this exact trim.
A plug-in hybrid without the range-anxiety math
The R/T's setup is genuinely clever: a 1.3L turbo engine drives the front wheels while a separate electric motor drives the rear, connected only by software, not a driveshaft. For the roughly 33 miles most households drive in a typical day, running to the shop, the school, the marina, and back, it can operate almost entirely on electric power, at 77 MPGe in that mode. Once the battery's depleted, the gas engine takes over as a conventional hybrid at 29 mpg combined, so there's no anxiety about finding a charger on a longer trip up the Parkway. Combined range runs close to 360 miles between the battery and the tank, and a Level 2 home charger refills the battery in about 2.5 hours, an overnight top-off with room to spare.
The performance difference is real, not marginal. 288 hp and 383 lb-ft combined puts the R/T nearly a full second quicker to 60 mph than the gas-only GT, and electric motors deliver their torque instantly, so the initial launch off a stoplight on Route 72 feels noticeably stronger than the number alone suggests.
What carries over, what's new
The R/T keeps the GT's core tech: the 12.3-inch digital cluster, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa, though R/T-based trims step up to an 11.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen versus the GT's 10.25-inch unit. R/T-specific styling includes red brake calipers visible through the wheels and dedicated badging that separates it from a gas-only GT at a glance. What it doesn't include yet is the GT Plus's leather-and-sunroof comfort package; that combination, on top of the hybrid powertrain, is what the R/T Plus guide covers.
Who the R/T fits
Buyers who want genuinely quicker acceleration without stepping up to a full EV commitment. Commuters whose daily loop, home to work to errands, realistically falls inside that 33-mile electric window, meaning gas stations become an occasional stop rather than a weekly ritual. Households with a driveway or garage outlet, since the plug-in hybrid's advantage depends on actually charging it regularly rather than treating it purely as a hybrid. If a Level 2 charger isn't in the picture, the GT's simpler gas-only setup, covered in its own guide, may be the more practical daily choice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2025 Hornet R/T cost?
MSRP is $41,645 before the $1,595 destination charge, New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax, and title and registration. The pricing & leasing guide covers what that adds up to, and federal or state plug-in hybrid incentives may apply depending on eligibility; ask the finance office for current qualifying rules.
How much electric range does the R/T actually get?
About 33 miles per EPA estimates on a full charge, in electric-only mode. Real-world range varies with temperature, driving style, and use of climate control, similar to any plug-in hybrid.
How long does it take to charge?
Roughly 2.5 hours on a Level 2 home charger. A standard 120V household outlet works too but takes considerably longer, generally an overnight-plus proposition.
Do I have to plug it in for it to work?
No. Once the battery is depleted, the R/T operates as a standard hybrid at 29 mpg combined using the gas engine, so it still functions normally without ever being plugged in, just without the electric-mode efficiency advantage.
Where can I test drive an R/T near LBI?
Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 188 Route 72 in Manahawkin, about ten minutes from the causeway. One reviewer, Daniel C., leased his R/T here through Erik K. and called the process "smooth" and "stress-free."
The bottom line
The R/T is the Hornet built for buyers who want a genuinely quicker crossover with a real electric-only commute option, without going all the way to a full EV. For a household that can charge at home and mostly drives local miles, it turns most weeks into electric-only driving with a gas engine held in reserve for the trips that need it.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,595 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed equipment; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Electric range, MPGe, and fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary with conditions, temperature, and driving habits. Equipment and availability can vary with configuration and production timing, and this is the final model year for the Hornet nameplate; confirm current specs and stock with Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.