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Value Summary

The Dodge Hornet’s current used-market pricing sits around the mid-$20,000s, with a recent median listing price of $24,999 for a 2025 Hornet and an average used price of $25,067 across the model line. The closest MSRP benchmark in the current data is $31,990 for a 2025 Hornet, which places the model about $6,900 to $7,000 below sticker at current market levels.

That implies roughly 22% to 22.5% depreciation from new using the current-price benchmark, though the exact figure varies by trim, mileage, and condition. Independent depreciation sources suggest the Hornet loses value at roughly 10% per year on average, with heavier losses early in ownership. KBB’s five-year outlook for a 2025 Hornet shows about $19,483 in depreciation, or roughly 61% of MSRP lost over five years.

Depreciation Curve Analysis

The Hornet’s curve is front-loaded, meaning the first two to three years carry the steepest value drops. CarEdge’s model data shows a Hornet’s residual value falling to 56.3% after one year, which corresponds to an estimated resale value of $21,892 from an MSRP-based starting point. By year 11, the same source projects residual value near 25.8%, or about $10,036.

VinAssessment’s live-listing data also describes the Hornet as losing about 10.0% of value per year on average, while noting that the steepest drop occurs in the first few years. Compared with a broad-brand benchmark from ForCar, which suggests a typical car can fall from about $32,800 at one year old to roughly $24,440 by five years old, the Hornet’s five-year depreciation is materially worse. Edmunds’ five-year estimate for a Hornet also shows a loss of about 60% of MSRP, reinforcing that this model depreciates faster than the average compact crossover.

Steepest depreciation typically occurs during the first ownership cycle, when the vehicle transitions from new-car pricing to used-market pricing. That effect is amplified for the Hornet because current market sentiment is also shaped by discontinuation and tariff pressure.

Value Retention Factors

The Hornet does not hold value especially well because it enters the market at a relatively high price, while the used market rewards it like a mainstream compact crossover rather than a premium product. Caredge also notes that production ended in early 2026 after tariff pressure and that the model has been flagged as a bad-value proposition in the current market.

Mileage has an outsized effect because the Hornet’s value curve is already compressed by age; every additional mile pushes it closer to the lower end of used listings. Condition matters as much as trim: clean-service-history examples with low wear tend to land near the top of the listing range, while high-mileage or accident-history vehicles fall quickly below the median.

Market demand is mixed. The Hornet has enough recognition to generate listings and comparison traffic, but the latest resale data shows used prices below MSRP by a wide margin, which signals soft demand relative to supply. Limited long-term confidence, higher entry pricing, and the model’s short production run all reduce value retention.

Future Value Projections

Using the current median used value of $24,999 as a baseline, a reasonable 1-year projection is about $22,500 to $23,000 if market conditions remain similar and depreciation continues near the recent 10% annual pace. Over 3 years, that estimate falls to roughly $18,000 to $19,500, with the biggest loss already realized in the first part of the curve.

Over 5 years, a Hornet is likely to settle around $14,000 to $16,000 in average condition, which aligns with published five-year depreciation estimates showing roughly 60% of MSRP lost. The best time to sell is usually before the vehicle crosses into its third year, while it still benefits from lower mileage, newer styling, and a less severe price drop than later years.

Comparison to Competitors

Against the broader compact-crossover segment, the Hornet depreciates faster than average. That makes it weaker on total cost-of-ownership value than more established rivals with stronger resale reputations.

If value retention matters more than driving character or styling, alternatives with better historical resale performance typically include the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5, which are known for stronger used-market demand than the Hornet’s current pricing trajectory. Among Dodge products, the Hornet’s five-year resale outlook is also weaker than better-established SUVs because its model life is shorter and its market positioning is less stable.

Bottom line: the Hornet offers a sharp early depreciation curve, a below-average resale profile, and limited upside for long-term value retention. Buyers focused on value should expect fast first-owner losses, while sellers should time the market early if they want to preserve the most equity.