2028 Dodge GLH: Everything We Know About the Compact Muscle SUV

What It Is

Dodge has swung and missed several times at building a spiritual successor to the plucky 1984–86 Dodge Omni GLH hot hatch, most recently with the stillborn 2015 Dart GLH and 2022 Dodge Hornet GLH concepts. The brand now promises to reboot the idea for 2028, as a compact SUV that will serve as an entry point into the Dodge “Brotherhood of Muscle.” As such, it is quite literally the replacement for the Hornet but done right this time: designed with American style and swagger built in instead of troweled onto a European design, then developed right here in the U.S. to suit American tastes.

Why It Matters

Just as subcompact hatches were a dominant market segment in the Omni GLH era, compact crossover/SUV sales today account for the biggest slice of the American passenger car market. So a crucial element in Stellantis’ FaSTLAne 2030 recovery plan has Dodge tapping into this lucrative pie. For now, that segment is not overpopulated with high-performing combustion-powered crossovers and SUVs, meaning Dodge might just carve out its own muscle-hatch genre. We also hear it rides lower than most compact SUVs, but with a broad stance and boxy, high roof—not unlike the 2007 Dodge Hornet concept. If that’s how it turns out, the GLH may end up getting cross-shopped against the successors to the Omni’s competitive set, which includes such similarly practical hot hatches as the VW GTI/Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, and Toyota GR Corolla.

Platform and Powertrain

The Dodge GLH will ride on the new STLA One platform. This architecture will also underpin the smaller Chrysler Arrow and Arrow Cross and the larger midsize Chrysler Airflow. It is also expected to cut development costs by 30 percent. STLA One has been developed to support combustion, hybrid, and battery electric powertrains, but the Brotherhood of Muscle demands combustion noise, so we expect to see a version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged Hurricane 4, making around 300 hp powering the entry Dodge GLH in 2028 (which we hear may be simply called Hornet).

Sometime thereafter, an SRT variant will follow, and we expect that one to approach 400 hp (but perhaps in a conditional temporary “PowerShot” or “launch control” mode). This one could be called Hornet GLH. Leading with combustion makes sense considering the competitive landscape, as well. With target pricing expected to fall around $40,000, there’s quite a bit of competition in the electrified space at this target power output—the Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD, Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE, and Kia EV6 GT-Line all deliver 300-plus hp in the $40,000–$50,000 price range, whereas modern gas-powered competition is minimal. The Mazda CX-5 and CX-50 models drive sporty but only produce up to 256 hp.

Whatever the competition is, expect the Dodge GLH to look much more aggressive, leaning heavily on visual presence in the way the Charger and Challenger have while delivering improved refinement and better efficiency than buyers expect from such an aggressive look. And Omni GLH-T and Shelby GLH-S owners, fear not—the engineering world has learned to tame the epic torque steer and axle hop your old 146–175-hp cars demonstrated.

Estimated Price: $45,000

Expected On-Sale Date: 2027