Pros: Solid feel of body structure; a plethora of available features, some rare for the compact-car class; broad range of personalizing dress-up items; decent fuel economy
Cons: Interior isn’t quite as spacious as some compact-class competitors; middling acceleration from base engine; available automated-manual transmission feels clunky
CG Says: The Dodge Dart was introduced for the 2013 model year. Expanded availability of the top-line 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (it’s now available on SXT and Limited in addition to the GT model) is its only change of note for 2014. Although the base Dart SE starts at $15,995 (not including destination), few will probably sell at that price, as most buyers will want the optional air conditioning. The mainstream SXT is equipped more in line with buyer expectations. The uplevel Limited has some options that you don’t often find in this class, such as rear cross-traffic alert and a heated steering wheel. Further, these extras don’t add a tremendous amount to the bottom line. These high-end items and the numerous “personalization” options are the Dart’s greatest strengths, as room and driving dynamics are nothing special compared to its rivals.
