Car Fanatics Forum

Test drove the new Dodge Dart today. It's the first one into my local Dodge Jeep dealer.

It was a well-equipped model short only a few options with the 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo and 6-speed manual. Missing were the re-configurable gauge cluster screen (but the big center dash screen was in), no sunroof, and no ambient lighting. Otherwise very closely equipped to what I would want, including the manual, the "right" engine, and 4-wheel disc brakes.

I'll post pictures later, but it was a red exterior with black and tan interior.

First impressions? Like our own CF reviewers, I found it smooth and a convincingly accomplished all around package.

Exterior styling is clean and sophisticated. The Charger-like rear lights are very sleek looking in person. Seams and gaps are tight and consistent. Paint is deep and smooth. Both convey quality construction. This was a ride and drive demo car and it was still tight and quiet. No shakes, no rattles, no sign of wear. I'm a long-time Ford loyalist with very good reliability experience with Ford, but there are a few places that the new Focus looks cheap in comparison. (I'm not in love with the new face of Ford grill and the gaps, especially for the trunk/hatch cut into the rear fender are huge on the Focus. I wanted to love the new Focus and so far I only like it.)

The Dart's engine note is sporty with no apparent turbo whine. The turbo torque really kicks in around 2500-3000 RPM. I did not notice any torque steer, the historic bugaboo of turbo enhanced front wheel drive performance cars. Torque steer is either filtered out by the power steering or eliminated by good suspension geometry. Steering is light, precise and reasonably well weighted. My ideal might have a tad stronger on-center feel, and a bit more progressive steering. Loading felt pretty linear through the electric power steering. It is class competitive steering. The Elantra is way too light and vague for my personal tastes. The Cruze feels similar, maybe a tad lighter, to the Dart to me in steering. The Focus is a bit heavier but still could use a stronger on center feel and more progressive rate with larger steering inputs. The Dart and Focus both lead the class in the my tastes for direct, predictable steering. Both will hold a line and stay composed over bumps in the middle of the curve.

The Dart is quiet, like the Cruze. This was the worst downfall of the Elantra, which I otherwise like, especially the styling and value. The Elantra is way down the list on noise vibration and harshness (NVH). Cruze was my NVH leader, but I think the Dart matches it except the MultiAir 1.4 turbo is throatier than the Ecotec 1.4 turbo, and the Dodge is more authoritative in power delivery. The MultiAir turbo makes the Dart feel like a Dodge. I don't mind a nice exhaust note. I hate road noise and tire whine or wind whispers. The Dart keeps the good noise and banishes the bad.

I never quite got smooth with the throw to sixth gear, but the march up and down through the gears was otherwise fun and I appreciated the big round shift knob. I think the push out and pull back to sixth is a long gate. It didn't seem to want to slide naturally back into sixth from fifth. I had to think about it each time. I don't think it's just me. I've driven lots of manuals. The clutch take-up was smooth and predictable, reasonably soft and engagement isn't too high up like some cars. (It's not a truck clutch, but more Honda like). I will say the 2-3-4-5 shifting was very good.

Everyone has raved about the Dart interior. I give it high marks. The overall shapes and materials are nicely conceived and executed in rich materials. I especially liked the seats and the reach and tilt control for the meaty leather wrapped steering wheel. The dash is well executed. I might have liked to see softer material on the door window sills, but the arm rests and door pulls are really great. I like the soft dash pad top. The cabin is compact class narrow. It doesn't have the interior width of the Fusion/Milan (our current family car). But it is still a comfortable cabin with adequate leg room, head room and knee room for reasonably sized drivers. I'm 6'1" and 210 lbs. The trunk is huge for a compact, but lacks the flexibility of a hatch as offered in the Focus.

This is a car I could easily see as a daily driver. The Dart is not as tossable quick and light as say my old Ford Focus ST or a FIAT 500 Abarth. But the Dart is smooth, composed, precise and fast. It feels like a more sophisticated and substantial car than almost all of the compact class. The Corolla is no longer in the same class. The Corolla is a budget car with pedestrian ambitions compared to the Dart. Civic feels like an econobox by comparison. I'm still curious to drive a new Focus ST, but for the time being Dart is my top pick in the compact class.

The Dart felt like it could carry a lot of speed into a corner and stay composed. The torque from the little turbo was impressive. It could definitely dig out of a corner with the available torque. No shortage of acceleration or passing power for a compact class car. I don't mind (I even enjoy) rowing the gears. I'd need some more time to get used to finding that sixth gear, but I like the promise of relaxed cruising the long sixth provides.

Alfa Romeo DNA is a big plus for me. This is another win for the post-FIAT Chrysler. The new Dodge Dart delivers a lot of value for the money.

I think you could drive the Dart very softly without using lots of boost and it would be smooth and quiet, even reserved. But there is a maniacally fun turbo just waiting to be asked to come out and play.

Good stuff!:2thumbsup: I think they're going to sell a ton of these things.

The Dart looks like a winner.

nice, i gotta find some time to go drive one too

Nice honest review Basilliskst and it gives members interested in this car(myself included) an idea of what to expect. I am waiting for the R/T version with the 2.4.. I am not as worried about gas mileage and more interested in the 2.4's performance.
Can't wait to see photos!

So Bas, are ya glad to be back in the MOPAR camp?::

Nice! Thanks for the write up :2thumbsup:

To answer Mopar74, I do feel increasingly emotionally engaged with Chrysler. Maybe it's my love of underdogs, but I'm cheering for them to "win."

I loved Chrysler design in the 1990s. Had a Dodge Stratus ES with a little V6 and tap shifting automatic that was a blast. Actually had a series of Chryslers, including: a Dodge Ram 1500, a Jeep Comanche, an Eagle Summit and Talon, and a Concorde.

The more brutal styling of the last decade left me behind except for the 300C. And I migrated to Ford.

I highly recommend Fords as a safe, reliable, trouble free automaker but apart from the new Fusion I've been a tad disappointed with new styling. The new grill is just too similar on everything while Chrysler and Chevy are both pushing out styling successes.

Ford didn't help me by cancelling Mercury. I may be alone, but I've purchased more new Mercury cars than anything else. I still like our Milan's styling. We're also driving a used Mountaineer for work now. Still waiting for Lincoln to offer something to serve the Mercury crowd or that would induce a move-up. Maybe the new MKZ (still like Zephyr better). Meanwhile, every Buick, Cadillac, and Chrysler that I drive is making my eye wander to the better styled (in my opinion) alternatives.

I wouldn't buy a 200 until it has MultiAir, but I'm amazed at how much the 200 is improved with the FIAT financed refresh over the Sebring. The new Charger and 300 are impressive as heck. And I'm still a Jeep believer if you absolutely have to get somewhere any time any conditions.

Chrysler sells to the patriot in me with "Halftime in America" and more. Dodge sells to the rebel in me like the "New Rules" ad. Ford advertising isn't really speaking to me much lately.

But Ford and Chrysler have my two favorite CEOs. (Which means a lot to me. I appreciate good leadership.)

I am still anxious to drive a Focus ST. I'm planning a FIAT 500 for Phoenix. I'll have to eventually replace the Mercury Cougar which is now over 150,000 miles. That's what a Dart or Focus ST could do. (I really want a 3-door Focus or a 3-door coupe based on the Focus, but Ford is only giving the U.S. 4 and 5-door models.) The Milan I'm not yet anxious to replace. The 2008 Milan has less than 45,000 miles on it (and still feels and looks new). Maybe a new Impala, MKZ or Regal Turbo down the road. The Town & Country is a harder choice to replace. I love Stow'n Go seating (so easy and flexible), but I also like several of the more SUV alternative family haulers. The new body is not as good looking as the our 2006 body, but the refreshed interior saves it.

Like most guys, I have a running list of alternatives in my head. FIAT Chrysler products are moving up the list again where they had dropped off for awhile. I've never bought a new GM, never owned any Chevies or Buicks or Cadillacs, but I've bought several Pontiacs. Corvette and Cadillacs are still my aspirational cars for when I have more money than I need for other things.

I still love the reliable service I've had from a decade plus of Fords. But I wish there was a bit more passion. Chrysler is hitting my emotional impulses and Ford my practical side. And GM has several cars I'd be happy to buy in several classes. It's a big improvement for the Americans. Suddenly there are so many good choices it's hard to go wrong.

I couldnt agree more. For me, the only class of vehicle I think I would wander from Chrysler on is the midsized class. The only version of the 200 I like is the 200S, other than that... Id probably go with the 2013 Fusion.

Every other class though, I see no reason to stray from MOPAR, be it Trucks with the Ram, SUVs with the Grand Cherokee/Durango/Wrangler, Fullsize cars with the 300 and Charger, Muscle cars with the Challenger and soon to be reborn Cuda, Supercars with the Viper and now compact cars with the Dart.

The Fusion, the Chevy Suburban and most Cadillacs are the only domestic non MOPARs id consider buying at this point, unless of course I was getting a good deal on something else, ya cant pass up a good deal

Money always matters. The dollars affect the value equation when it comes time to buy.

I could have bought a then new Malibu when I purchased the Milan, but the deal on the Milan was way better for a 5-speed auto in high line trim when the Malibu was still offering only a 4-speed auto (6-speeds hadn't spread throughout the lineup and dealers didn't have LTZs in stock which was the only trim with the then new 6-speed). The latest and greatest (Malibu at that point) often aren't being discounted as much as the rest of the competition.

I'm perhaps less anti-foreign manufacturers than some (I appreciate good work), but I definitely cheer for the home teams. (As stated elsewhere, FIAT Chrysler are now both part of the home team as they operate as a single integrated company with a huge engineering base in the U.S.)

I should note GM's advertising or marketing approach appears less media focused to me and emphasizes more getting people to try their cars in low pressure settings. I've had several chances to drive new GMs that left me very impressed. And they've maintained regular contact with both information and offers. Despite buying a lot of Ford/Mercury cars about all I hear from Ford is the occasional $750 discount post card. Nothing that brings me into drive or makes me feel like a Lincoln Mercury customer. GM has a good "profile" of me as they understand I've got more than one car and therefore more than one need. Ford only seems to see the last car I bought and so isn't pitching me the right "next" option. Chrysler's media voice is distinctive with great emotional brand advertising, but they haven't yet identified me through data mining. All interesting contrasts.

Great review, Bas! I'm itching to drive this car. It seems like a great daily driver with a bit of flair.