When Dodge’s Dart hit the market back in 2013 it was a revelation – never before had Chrysler produced such an attractive and competitive little car. Based on a platform shared with Fiats, the Dart made its mark as a comfortable and competent little sedan. Not much has changed with the Dart in the three years since it’s gone on sale, and for 2016, it receives only a handful of appearance changes.
The most noticeable change is the availability of a new hood design on select models and packages (SXT with Blacktop or Rallye trim, GT). The Blacktop package – which adds gloss black trim and black wheels – is also now offered on the Dart GT. Meanwhile, the base SE can now be equipped with the Rallye appearance package that adds 17-inch wheels and black exterior trim. Drawing from the original ‘60s Dart’s colour pallete, TorRed and Go Mango have been added for 2016.
Why consider the Dart? For starters, it’s a distinctively styled sedan that’s different than your standard-issue compact car. Available “racetrack” LED taillights and plenty of exterior customization graphics further help it stand out. The interior is also very spacious for a compact vehicle, and it can be loaded with all manner of technology. The available 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen display is the largest in the segment and offers intuitive controls; a 7.0-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster display is also unmatched in this class. All Darts with the 8.4-inch screen get a reverse camera.
The Dart is available with a number of different powertrain configurations. The entry-level engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that makes 160 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, and can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The Dart Aero, a fuel-saving special, gets a 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine that’s shared with the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500 Abarth. It too makes 160 hp, but its 184 lb-ft offers much more oomph. A six-speed manual comes standard, with a six-speed automated manual transmission available as an option. Most Darts come equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque; a six-speed manual is standard on the SXT and GT trims; a six-speed automatic is standard on the Limited trim, and optional on all others. The efficient Aero is rated at 8.4 L/100 km city and 5.9 L/100 km highway with the dual-clutch automatic; Darts with the 2.4-litre and automatic are rated at between 10.1 – 10.6 L/100 km city, and 6.8 – 7.5 L/100 km.
Pricing for the Dart has increased for 2016; prices start from $18,995. The opulent Limited with its Nappa leather upholstery and generous equipment levels sells for $25,995.
