Overview & Reviews

Compact Dodge cars haven't had a glowing history, with names like Aries, Caliber, Neon and Shadow best consigned to the forgotten chapters of automotive history. However, the original Dodge Dart was one notable exception. Not only did it provide reasonably dependable (for the 1970s) family transportation, it also elicited quite a following among car enthusiasts.

It's this enthusiasm that Dodge is trying to recapture with its distinctive new Dart. The days of Darts with available powerhouse V8s are long gone, but with a front-wheel-drive chassis derived from the lithe Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the four-cylinder Dart promises a different sort of fun. Instead of laying down rubber, it offers sharp steering and commendable road holding whether you're taking a spirited drive on a back road or simply running errands around town.

More importantly, the new Dodge Dart offers a degree of quality, feature content and mechanical sophistication that greatly exceeds that of previous small Dodges. When compared to other compact sedans, it's not a class leader, but it's certainly competitive.

Current Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is a compact sedan whose basic structure, suspension and steering are derived from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a sporty hatchback sold in Europe. This isn't just an Italian dressed in an Uncle Sam hat, though. The Dart is not only much bigger than the Alfa, it's also larger than its myriad "compact" car competitors. Only VW's Jetta comes close. This results in more passenger space and also creates the feeling that you're driving something rather substantial. It certainly doesn't feel like a compact car.

There are five trim levels: SE, SXT, Aero, Limited and GT. All offer a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, with the exception of the automatic-only Limited. The base SE model has a 2.0-liter, 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine.  Acceleration can be rather slow with this engine, especially with the automatic. We recommend going with the SXT, Limited or GT, as all come with a 2.4-liter 184-hp four-cylinder. The fuel-efficiency-focused Aero features a turbocharged 1.4-liter four with 160 hp that offers more punch and better gas mileage than the base SE. Note, however, that the Aero's automatic transmission is an automated manual design that is considerably less refined than the conventional automatics found in other Darts.

Although the SE comes with just a basic level of equipment, the Dodge Dart nevertheless slathers on an abundance of comfort, convenience and luxury items as you move up trim levels and start checking off options boxes. Although features like blind-sport warning systems and dual-zone climate control have become increasingly common in this class, they still give the Dart a bit of an upscale feel. Several special trim materials and a broad palette of available colors make the Dart a little more distinctive as well.

Overall, we think the Dodge Dart is a competitive small sedan that ultimately falls short of its competitors. We would steer clear of the base model and the Aero model due to their unappealing powertrains, while some drivers have found the front seats to be uncomfortable. On the other hand, the Dart deserves consideration based on its sizable cabin and trunk, user-friendly electronics, big-car driving character and ample feature content.

Used Dodge Dart Models
The Dodge Dart was reintroduced for 2013 and cars from that first model year had different engine availability. The 2.0-liter engine was standard on all trims, while the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and its wonky automated manual transmission were more widely available. Given that only the GT trim came with the 2.4-liter engine, we'd probably steer clear of a first-year Dart.

User Reviews:

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  Dart GT - 2016 Dodge Dart
  By Gerry - June 11 - 1:16 am

  Bought a 2016 Dart GT, replacing my 17 year old Jeep. I wanted something that was fun to drive, roomy and had a trunk, after years of driving SUVs and pickups. I tried out the Ford Focus and Mazda 3 sedan. While they handled well, they were cramped compared to the Dart, and I found myself hitting my head on the door frame on both entry and exit from the Mazda. The Dart handles well and gets great mileage (granted, compared to an old Jeep, most anything will get great mileage). The customizable guage display is cool and the 8.4 touchscreen infotainment display is easy to use. I got the Sun/Sound package which gives it a sunroof and 506 watt amp and 9 speakers, so it cranks the tunes. It has the push button starter with remote start, which is nice to get the AC running before I get to the car. It has a power drivers seat with power lumbar adjustment and a number of automated features, such as headlights, high beams and windshield wipers.The only annoyance I have with the car is a rattling that comes from the base assembly for the rearview mirror which seems to be looser than it should be, and so it buzzes against the windshield on occasion. Other than that, its a blast to drive

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  Nothing but problems - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Nick M - May 8 - 11:48 pm

  Ive had to replace the a/c condenser, radiator, Ive gone through 3 batteries, the alternator just quit out on me, the shifter cable broke a week ago. Ive had to tow this thing 3-4 times. Ive owned the vehicle since January 2014. 2.5+ years, Ive put 55k miles on it and it has been nothing but problems. The engine cover that is underneath constantly gets stuck on things and needs replacement. Im about to have to replace it for the 2nd time. The engine shakes constantly. It has real trouble switching gears. The electrical issues are enormous. I know 2 other people that own the same model and constantly have issues with it. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!

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  Got poisoned by my 2015 Dart - 2015 Dodge Dart
  By Mackenzie - January 25 - 3:33 pm

  I bought it brand new, only owner. Cracked heater core caused toxic fumes in my cabin. Killed a moth. Had to ride with the windows down. Made me physically ill, headaches and dizziness. Way to fail Chrysler. I traded it in for a VW.

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  I would not reccomend this car to anyone - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Ashley - January 2 - 2:33 pm

  I wouldnt recommend buying this car unless of course you like having your vehicle in the garage. This was the first new car I have ever bought in may of 13, the car was great for the first 3-4 months. My car was backed into and I had to take it in to have the bumper replaced, while in the garage the told me there were "updates" for my computer. This is when everything went down hill. A month or so later my cruise control function stopped working, went back to garage of course they couldnt duplicate it so its still not fixed. Next up there Id a glitch with the abs, when I slof on ice with my foot on the brake all my electronics/lights fail. The rotors on the drivers side are both shot after 10k miles but the other side was fine dodge says its normal wear and tare. Then my passenger side sun visor broke off, has that replaced finally most recent is has to have the car towed from Walmart this past December cause it wouldnt start. Turns out the battery shorted out. Obviously there is a computer problem with this car that they do not want to fix! My car has 26k on it tried to trade it in but was only offered 9k for it. Terrible! Also cat is terrible in the snow!

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  Dart - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Ricardo Lara - October 6 - 8:28 pm

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  Solid Car with Alpha DNA - 2015 Dodge Dart
  By Russ Furchner - May 8 - 4:38 pm

  In the sea of compact sedans, the Dart GT stands out. Its very nice to look at, definitely not your cookie-cutter import. I honestly dont understand the criticism of the car in general. The car never feels under powered, the shifts are crisp and positive. The handling and brakes are very good for a front wheel drive car. My only complaint was the OEM tires which were overly harsh and really a poor match for this chassis. Once replaced, you now have a firm riding, quite and comfortable car, but not harsh or jarring. What you have is a quick, sharp and fun drive that is inexpensive to own and operate. Good value for money. Update at 34k miles - Aside from Interior rattles, which are quite annoying, still a solid workhorse and fun to drive package. Perhaps the firm suspension contributes to the rattles, but they are quite annoying when the cabin is gold. Still happy with the car, just annoyed at that aspect.

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  Great first car - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By William DeVoe - March 15 - 11:09 pm

  Beautifully amazing car. This was my first car and not only is it a smooth ride but in also has amazing gas mileage with up to 41 mpg on the highway and 31 in the city.

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  Not good - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Juan - January 8 - 2:58 am

  I bought my Dart brand new at the dealership with 14 miles in October 2012. Literally three days after I bought it, someone either put or I picked up a screw in my tire. $130 for a tire. We had a pretty typical winter in 2013, but somehow there was ice that got built up under the wheel well on the driver side, and it broke off a piece of the bumper. I had a headlight go out shortly after that, and I hit a deer a week later which dented the hood. I was told that it would cost "at least $1000" to fix the hood, even though it was very minimal cosmetic damage - but because it was a certain type of hood it needed to be repaired. I havent had to be in a garage for multiple days - but toward the end I was getting expensive repairs. The roads up here are not good for low-profile tires - I blew three tires on potholes and had to get a wheel bearing replaced. I also had the windshield crack for no apparent reason, the moonroof wouldnt close, and so forth. A cousin of mine recommended I get another vehicle. Found one yesterday (6/10/16) and traded it in. It was going to need a whole new suspension and it was less than 4 years old, and had been in Florida when I worked down there. Glad to be rid of it. Also the Dealer (Hartleys in Newport, ME USA) was garbage. They charged me $119 for a tire rotation that didnt solve the problem. $80/oil change as well.

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  My Rally review - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Murray - November 7 - 8:55 am

  I bought the Dart sxt (rally) immediately after it became available in the fall of 2012. It came with most of the features that I wanted, such as Bluetooth, satellite radio, remote start and fog lights. It has the Rally trim, which included the red exterior with black accents, along with the black/red interior striping. The car looks very sharp and its fun to drive. It came with the 2.0 tigershark engine and the automatic transmission, which work very well together. It has served me very well for over 3 years with no major mechanical problems. 11/06/16..update.. The car is still fun to drive but has developed some quirks that I am trying to understand. The security system has a glitch that will cause the doors to lock and the horn to sound while just sitting in my driveway. I had to disconnect the battery a while back in order to stop the horn from blowing. The key fob was not able to silence the alarm. After replacing the battery in BOTH key fobs the problem appeared to be resolved, but the doors will still occasionally lock for no apparent reason.

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  #2015DODGEDARTSXT - 2015 Dodge Dart
  By Frank Eckert - July 22 - 12:20 pm

  The dodge dart sxt is a fun sporty,eye catcher sedan.great sound system.the Bluetooth connect is awesome,hands free is great.This sedan just loves the curves in the road,it hangs tight.Im pleased with my purchase of a Dodge Dart 2015 SXT,with only 3700 miles on it.