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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  Should have done more research before buying - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By grandma51 - July 8 - 9:59 am

  Purchased my car on June 7th, on June 30th with only 1400 miles driven the car began to misfire in the #2 cylinder and check engine light was on. Took car back to the dealer, it took a week for Chrysler to tell them to change a spark plug. Changed the spark plug and the car was still misfiring. Now they are waiting for a new fuel injector. They really have no idea what is wrong with the car. When the car works properly it does get good gas mileage. Love the collision avoidance system, the easy to read touch screen, and clear back-up camera. But I am afraid after reading all the problems other owners have had this car will only be a problem.

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  Lemon? I think not. - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By vkmaxima - June 29 - 11:02 pm

  Well, let me just start off that my friend has a 2013 Dart with the California package. I have driven this car a few times now, and I must say I am very impressed with Chrysler. This car rides and handles very well. The fuel economy is AMAZING! No matter what the mpgs stay above 30. It has decent power for its size. If you want the extra power then go for the turbo. My friend has not experienced any problems as of yet, but lets be realistic. This car has JUST come out, a completely new vehicle, so its bound to have a few issues. Overall I think its a great car, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the styling. Its about time American automakers step up their game.

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  Second one and still problems - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By tsilvia - May 27 - 11:16 am

  I got my dart when they first came out and loved it until at 911 miles all lights came on and the engine stopped. Took in to dealer they had it for 2 weeks and then told me they couldnt fix it didnt know what was the problem with it. So they reordered me another Dart which took over 10 weeks to get. In rental car all this time. Wow finely got my other new Dart. Keep in garage for the winter now I have it back out on the road was doing good up to 6000 miles.Then when the tranny got heated up and would shift it would raz the engine up to high RPMs and thump really bad and not want to pull very well. So you guessed it back in the shop again. This is really bad in second and fourth gear.

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  Fun to drive the dart - 2014 Dodge Dart
  By wizkidvj - March 28 - 11:56 pm

  After comparing a lot of compact sedans, I settled for the 2.4L Dart mainly because it was the only car under 20K offering a 2.4L engine and an auto 6 speed. I was firstly delighted by the standard 8.5" touchscreen control. Absolute pleasure to control music, climate, nav without any distractions. The second thing that I found amazing was the interior cabin space. This C-class compact car almost goes head to head with a D-class sedan. The car has a ride handling that is zippy and fun even though a bit heavy (which is why I feel the mileage is not the best). Ive driven 2 5-hr long trips on my Dart since I bought (last 2 months) and I found it to be absolutely delightful.

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  2013 Dodge Dart 1.4 turbo - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By lauras6 - February 19 - 12:27 am

  I have had the car for a year now and have out over 27,000 miles on it. At 15K the transmission stopped working. Took it to the shop and they fixed it. At 16K the transmission quit again. Again the fixed it. No problems with the tranny since but the shifting is not as smooth. At 20K the centre console went black. Car ran drove fine but could not change anything, which was not fun since the defrosters were on HI. They reset the module and it has been fine since. Overall I really like the car but I think there are going to be a lot of problems with it. Thank goodness I bought the lifetime warranty on it, I think im gonna need it.

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  rallye w 1.4 turbo 6 spd manual - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By the_wolf - November 7 - 4:40 pm

  To get a vehicle with better gas mileage, I traded my jeep JK with 57 k miles for it. A little over a year later, I wished I had not done so. It’s a fun almost sporty little car to drive and the fuel economy is great. The review would be much more positive except that when the car needed repairs the parts always seemed on backorder. So much so that in the last sixteen months I have been in rental cars of and on for over three months of it. For an economy car, when it runs, it’s roomy exciting to drive and just plain fun, however even with my jeep getting half the mileage it was more reliable and in hindsight well worth the extra expense of the gas.

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  2013 1.4L Turbo - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By cuhll - September 3 - 11:19 am

  I now have 17000 miles on this Dart and have had it in the shop 3 times now with Turbo issues. They havent been able to fix it yet. I am on the edge of returning it. I love the car, if they could fix the turbo issue I would keep the car, but I am very frustrated with Dodge right now.

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  Great Car With Lots of Versatility - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By scdjng - July 10 - 10:48 pm

  I purchased my Dart SXT 1.4L turbo 6 speed manual in the beginning of January and have put almost 13,000 miles on it. I do lots of driving for work and the car does great on the open road. The worst gas mileage I got on a trip was 35 mpg, and that was with below zero temperatures and and a strong head wind. The car may not be as quick as some of the competition, but is perfectly adequate. I have taken my family of five (three grown adults, one teenager and myself) on short trips and it has proven to be very roomy with little complains.

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  Great car with few cons - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By mmcentire - May 26 - 9:32 am

  I have the lowest end car available that I picked up at a great price in January 2013. The design work on the car looks great inside and out. The interior is nicer than you would expect from a base model. The dashboard was designed for the nicer electronic touch-screen interface, which my car does not have, but the manual system looks nice and functions well. It has a roomy interior with adequate cargo, although smaller than expected. The car has a sporty feel while driving (especially with a 6 speed manual), but it does not reach advertised mpg, and can be somewhat difficult to shift smoothly at first. It cruises smoothly on the freeway and handles well better than similar sedans.

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  Dodge Dart SXT: Everyday Life - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By twedt3304 - May 4 - 10:17 pm

  I realized I didnt need a luxury performance beast, nor did I want a piece of tin. I was stuck between the Focus Hatch, and the Dart. I ended up choosing what I did because of mpg ratings and it being more attractive. Ive had it 4 months now and so far, so good. Its Really fun to drive, it has excellent handeling, manual transmission is great, But the only complaint I have is the lack of attention to detail. Some of the plastic inserts are a little cheep feeling Also I noticed the gas cap mechanism is all plastic, but all that is put to shame by things like the In-seat storage and huge Uconnect screen. Overall If you are considering this or its Competition, I would highly recommend the Dart