2016 Dodge Dart SXT – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

Simplicity At Its best

While marketed on the lower scale, the Dodge Dart certainly packs a punch in the realms of a compact sedan. Good looks and fuel efficiency are good amenities, but it’s the driving enthusiasm that ultimately completes the sweet package deal in terms of what the Dodge Dart has to offer.

At an all-inclusive price tag of $26,770, this falls under the umbrella of the bang-for-the-buck finance quadrant. Want to spend even less? Throw out the Rally Appearance Group, SiriusXM satellite radio and the Blacktop Package. That will save you about 2 grand, but definitely keep the Mopar dual exhaust exterior package. This is what makes the best out of the Dodge Dart with an awesome engine tone in and out of the cabin space. But even with all the perks, the Dodge Dart doesn’t stand alone in the compact sedan league. The all new Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and even the Toyota Corolla S all fall under the category of sharp looks and fun handling.

Interior

Not much to be said here but it’s still a step up from its virgin iteration back in 2013. This year’s got premium cloth interior with upgradable Nappa cushioned leather seats, a well laid out center console area and a clean and minimalist cluster set. Plastic paneling are not of the best material as you might have guessed, but that’s to be expected when in the form of the given price tag. But the accented red stitching around the seats adds a nice touch of cosmetic tease. Space is generous with a total of 97.2 cubic feet of interior space and 13.1 cubic feet in the trunk. The rear seats also fold in a 60/40 split for hauling longer items – an amenity definitely not to be dismissed for skiers or snowboarders. Rear leg room is also generous.

Tech comes pretty standard with a simple but digital cluster also showing fuel economy, navigation and custom speedometer that can be configured to either show speed in digital format, or mimic an analog speedometer display. Bolted onto the center console is the massive 8.4″ UConnect display that is perhaps one of the best infotainment systems available. User interface is responsive and its massive buttons helps with ease of use. Voice navigation does require patience, but ultimately delivers to those that wait in between voice commands.

Driving

This is where the Dodge Dart shines. While only strapping on a V4, the 2.4L Tigershark Multi-Air makes the best out of what it’s got. While only producing a shallow 184 horsepower and 174 lbs of torque, the light and nimbleness of the Dart takes its driving experience to the spiritual level.

Included in our tester is the Mopar Dual Exhaust air diffuser and a 6 speed manual transmission. Combined with these two create an arsenal of thrills. Acceleration is smooth and the engine is rev happy with an exhilarating engine exhaust tone. Steering is also precise and tight around corners with minimal body roll introduced around corners. And last but not least, the clutch and pedals all have a good throw to deliver an engaging drive.

Conclusion

It’s a minimalist car without the bells and whistles, but that’s to be considered a good thing for those on a budget. What’s most important is that the fun factor is there. And in today’s market, that’s somewhat of a rare commodity. Note that it’s not always the fancy leather seats, over-complicated LED headlamps or big horsepower numbers that makes one happy. Sometimes, a swift movement and full driving engagement is all it takes to produce a smile on the one in the driver’s seat.