The 2013 Dodge Dart

2013 marks the return of the Dodge Dart. After a long hiatus from the car market, times have changed and fortunately the Dart has changed with them. The car marks a new direction for Dodge. Gone are the cheap plastic interior components from the Neon and Caliber, as well as numb handling characteristics and questionable exterior build quality.

The first thing anyone will notice about the Dodge Dart is that it’s a strikingly beautiful car both inside and out. Overall the car has a sleek profile, which is accented by the aggressive and gaping front grill. Available 17 inch alloy wheels further help the Dart achieve a high-end look. Inside, the Dart contains more soft-touch surfaces than many competitors. The overall design is stylish and modern. The higher trim levels feature splashes of color on different parts of the interior, as well as leather with colorful stitching. Standard equipment includes power doors, keyless entry, power locks, air conditioning, CD player and an auxiliary jack for plugging MP3 players directly into the stereo system.

All trim levels come with the same 2.0 liter four cylinder engine, except the R/T. The 2.0 liter engine produces a maximum 160 horsepower and 148 pound-foot of torque. An optional 1.4 liter four cylinder turbocharged engine produces a maximum 160 horsepower and 184 pound-foot of torque. Both a six speed manual and automatic transmissions are available. The R/T comes with a much more potent 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that can produce up to 184 horsepower and 171 pound-foot of torque, as well as the same transmission options.

Dodge did not skimp on safety features for the 2013 Dart. Each model comes with standard safety features such as four wheel ABS brakes, traction control, stability control, front airbags, side seat airbags, side curtain airbags and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. Optional safety equipment includes a blindspot monitoring system and a backup camera.