Upon first glance of the 2016 Dodge Dart, the sporty styling really shines through. In fact, the 2016 Dart definitely has the sportiest exterior when compared with the Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and all other vehicles in the compact sedan segment. It’s Neon-esk body shape is enhanced with sleek lines and curves, creating a modern and pleasing design. We had the pleasure of test driving the SXT – only one step up from the base model SE, yet includes so many extra features plus the upgraded 2.4L engine. With so many models and feature packages to choose from you can definitely create a 2016 Dodge Dart that fits both your budget and your wishes.
ENGINE & DRIVE
Zipping around in the 2016 Dodge Dart SXT with a manual transmission provided me with constant pleasure and made it one of the more enjoyable cars to drive in the compact sedan category. The peppy accelerations coming from the 2.4L four cylinder engine (outputting 184hp) paired with the 6 speed manual transmission create a gratifying combination.
Other engine choices include the base model Dart SE’s 2.0L four cylinder outputting 160hp or the 1.4L four cylinder turbo charged engine outputting the same 160hp but offering 26 lb-ft more torque (only available on the Aero model). All other models (blacktop, limited, GT) include the 2.4L engine. All engines and models are paired with your choice of a 6 speed manual or automatic transmission (except the Limited which is automatic only).
The solid handling of the 2016 Dodge Dart SXT provides precise steering with good road feedback and a reassuring overall planted feel coming from its wide stance.
I did find the fuel economy to be quite high for a compact sedan, coming in at 11.7 L/100km over our combined city/highway 150km. With fuel economies listed at 6.7 L/100km on the highway and 10.5 L/100km in the city, our actual result was quite a bit outside this range. However, I need to be fair and admit that there was a lot of spirited driving with high revving gear changes going on during the test drive. What can I say it was a fun car to drive!
EXTERIOR
The athletic exterior of the 2016 Dodge Dart has an overall pleasing shape, emphasized by its wide stance and high back sloping nicely towards the large headlights and thin grille. The smooth and rounded design was refreshing versus the typical hard edged, accent lined designs of today.
The classy rear end showcasing a full width LED tail light bar really makes the exterior design unique. I was pleasantly surprised to see the 2016 Dart is equipped with a dual exhaust and found it completes the whole sporty look.
The details are what make the 2016 Dart really stand out though. Accents of black highlights on the rims, windows, mirrors and grille were a welcomed change over the typical chrome.
INTERIOR
The interior of the 2016 Dart awaiting its passengers is simple yet unique, while at the same time providing function and convenience. Firm and comfortable seating are welcomed to make long drives more pleasant and for a compact sedan there’s a surprisingly large amount of leg and head room eliminating the cramped feeling.
I appreciated how the dash of the 2016 Dodge Dart isn’t cluttered with buttons and dials, but instead offers a huge 8.4 inch touch screen display to control all the functions. The climate can also be controlled separately with its own buttons below the display. The dash is especially pleasing at night with unique and warming mood lighting emitting a soft red light following the contour of the dash.
There’s a nice use of piano black finish on the dash but I would have liked to see a few more materials used in the overall design. I did like how the doors were two toned white and black but felt this dual colour feature could have been carried into more of the interior design to create a sportier interior look to match the exterior.
The interior includes lots of storage with many little pockets and slots to hide things away. Also, hidden inside the front passenger seat is a concealed storage compartment accessed by a discreet pull up tab. The trunk also has a ton of space but a narrow opening to get things through.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Not only is the 2016 Dodge Dart top rated for safety (second only to the 2016 Honda Civic), it also benefits from the latest in safety technology like blind spot and cross traffic alert. With the base model SE starting at $18,995, we suggest you opt for the one level up SXT model starting at $21,995 for so much extra value. The step up gets you not only the bigger performance engine but also 60/40 folding rear seats, cruise control, A/C, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls and so much more. With so many options and combinations available (6 base models and various packages for each to choose from), you can get the exact Dodge Dart you’re looking for.
