The big news in the Dodge camp is that going forward, the brand is being redefined as more of a performance brand, and one vehicle they have that will be part of that strategy is the Dodge Dart, which recently made a comeback after years away. 

I recently got the chance to test out a 2014 Dodge Dart GT and I am back with a full report on how it performed and who might want to pick one up..

LOOKS
It’s an interesting mix here. One on hand, this is a compact car with an impressive amount of back seat room, that can seat five comfortably, including a car seat.
On the other hand, it is designed in the style of a racecar, and based on looks alone would seemed to be aimed at young speed demons.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
Driving the 2014 Dodge Dart GT, the first thing you notice is that this sucker is fast.
The 2.4-liter engine in my test vehicle produced 184 horsepower and was very fun to drive.
Zippy is a good word to describe the experience of driving this ride.
Handling was decent, but not spectacular. But the main downside of the Dart is there is not enough road noise cushioning, so when you get on the freeway you’ll be saying: “What’s all that noise?” This could be a deal-breaker for many people, as it is a bit annoying.
I got about 30 mpg during my time in the Dart (official numbers are 22/31/26); these are impressive numbers without a doubt and a big draw for this vehicle.

TECH
The UConnect system in the Dart GT was easy to use and voice controls are very helpful (they give you a lot of help if you get confused; recommended commands, etc.).
Other tech features included the doors opening automatically as you approach; auto lights, and more.

PRICE
The Dart GT I tested starts at $20,995; mine was a little over $25K after options were added; not bad for a car that feels a little bit like a racecar.
Other versions of the Dart are less expensive and models start out at just over $16K. These will, of course, lose some of the power and features I had on the GT version of the Dart.

BOTTOM LINE
With the focus of Dodge shifting now to more of a performance brand, the Dart will fit in well.
It’s a fun, roomy ride that should attract customers who are looking for an affordable, small and speedy vehicle but not looking for a family ride.