I rented a 2015 Dodge Dart SXT for a 10-day business trip to IL in May. I’m actually ready to replace my car so wondering if I wanted to wait to buy a used Dart.
I really liked the way it looked on the inside and outside. The styling reminded me of a Charger that went on a diet. The dash was a “kind of sporty” black with a red accent around the edge. It had retro numbers on the gauges that looked like 1968.
My first impression was how nice the car looked. My second impression was “how do I start the $#%!! thing ? The key fob has a square plastic end labeled “Panic” that fits in the ignition. It also holds a conventional-looking metal key that may unlock the door but won’t even fit into the ignition slot. I could put my finger in the slot and the dash would say “key in ignition”. I tried for 10 minutes to try to start it and even looked for an owner’s manual before humbly walking back to the rental counter for help.
The Dart accelerated quickly with a little growl, but always had a small delay to downshift before it “decided” to go faster. I had the 184 hp 2.4 liter non-turbo “Tigershark” engine standard on the SXT. I wonder if the delay was also a retro feature from the days of carburetors? There was a digital speedometer display I actually liked along with the analog display.
The radio and climate controls were easy to use. The Dart has an optional touchscreen which is supposed to be good, but I did not miss it. I actually liked using knobs and dials for the radio and A/C fan.
My 96-year-old grandmother decided to move to a different home. That’s another story, but I did get the opportunity to drive her there in the Dart. She appreciated having an inside handle above the door. It made it easier for her to get in and out of the passenger seat. I like that all four doors have a grab handle inside. The trunk let me down however since the opening was not wide enough to hold her walker. I had to manhandle the walker into the back seat.
The Dart felt like it was really good, but needed a few more tweaks to be competitive. The fuel door did not lock. There was a gap around all 4 sides of the windshield glass. The window pillars seemed really thick.
Conclusion: I will pass on the Dart for now but am interested in Fiat Chrysler’s progress toward improving their cars. Thanks for reading my review.
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