2013 Dodge Dart GT: First Drive

Since reviving a long-dead nameplate last year when it arrived as the first true spawn of the Fiat-Chrysler corporate mash-up, the Dodge Dart has been met with mixed reaction. One thing we can agree on, however, is that it's a key vehicle for a resurgent Chrysler Group. The Dart is critical in bringing young buyers into Dodge showrooms and starting them on what the company hopes will be a lifetime of Chrysler-brands ownership. Until now, the sportiest of the Darts was the Rallye with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 160 horsepower. For 2013, Dodge is adding a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and it will arrive at dealerships in a few weeks. The 2.4-liter also will be the standard engine in the 2014 Dart Limited and SXT. I recently had a brief drive in the 2013 Dart GT at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds as part of the company's annual new model extravaganza that it hosts for the media. This is not the high-performance version of the Dart that everyone has been waiting for. This is not an "SRT Dart" that enthusiasts are hoping will someday arrive to be the spiritual successor to the much loved Dodge Neon SRT4 or to erase the memory of its successor, the awful Dodge Caliber SRT4. It's honestly not even what we would expect from a potential Dart R/T. It is, however, a good step up on the enthusiast spectrum from the relatively soft, comfy Dart Rallye, which it replaces in the pantheon of Dart trim levels for 2014. There will be five trims for 2014: SE, SXT, Aero, GT and Limited. The GT trim includes quite a bit of content. Building off of the SXT, it adds a sport suspension and more aggressive steering tune, 18-inch aluminum wheels and dual exhaust. Nappa leather seats are standard as are keyless entry with push-button start, special exterior trim, heated seats and steering wheel, and upscale door trim. The GT also gets a standard 8.4-inch touch-screen with Chrysler's Uconnect multimedia system, a backup camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio and remote start for cars equipped with an automatic transmission. Along with the aforementioned 184-hp 2.4-liter engine, this is quite a lot of content for a $21,990 (including a $995 destination fee). My brief spin around Chrysler's proving grounds in an early production 2013 GT included a couple of loops involving a highway-speed oval and a twisting handling track. The suspension and steering changes for the GT model bring a crisper feel to the handling, but without sacrificing any ride quality. The Dart GT rides and handles like a larger, more substantial car, partly due to its rather significant weight (more than 3,300 pounds) giving it some heft and momentum. The new 2.4-liter engine is a revision of an older Chrysler model that's now equipped with Fiat's MultiAir intake system and heavily massaged for duty in the latest models. It's reasonably quick, but that weight problem keeps the GT from feeling truly athletic. The six-speed automatic in my test car did not help matters much out on the twisty parts of the track, slow as it was to downshift out of corners, putting a damper on any true athleticism. Perhaps the six-speed manual is a better choice for drivers looking for a sporty compact sedan. If you're not demanding track-style action from it, the GT is actually quite pleasant. Quiet and comfortable, this model has a higher quality interior that I remember from previous Darts I've sampled. Perforated seat leather adorns grippy chairs, and soft-touch materials on the doors are a welcome addition. The 8.4-inch Uconnect-equipped touch-screen remains the industry benchmark for such systems, and the second large electronic display in the gauge cluster is still unique and stylish. The GT is a good addition to the Dart lineup, but to turn this Italian-bred compact into a true Volkswagen GTI or Civic Si fighter, it will have to both go on a diet and find at least another 40 horsepower from one of its motors. Until then, the GT is merely a sporty car instead of a sports car. Related Research the 2013 Dodge Dart Why the Dodge Dart Has a Long Way to Go More Dodge Dart News from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

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