2013 Dodge Dart: Comparisons to Vintage Darts and New Competitors
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Dodge Dart is the heaviest in this list, though Cruze and Elantra come close. Dart and Focus have the most powerful base engines. The new 2013 Dodge Dart has three engines to choose from, going up to 184 hp, and any one of them can be ordered with the manual transmission.
In the United States, “midsize” cars are defined as those with 110 cubic feet or more of total volume. Dart figures are preliminary. All cars except Dart are 2012 models.
| Dodge Dart | Toyota Corolla | Toyota Camry | Chevy Cruze | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Nissan Sentra | Hyundai Elantra | Mazda3 | VW Jetta | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP: | $15,995 | $15,900 | $22,055 | $16,720 | $16,500 | $15,805 | $16,060 | $16,445 | $15,200 | $15,365 | |
| Weight: | 3173 | 2734 | 3,190 | 3082 | 2907 | 2608 | 2975 | 3046 | 2866 | 2804 | |
| Interior space (summarized) | |||||||||||
| Passenger Volume | 97.2 | 92.1 | 102.7 | 94.6 | 90.7 | 94.6 | 97.4 | 95.6 | 94.1 | 94.1 | |
| Trunk | 13.1 | 12.3 | 15.4 | 15.4 | 13.2 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 14.8 | 11.8 | 15.5 | |
| Total | 110.3 | 104.4 | 118.1 | 110.0 | 103.9 | 107.1 | 110.5 | 110.4 | 105.9 | 109.6 | |
| Engines (single figures for ease of comparison) | |||||||||||
| Horsepower: | 160 | 132 | 178 | 138 | 160 | 140 | 140 | 148 | 148 | 115 | |
| Hp per pound | .050 | .048 | .056 | .045 | .055 | .054 | .047 | .049 | .052 | .041 | |
| Torque: | 147 | 128 | 170 | 123 | 146 | 128 | 147 | 131 | 135 | 125 | |
| Front interior space | |||||||||||
| Headroom: | 38.6 | 38.8 | 38.8 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.0 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 38.9 | 38.2 | |
| Legroom: | 42.2 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 42.3 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 42.4 | 43.6 | 42.0 | 41.2 | |
| Shoulder: | 58.2 | 54.8 | 58.0 | 54.8 | 55.6 | 56.6 | 56.9 | 55.9 | 54.9 | 55.2 | |
| Hiproom: | 54.8 | 53.0 | 54.5 | 53.0 | 53.9 | 50.5 | 54.1 | 53.5 | 53.7 | n/a | |
| Dodge Dart | Toyota Corolla | Toyota Camry | Chevy Cruze | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Nissan Sentra | Hyundai Elantra | Mazda3 | VW Jetta | ||
| Rear passenger space | |||||||||||
| Headroom: | 37.0 | 37.2 | 38.1 | 37.9 | 38.0 | 37.1 | 37.3 | 37.1 | 37.5 | 37.1 | |
| Legroom: | 35.3 | 36.3 | 38.9 | 35.4 | 33.2 | 36.2 | 34.5 | 33.1 | 36.2 | 38.1 | |
| Shoulder: | 56.1 | 54.7 | 56.6 | 53.9 | 53.7 | 53.3 | 55.1 | 54.8 | 54.0 | 53.6 | |
| Hiproom: | 52.6 | 43.9 | 54.5 | 52.4 | 52.7 | 51.4 | 53.0 | 52.7 | 52.2 | n/a | |
| Detailed engine power | |||||||||||
| HP@rpm | 160@6300 | 132@6000 | 178@6000 | 138@6300 | 160@6500 | 140@6500 | 140@5100 | 148@6500 | 148@6500 | 115@5200 | |
| Torque@rpm | 147@4600 | 128@4400 | 170@4100 | 123@3800 | 146@4450 | 128@4300 | 147@4800 | 131@4700 | 135@4500 | 125@4000 | |
| Gas mileage | 25/36 | 27/34 | 25/35 | 25/36 | 26/36 | 28/36 | 24/31 | 29/40 | 25/33 | 24/34 | |
| Opt. mpg | 27/39 | / | 21/30 | /38 | /36 | /31 | / | /40 | /29 | /33 | |
| Most mpg | ? / 41 | / | 25/35 | /42 | /40 | /41 | /40 | /40 | |||
| Exterior dimensions | |||||||||||
| Wheelbase: | 106.4 | 102.4 | 109.3 | 105.7 | 104.3 | 105.1 | 105.7 | 106.3 | 103.9 | 104.4 | |
| Length: | 183.9 | 180.0 | 189.2 | 181.0 | 178.5 | 175.5 | 179.8 | 178.3 | 180.9 | 182.2 | |
| Width: | 72.0 | 69.4 | 71.7 | 70.7 | 71.8 | 69.0 | 70.5 | 69.9 | 69.1 | 70.0 | |
| Height: | 57.7 | 57.7 | 57.9 | 58.1 | 57.7 | 56.5 | 59.5 | 56.5 | 57.9 | 57.2 | |
| Drag | 0.285 | 0.29 | 0.280 | 0.298 | 0.295 | 0.36 | 0.35 | 0.33 | 0.31 | 0.31 | |
2013 Dodge Dart vs 1975-76 Dodge Dart and 2012 Chrysler 200
The 2013 Dart, while 19 inches shorter than the 1975 model, manages to have more legroom, front and rear. Contributing to this are the new Dart’s smaller engine bay (no need to fit a 360 V8), smaller trunk, and thinner seats.
| 2013 Dodge Dart | 1975 Dodge Dart | 2012 Chrysler 200 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headroom, front | 38.6 | 37.6 | 40.1 |
| ... rear | 37.0 | 36.7 | 38.4 |
| Legroom, front | 42.2 | 41.5 | 42.4 |
| ... rear | 35.3 | 31.9 | 36.2 |
| Shoulder room, front | 58.2 | 56.3 | 56.3 |
| ... rear | 56.1 | 56.0 | 56.0 |
| Base weight (pounds) | 3,173 | 3,140 | 3,389 |
| Base price, 2012 dollars | $16,000 | $13,746 * | $18,995 |
| Length | 183.9 | 203.2 | 191.7 |
| Width | 72.0 | 69.6 | 72.5 |
| EPA gas mileage | 25/36 (stick) | 17/23 (not adj.) | 21/30 |
| Trunk volume | 13.1 | 16.6 (optimistic) | 13.6 |
Some standard features in the new Dart that were not available at any cost in the vintage Dodge Dart: CD player, auxiliary port, airbags, rear shoulder belts, steering-wheel audio controls, LED tail lamps, projector headlamps, halogen headlamps, remote entry, electronic stability control, four wheel disc brakes, antilock brakes, six speed transmission (instead of three speed), side window de-misters, cup holders, change tray, seat belt pre-tensioners.
Some standard features in the new Dart that were optional in the original: stereo, air conditioner, interval wipers, bucket seats, radials, power windows, mirrors, and locks, cloth seats, vanity mirror, remote hood release.
Standard features in the original that are not standard in the new Dart: ashtray.
Standard features on Dart that are not available on a $62,000 Mercedes: 7-inch configurable dashboard display, 8.4 inch touch screen stereo, heated steering wheel, ten airbags (thanks, PhantomSpazz).
| 2.0 Four | 1.4 Turbo Four | 1.4 (Aero) | 2.4 Four | 2.4 Four, Mopar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used on | Std, all but R/T | Opt., all but R/T | Aero only | Standard, R/T | Opt. computer/exhaust |
| Source | Chrysler | Fiat | Fiat | Chrysler | Chrysler |
| Name | TigerShark | FIRE Engine | FIRE Engine | TigerShark | TigerShark |
| Horsepower | 160 hp @ 6,300 | 160 hp @ 5,500 | 160 hp | 201 hp | |
| Lb-ft torque | 147 @ 4,600 | 184 @ 2,550-4,000 | 184 lb-ft | 171 @ 4,800 | 170 lb-ft |
| kW / Nm | 119 kW, 200 Nm | 119 kW, 250 Nm | same | 138 kW, 200 Nm | |
| Valve tech | DVVT | MultiAir | same | MultiAir | MultiAir |
| Bore x Stroke | 88 x 82 mm | 72 x 84 mm | same | 88 x 97 mm | 88 x 97 mm |
| Compression | 9.8:1 | same | 10.1 | 10.1 | |
| Redline | 6,500 | ||||
| EPA mpg, stick | 25/36 | 27/39 | ?? / 41 | ||
| EPA mpg, auto | |||||
| 0-60, manual | 9.3 seconds | ||||
| 0-60, auto | |||||
| Oil | 0W20 | 5W40 synthetic 8,000 mile changes | same |
Dodge sold 164,434 1975 Dodge Darts in the United States, including its version of the Duster (figures here are for the four door sedan). Plymouth sold 268,025 similar Valiants, Dusters, and Scamps. This was in their last full year.
New 2013 Dodge Dart vs Chrysler 200 and Plymouth-Dodge Neon
| 2013 Dart | 2012 C. 200 | 2004 Neon | 1995 Neon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headroom (front/rear) | 38.6 / 37.0* | 40.1 / 38.4 | 38.4 / 36.7 | 39.6 / 36.5 |
| Legroom (front/rear) | 42.2 / 35.3 | 42.4 / 36.2 | 42.2 / 34.8 | 42.5 / 33.9 |
| Hip room (front/rear) | 54.8 / 52.6 | 52.6 / 52.8 | 52.4 / 52.9 | 50.8 / 50.6 |
| Shoulder room (front/rear) | 58.2 / 56.1 | 56.3 / 56.0 | 53.4 / 52.8 | 52.5 / 52.3 |
| Weight (pounds) | 3,173+ | 3,389+ | 2,581 + | 2,400+ |
| Drag coefficient | 0.331 | 0.342 - 0.35 | 0.34 | |
| EPA front/rear volume | 54.8 / 42.4 | 54.3 / 46.0 | 90.3 total | |
| SAE luggage volume | 13.1 cu ft | 13.6 cu ft | 13.1 cu ft | 13 cu ft? |
* 37.4 / 35.4 with sunroof
** Trunk volume listed as 16.6 cubic feet; it was irregularly sized and this does not appear to have been an SAE measurement (we suspect it’s “optimistic.”)
New Dart Colors (12 of the 14) and More Dart Specifications
Redline Red Pearl Coat, Header Orange Pearl Coat, Blue Streak Pearl Coat, True Blue Pearl Coat, Winter Chill Pearl Coat, Laguna Blue Clear Coat, Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat, Tungsten Metallic Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Citrus Peel Pearl Coat, Pitch Black Clear Coat and Bright White Clear Coat.
| Wheelbase | 106.4 (2.70 m) | Weight, with 2.0 engine | 3,173 lb (1,439 kg) | |
| Length | 183.9 (4.67 m) | Weight, 1.4 engine | 3,211 lb (1,455 kg) | |
| Width | 72.0 (1.83 m) | Weight, 2.4 engine | 3,297 (1,495 kg) | |
| Height | 57.7 (1.47 m) | Seating | 2 front, 3 rear | |
| Track | Up to 61.7 (1.57 m) | EPA interior volume | 97.2 cubic feet |
Dodge compared the Dart Limited, at $19,995, favorably against the base Camry L, at $21,995. Dart had the reconfigurable cluster display, large touch-screen stereo, heated outside mirrors with turn signals, and ten-way power seats, which the Camry did not. They also pointed out that, unlike the $62,140 Mercedes C63 AMG, the Dart had the reconfigurable display, large touch screen, heated steering, and ten airbags. (They also noted that the $37,000 Volvo C30 had six airbags.) This table is from Chrysler:
| Dart SXT | Cruze 1LT | Jetta SE | Corolla LE | Focus SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $17,995 | $18,555 | $18,725 | $17,910 | $17,500 |
| Engine | 2.0 | 1.4 | 2.5 I-5 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| Power | 160 / 148 | 138 / 148 | 170/177 | 134/128 | 160/146 |
| Passenger Volume | 97.2 | 94.5 | 94.1 | 92.0 | 90.8 |
| Wheels (aluminum) | 17” | 16” | 16” Steel | Opt, $860 | Opt, $895 |
| Airbags | 10 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Std. 4-wheel disc brakes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Speakers | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
They saw the $18,995 Rallye as comparable to $19,745 Cruze 1LT with RS and $20,528 Focus SE with Sport Package and 17” alloy wheels.
| Dart Limited | Cruze 2LT | Elantra Limited | Civic EX-L | Focus SEL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21,095 | $21,870 | $23,295 | $24,727 | $25,295 | |
| Base engine horsepower/torque | 160 / 148 | 138 / 148 | 148/131 | 140/128 | 160/146 |
| Passenger Volume | 97.2 | 94.5 | 95.6 | 94.6 | 90.7 |
| Wheels | 17” | 17” | 17” | 16” | 16” |
| Airbags | 10 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Reconfigurable dashboard | 7” | No | No | 4” | No |
| Touch-screen stereo | 8.4” | 7” Opt +$995 | 7” Opt $2,350 | 8” | 8” |
| Rear camera | Standard | No | Package | No | $695 |
| Fog lamps | Standard | $229 | Standard | $325 | Standard |
| Leather | $995 | Standard | Standard | Standard | Optional |
| Dual auto temp control | Package | No | Package | No | Standard |
| Heated seats (Dart has heated wheel, others do not) | Package | Standard | Standard | Standard | $470 |
| Nav | $495 | Opt | Package | Standard | $795 |
- The 8.4 inch touch-screen with backup camera is $595 on Dart, $1,500 - $4,400 on competitors.
- Navigation and travel are $495 on Dart, $795-$2300 on competitors (some in packages).
- 10-speaker premium stereo is $495 on Dart, $995 and up on competitors.
1975 Dodge Dart Sport vs 1975 Chevrolet and Ford...
at dart-mouth.com: Pricing • Gizmos • Quality/Safety • Development/Engineering • In Detroit • SRT4?
here: Reviews • SRT4 • Comparisons • Rally Car • Interior • Factory • Dart 1960-62 • 1963-66 • 1967-76 • Forum