The Dart will be offered with five different trim levels, and will have a price range from $15,995 all the way up to $22,495. The Dart will carry a base price which is cheaper than most of its major competitors, namely the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla. The Hyundai Elantra starts at a few hundred dollars less than the Dart, which means the new Dodge will be the middle of the road for compact car buyers.
Three engine options are available for the Dart. The base car will come with a 2L Tigershark Inline 4 engine, which produces 160 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. The second motor is a 1.4L MultiAir Turbo delivering 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. Although both the small engines deliver the same power, the 1.4L gets an added 40 lb. ft. of torque, and better gas mileage thanks to its smaller displacement. Finally, the most powerful engine option is a 2.4L 4-cylinder Tigershark which makes 184 horsepower and 171 lb -ft. of torque. While official fuel economy numbers haven’t been released, expect the highway average to be in the mid-30′s.
All the engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The Dart is looking to be a fun to drive compact for a young generation, and will be offered with tons of MOPAR add ons so that customization will be easy.
The 2013 Dart will arrive in dealership showrooms in June of 2012.
