Tailoring terminology aside, after spending a couple of weeks driving two examples of Dodge's new compact car contender, we wonder if the Dart has what it takes to compete in this hotly contested class. Both were Limited models, but with two very different drivetrains. The Dart's entry-level engine is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter I-4 with 160 hp mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The higher spec engine is also 160 hp, but makes it with a turbo feeding a 1.4-liter I-4 that puts its power to the ground through a six-speed manual. The big difference between the two engines is torque. While the 2.0-liter twists out 148 lb-ft, the 1.4-liter turbo gives the driver 184 lb-ft over a wider RPM band.
A 1.7-second difference from 0-to-60 mph. The 2.0-liter takes 9.9 seconds to get to the benchmark speed. The 1.4 liter gets there in a more-class appropriate 8.2 seconds. That is the same time we recorded for a 2011 Jetta and just 0.1 second longer than a 2012 Focus SFE. The run through the quarter-mile led to similar results. The 2.0-liter equipped Dart ran 17.3 seconds at 81.4 mph, and combined with its 0-60 mph time that would have earned it a spot in our list of slowest car tested during 2011. The 1.4-turbo, on the other hand, ran 16.2 seconds at 84.8 mph. It isn't breaking any records, but again, it's average for its class. On the road, the 2.0-liter certainly feels as slow as the numbers might suggest. Even at sea level, where naturally aspirated engines do their best work, the entry-level Dart feels like it's struggling. When we took the car above 5000 feet during testing, struggling turned to defeat. Sometimes, cars above the 9-second range fall into that time category because they don't launch well, or won't even allow an aggressive launch. The Dart 2.0 just truly is that slow.
2013 Dodge Dart Limited Rear Three Quarters In Motion
While the 1.4-turbo is certainly better, it has its own issues getting away from the line. When off boost, the tiny four-cylinder has very little torque, which means getting across fast-moving intersections or pulling out into traffic requires a fair amount of clutch slip or a higher RPM clutch drop. With the traction control turned off, the 1.4 will do a pretty impressive burnout. So pick your expenditure: clutch or tires. The 2.0-liter, on the other hand, has the most hipster traction control button in the industry: It's only there ironically.
2013 Dodge Dart Limited Badge
Once rolling, though, the 1.4-liter comes alive. Mid-range pull is good and stays consistent through a wider powerband than you might expect. It doesn't require constant shifting, which is a good thing when the shifter is plasticky and less than precise. During testing, all the drivers complained of missed shifts and vagueness in the lever. We really don't expect the take rate on manual transmission Darts to be much more than 6 percent, so this is probably a non-issue. Most 1.4-liters will come equipped with a dual-clutch automatic that will surely be the better and faster choice. With either transmission, the 1.4 turbo sounds downright sexy. It's a mixture of funk-band horn section and an oversized, aggressively operated leather motorcycle jacket-mounted zipper.
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