Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye

Slow, but still fun to drive

Despite the Dart’s weight, the car manages to be engaging to drive, though only once the turbo has spooled. Responsive when driven hard, it defines turbo lag during daily commuting and nothing exciting happens for about the first half of the rev-range. This helps the Dart get an as tested 33 mpg in combined driving, although the requirement of premium fuel negates the Dart’s fuel-friendliness.

Other parts of the drive feel smooth and refined. The manual transmission allows for smooth gear shifts, which is in contrast to the sharp transmission in the Mazda3 and Honda Civic, while other manual transmissions offered in the segment feel a bit sloppier. What this means is that the Dart has a bit of character and a very different one for a compact, which is a trait that’s hard to find for under $20,000, and something that is appreciable to both the enthusiast and everyman.