Dodge’s compact Dart brings European approach to driving dynamics

Forget Bill Clinton — Chrysler Corp. is America’s real “Comeback Kid.”
After decades of bankruptcies and bailouts, fruitless mergers and abortive buyouts, Chrysler has again, miraculously, survived yet another near-death experience. Rescued through taxpayer funds and the subsequent acquisition by majority owner Italy’s Fiat, the least of the Big Three automakers is enjoying a sales and design renaissance.
Even through the lean years, the company has managed to deliver a hit from time to time — think of the K-car, the Dodge/Chrysler minivan, Jeep’s Grand Cherokee, the Ram pickup, the Chrysler 300 and Viper.
Now, aiming for another success story, Dodge has unleashed the Dart, reviving a nameplate from the past for a compact sedan the company hopes will power its future profits.
Replacing the hapless Caliber, the Dart is supposed to deliver a gut shot to the competition in an segment experiencing explosive growth.These days everyone’s got a compact, but the Dart’s toughest competitors are Ford’s Focus, Chevrolet’s Cruze and Honda’s Civic, not to mention Hyundai’s Elantra, Volkswagen’s Jetta and Nissan’s Sentra. That’s a formidable array to take on.
So far, sales have lagged behind expectations, despite an avalanche of advertising including a costly Super Bowl buy. But as time passes, more customers are discovering the Dart.
And what they’re finding is a well-built, well-equipped, handsome sedan with above-average handling and ride qualities, thanks in large part to Fiat contributing most underpinnings from its award-winning (in Europe) Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
The Dart exudes that buttoned-down feel that used to be the exclusive purview of  European cars. Corners are dispatched with scant body lean, while the perfectly weighted steering delivers excellent road feel and precision.

2013 Dodge Dart Limited VEHICLE TYPE: Four-door, five-passenger, compact sedan BASE PRICE: $19,995 PRICE AS TESTED: $25,065 (incl. delivery fees) POWERTRAIN: 1.4-liter, SOHC, tubocharged inline four-cylinder; 160 horsepower; 184 pound-feet torque; six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive WHEELBASE/LENGTH: 106.4”/183.9” CURB WEIGHT: 3,191 pounds EPA FUEL RATING: 27 mpg city/37 highway (regular grade accepted; premium preferred)

Our test Dart Limited came with a slew of features once found in more-costly cars, such as an attractive soft-touch dashboard, well-designed touch-screen controls, blind-spot and cross-path detection, even a heated steering wheel and leather seats.
Seat comfort is subjective, and while I found the front buckets to be a bit lumpy, my traveling companion (aka the wife) found hers quite agreeable albeit set a bit low given the extravagant headroom.
Our tester featured the optional 1.4-liter, turbocharged “MultiAir” four-cylinder, paired with a six-speed, double-clutch automatic. While this engine makes a joyful noise in the hot-rod Fiat 500 Abarth, here it sounds thrashy, especially at higher revs. And the sometimes-intransigent transmission tends to stumble at low speeds. Once under way, all is resolved. And the little engine motivates the 3,200-pound sedan with verve.
All in all, the new Dart is a well-aimed entry in the compact wars.