Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

2016 Dodge Dart Aero Road Test and Review

Charles Krome
by Charles Krome
July 21, 2016
4 min. Reading Time
2016 Dodge Dart rear angle ・  Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart rear angle ・ Photo by FCA Media

As you’ll discover by reading this Autobytel review of the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles has come up with a pretty sharp entry for the compact sedan segment. This Dodge has a sleek and distinctive design, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and competitive crashworthiness ratings, plus its EPA fuel economy ratings top ratings top 40 mpg. And that’s with a peppy turbocharged engine under the hood. Indeed, though you may have heard that FCA has decided not to renew the Dart—or the Chrysler 200, for that matter—that has more to do with changing consumer tastes than any flaws with the cars themselves. Customers with an appetite for smaller cars certainly should put the Dart Aero on their shopping menu.

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Pricing

The 2016 Dodge Dart Aero comes out of the quiver with an MSRP of $21,095, for models with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a 6-speed automatic is available for an additional $1250. Yes, that’s a far cry from the base Dart’s starting price of $16,995, yet it’s also right in line with the cost for the Aero model’s more direct competition. A turbocharged Honda Civic EX-T, for example, has an MSRP of $22,200 with a continuously variable transmission (and a less powerful engine).

The Dart Aero also supports that pricing with much more standard content than entry-level editions, highlighted by a Uconnect media hub, an upgraded instrument panel with light-frame accent, and a rearview camera system.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Powertrains, Performance and Fuel Economy

You’ll find the Fiat touch throughout this 2016 Dodge Dart Aero,  starting with the car’s engine. Fiat’s 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged engine puts out 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque; that latter mark is a high point for the current crop of compact sedans and provides Dart drivers with a nice boost to off-the-line acceleration. On the other hand, that same engine posts standard EPA ratings of 28 mpg city/41 mpg highway/32 mpg combined (or 28/40/32 with an available automatic). The Ford Focus sedan, with its tiny 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine, gets the same automatic ratings, but with just 123 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Exterior Design and Lighting

Although all models showcase a noticeably smoother, more flowing exterior shape than seen on other compact sedans, the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero delivers further eye-catching details. For instance, the Aero edition rides on model-specific 16-inch “Tech Silver” cast aluminum wheels and presents a brightened version of Dodge’s cross-hair grille that’s framed by a body-color surround. LED stop/turn/tail lamps also are standard on all Darts, while the Aero matches those units with the brand’s hallmark “Racetrack” LED tail lamps, for a sophisticated light signature.

The Dart is the longest entry in the segment, too: Stretching 183.9 inches, the Dodge is 5 inches longer than a Ford Focus sedan and 4 inches longer than a corresponding Hyundai Elantra.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Interior Design and Capacities

The 2016 Dodge Dart Aero is one of the more compact sedans in terms of interior space. However, it does have more front headroom than rivals from Toyota and Ford, among others, and more rear headroom than the Ford. The Dart Aero also exhibits its share of upscale design elements, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped gear shift, and premium instrumentation. To build on that latter cue, designers visually tied together the pod containing the driver’s gauges with the one for the infotainment hub, using one illuminated frame that goes around both. It’s a unique look that’s set off by both a “floating island” bezel around the infotainment interface and some fairly detailed door-panel designs.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Audio and Infotainment

The standard Uconnect infotainment system for the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero is one of the best in the industry, with a top ranking in a recent Consumer Reports survey and an easy-to-use, easy-to-read 8.4-inch touchscreen. Naturally, the system also includes sophisticated Voice Command technology and full Bluetooth connectivity, the latter allowing both hands-free calling and audio streaming.

The Dart Aero furnishes further standard audio benefits, too, to allow owners to get the most out of that system. Thus, six speakers are standard, and so are steering-wheel-mounted controls and a USB+ port, the latter featuring iPod Control and device-charging capability. As a final touch, Dodge supplies a 1-year complimentary subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Available Equipment

Not surprisingly, the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero is kitted out with its share of premium standard content. Yet the brand does have some key options available, such as a Garmin GPS navigation system that can be integrated into the Dart’s infotainment setup. Besides 3D graphics, the system provides one-step voice control for destination entry, plus route assistance. Also part of the nav package: a 5-year subscription to SiriusXM Travel Link services.

More practical, but still a popular choice for the Aero, is the Mopar interior package that serves up a cargo net, a cargo tray, all-weather floormats and stainless steel door-sill guards.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Safety Technology and Ratings

The 2016 Dodge Dart Aero did relatively well for itself in the industry’s most-watched crashworthiness tests: According to the NHTSA, the Dart earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Score that was based on 5-Star ratings in frontal- and side-crash scenarios, along with a 4-Star grade for rollover protection. The 2016 Dart also passed all the IIHS Top Safety Pick crash tests, although it does lack the front-facing safety technology needed for actual Top Safety Pick recognition.

That said, a rearview camera system is standard for the Dart Aero, and remember, the display from that system is Dodge’s oversized 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment screen. It’s also worth noting that a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-path detection, rain-sensitive wipers, and rear parking assistance are all available elsewhere in the Dart lineup.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Other Cool Info

We mentioned Mopar earlier in this review of the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero, and that brand—as a reminder—is the same accessories and aftermarket division that’s behind the aggressive high-performance upgrades available for the likes of the Charger and Challenger. For the Dart Aero, the excitement starts with Mopar’s selection of eye-popping body-side and hood graphics. In fact, Mopar has four striping packages for the hood alone, including a full-hood black-and-red scheme and three more—with dual black stripes, dual gray stripes, and a single gray stripe—that go over the roof of the car as well. And if you check out the Mopar catalog, you’ll find a comprehensive range of Dart add-ons, from performance enhancers like a cold-air intake to an impressive portfolio of wheel designs.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

2016 Dodge Dart Aero: Final Thoughts

With its parent company deciding to pivot away from small cars for the time being, the 2016 Dodge Dart Aero is a compact sedan that represents a strong value. When this story went to press, with dealers looking to move the metal, Dodge was offering $2000 in customer cash on the car. That’s a discount approaching 10 percent on a car that’s especially competitive on fuel-economy and infotainment, and one that also checks in with a standard turbocharged engine and stand-apart styling. Some folks may find some of its dimensions a little tight, but if you’re on a tight budget, the Dart Aero should no doubt be one of your targets.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media


`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.