Il ritorno di Dart.
Oh, pardon me, wrong language. I got caught up in this Italian thing with Chrysler; you know, the Fiat influence.
As I said, though, the Dart is back.
The Dart returns to Dodge showrooms after an absence of 37 years.
It drops right into the middle of the crowded, competitive compact class, battling popular names, such as Focus, Cruze, Civic and Corolla.
This is the first merger product for the Chrysler Group since Italy’s Fiat and its irrepressible leader Sergio Marchionne stepped in to rescue Chrysler from its financial collapse of four years ago.
Though it is built in Belvidere, Ill., the 2013 Dart is based on the platform of Fiat’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Jan and I spent part of last week in Vail, driving a Dart Limited four-door. Vail’s an excellent test ground for new automotive products, and a few days ago was ranked third best ski resort in North America in Ski magazine’s annual report. It is where I introduced Post readers to Cadillac’s new 2010 CTS Sport Wagon three years ago.
There are plenty of twisty roads about the resort and to get there, the climb from the plains to the peaks is a challenge conquered impressively by the Dart’s 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder multi-air turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual transmission. The Fiat-designed engine, now built in Detroit, carries an EPA estimate of 39 miles per gallon on the highway.
The turbo spools more slowly than many others, in the name of economy; once in full-power mode, though, it will climb anything in Colorado. The drive up and back, 280 miles, averaged 34.5 mpg, and with stop-and-go in-city maneuvering added, the overall figure for the week was 33.4. Horsepower rating is 160, torque 184. Other engines available for the Dart are 1.4 and 2.0 naturally aspirated engines, and soon to be added will be a 2.4-liter, all 4-cylinders. Optional to the manual transmission are 6-speed automatics.
The Dart is roomy; its overall length of 183.9 inches is beyond the Chevy Cruze at 181, Toyota Corolla 180, Ford Focus 178.5 and Honda Civic 177.3. Finely stitched, well-bolstered seats are a highlight of the interior, with lots of storage space, including a small compartment beneath the cushion of the front passenger seat. With 10 airbags, the Dart rates high in safety.
GPS navigation, rearview camera, blind-spot detection, rain-sense wipers, heated seats and steering wheel, the turbo engine and dual-zone air conditioning pushed sticker price on the Dart to $25,065, from a base of $19,995. The base-model SE begins at something less than $17,000.
Fit and finish of the Limited model I drove was above average until I opened the trunk, where rough, crude weld points and seal areas sticky to the touch were surprising. Mine was an early production model, so I stopped by John Elway Dodge showroom, where Jamie Martinez showed me the smooth finish inside the trunk of later models, and the sealer no longer is sticky. Wendy Orthman, Chrysler spokesperson in Chicago, said, “On some early units, we applied short-term containment measures, and have since resumed master craftsmanship.”
A look back
Thirty-one years ago, I reviewed in The Denver Post a 1981 Mazda 626 four-door sedan, borrowed from Roger Mauro Imports. Excerpts:
Some car shoppers have the idea you can’t find comfort in a Japanese-built automobile; that the little country produces only small, bumpy-riding gas misers. That notion might be dispelled by test driving the 1981 Mazda 626 four-door sedan with automatic transmission. In its third year of production, the 626 is soft-riding and quiet running. The only thing forceful about the comfortable auto is the loud, commanding horn. The 4-cylinder engine in the 2,550-pound car has good torque and is a good hill climber. It is slow in acceleration, but smooth. The 120-cubic-inch piston-engine with two-barrel downdraft carburetor develops 74 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. Fuel check was 30.7 miles per gallon. It is on a wheelbase of 99 inches. Handling is good, with a slight tendency toward oversteer. Curb-to-curb turning circle is a very maneuverable 31.5 feet. Trunk capacity is 11.7 cubic feet. The sticker price of $8,684 included velour bucket seats, air conditioning, AM/FM cassette, radial tires and electric rear-window defroster.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Regarding the Ford Flex, Bud, you hit the nail on the head with the styling issue. After driving both the Chevy Traverse and the Flex, we settled on the Flex. The fact we are able to keep both the passenger front seat and driver’s seat at the full rearward position and still have more than ample room for the second-row passengers was a high selling point. Your mention of ease of entry was next on the list. I find much enjoyment in driving the Flex. As to the styling, I have found myself becoming very attached to it. – B.C.
A: You love your Flex, Bill, and Ford Motor Co. loves you.
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/Autos. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
