Introduced in 2012, the modern-day Dart revived the iconic nameplate Dodge->ke28 used between 1960 and 1976 for a range of vehicles offered in two-door, four-door, and wagon configurations. At first a full-size car, the Dart->ke4128 was redesigned into a compact in 1963 and remained in that segment until it was discontinued in 1976. In 2012, the Dart returned as a compact sedan->ke142 built on a slightly enlarged Fiat->ke30 Compact platform dubbed Compact U.S. Wide. Designed as a fuel-efficient proposition for the compact market, the Dart wasn't exactly popular among U.S. customers, selling less than 90,000 units a year between 2013 and 2015.

Recently, FCA->ke5312 announced that the Dart will be discontinued soon due to the company's decision to redirect its resources toward building crossover->ke288 vehicles. In March 2016, FCA seemed to reconsider its radical resolution and began to look for a partner that would continue to manufacture the Dart. While the fate of the compact sedan has yet to be decided officially, Dodge is simplifying the Dart lineup for the reminder of the 2016 model year. Previously available in five trims, the Dart has been reduced to only three models. In short, Dodge is now offering a trim level for each drivetrain, which makes more sense given the nameplate's sluggish sales.

But, fewer models doesn't mean a poor offer. The Dart still benefits from several customization options, including the Chrome, Rallye, and Black packages, as well as the extra goodies that can be purchased via Mopar. Let's have a closer look at the 2016 Dart and find out what the new lineup has to offer.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Dodge Dart.

Exterior

Although most mainstream cars receive a facelift after three or four years on the market, the Dart carries over unchanged as far as styling goes. Basically, customers will get the same car that was introduced in 2012, but in different trim levels that feature certain exterior features specific to each badge.

The new entry-level model, the SXT, which replaces the SE, comes with standard bi-function halogen headlamps, LED corner taillgihts, body-colored "crosshair" grille and surrounds, chrome headlamps bezels, and 16-inch aluminum wheels. Move up to the Turbo trim and you get the dual exhaust and the Rallye Appearance package, which includes black headlamp bezels, a black grille surround with black "crosshair," and 17-inch Granite Crystal aluminum wheels.

Lastly, the range-topping GT Sport features all of the above, but receives bright tips for the exhaust pipes, black fascia with Hyper Black grille, and dark-tinted automatic headlamps and fog lamps.

All models can be ordered in one of eight exterior colors, including the already classic white, silver and black, as well as Dodge's iconic TorRed and Go Mango.

Standard features aside, the Dart can be fitted with three appearance packages. First up is the Chrome Package, which provides a more upscale look by adding a chrome grille, chrome door handles and fog lamps, and 17-inch polished Silver aluminum wheels. Then there's the Rallye package, which includes a black "crosshair grille" with black surround, fog lamps, LED taillights, and 17-inch Granite Crystal aluminum wheels. The third bundle is the Blacktop package with black "crosshair grille" with black surround, foglamps with black spear and bezel, gloss-black mirror caps, LED taillights, and 18-inch Gloss Black, 10-spoke aluminum rollers.

Interior

The same goes for the interior, where everything has been kept unchanged for the 2016 model year. All you need to know is what features you get with the three new trim levels.

The base SXT Sport model comes with standard air conditioning, Uconnect Bluetooth hands-free calling, SiriusXM satellite radio with one-year free subscription, electric power steering, black Sedoso cloth seats with mesh inserts, six-way manual adjustable driver and front passenger seat, driver seat height adjuster, front-seat active headrests, three rear-seat head restraints, sun visors with vanity mirrors, floor console with covered storage, Uconnect AM/FM/CD, four speakers, remote USB port, audio input jack for mobile devices, satin silver shift knob, two front cup holders, power windows with driver one-touch, solar control glass, and a standard instrument cluster with tachometer.

The Turbo trim comes with all of the above and adds the leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio control and new floor mats, both from the Rallye Package. Moving over to the GT Sport, it gets the features available with the Turbo plus Keyless Enter ’n Go with push-button start, power and heated exterior mirrors with courtesy lamps and supplemental signals, 10-way power driver seat, Uconnect radio with 8.4-inch touchscreen display, seven-inch full-color gauge cluster display, rear backup camera, dual-zone automatic temperature control, tire-pressure monitoring display, and SiriusXM Radio.

Drivetrain

Just like previous model year Darts, the 2016 sedan is available with three engines. The units carry over unchanged, meaning you get to pick between the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Tigershark, the 1.4-liter turbo-four, and the larger 2.4-liter Tigershark.

Obviously, the base Dart SXT Sport trim gets the all-motor 2.0-liter four-banger. It is rated at 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque and mates to the standard six-speed manual transmission or the available six-speed automatic gearbox. According to Dodge, this engine returns up to 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Next in line is the Dart Turbo and its force-fed, 1.4-liter four-cylinder. Available only with the six-speed manual, the turbo-four cranks out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of twist. EPA ratings for this unit are as high as 27 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

Finally, the range-topping Dart GT Sport uses the 2.4-liter, Tigershark, a four-pot that sends 184 horsepower and 171 pound-feet to the wheels. It's the most powerful engine you can get with the Dart but it's also the least fuel efficient, being rated at 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. This engine can be had with either the manual or the automatic transmission, but the GT Sport also comes standard with performance gear ratios and unique engine calibration.

Further drivetrain customization is possible through the Rallye and Blacktop packages. The former adds a touring suspension and rear stabilizer bar, while the latter comes with a unique frequency-sensing sport suspension setup.

Safety

Everything remains the same in the safety department, but that's something customers shouldn't complain about as the Dart comes with more than 60 safety and security features if we include the options. Highlights include 10 standard airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, all-speed traction control, ParkView rear backup camera, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, and ParkSense rear park assist with dynamic grid lines.

The Dart received a Five-Star Overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Prices

Pricing for the 2016 Dart starts from $17,995 for the SXT Sport trim. That's a $1,400 reduction compared to the previous SXT model and a $1,000 premium over last year's base SE trim. The Dart Turbo retails from $19,495, while the range-topping Dart GT Sport fetches $20,995 before options, a $1,100 decrease from the GT it replaces.

Competition

Toyota Corolla

One of the best-selling compacts in the U.S., the Corolla is famous for its good value and rock-solid reliability. The redesign it received in 2013 also made it more appealing styling-wise and placed it on the sportier side of the market. On the other hand, the Corolla falls behind the Dart when it comes to cabin noise isolation, interior quality, and engine variety. Unlike Dodge, Toyota offers just two 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines. Buyers can choose between a dual VVT-i with 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque and a Valvematic with 140 horses and 126 pound-feet. The former mates to a six-speed manual, four-speed auto or CVTi-S, while the latter gets the same minus the four-speed. Pricing for the Corolla starts from $17,300.

Read more about the Toyota Corolla here.

Mazda3

When it comes to sleek-looking compact sedans, the Mazda3 is hard to beat. Dynamic, comfortable, and good-looking at the same time, the Mazda3 has been gathering positive reviews ever since the third-generation hit showrooms for the 2014 model year. It's one of the very few compacts that drives as well as it looks and fuel economy isn't bad either with EPA ratings of up to 41 mpg on the highway. Under the hood, the Japanese sedan gets two engines that put it on par with the Dart. The base model uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet, while the more expensive trims are motivated by a 2.5-liter four-banger that cranks out 184 horses and 185 pound-feet. Pricing starts from $17,845, but the range-topping model fetches well in excess of $25,000.

Find out more about the Mazda3 here.

Conclusion

Given that nothing has changed except for the trim levels and a moderate reduction in price compared to their respective counterparts from 2015, there's nothing much to say about the 2016 model year Dart. It would have been nice for Dodge to offer an actual update after three years on the market, but this is probably a sign that the Dart won't be around for too long. Be that as it may, Dodge's smallest vehicle is nothing to sneeze at. The Dart is sportier than many of its rivals thanks to its responsive steering, handling, and cabin space among the best in this segment. The three available packages also make it one of the most customizable compacts on the market, which makes up for the lack of more upscale features. The optional touchsceen interface is a good as they get despite being a few years old. There are a few downsides such as the poor rear visibility and the sluggish base engine, but overall the Dart is still a solid compact.