Dodge Dart: which version to buy
If the question is which Dodge Dart to buy, the data split the choice in two. The 6 generation (April 2012–October 2016, Sedan, 6 versions) is a front-drive compact with 160–184 hp. The 2 generation (October 1961–September 1962) and the 5 generation (restyling October 1970–September 1971, restyling 3 October 1972–September 1973) are rear-drive Sedans with one 3.7 AT each.
Dodge Dart: which version to buy
If the question is which Dodge Dart to buy, the data split the choice in two. The 6 generation (April 2012–October 2016, Sedan, 6 versions) is a front-drive compact with 160–184 hp. The 2 generation (October 1961–September 1962) and the 5 generation (restyling October 1970–September 1971, restyling 3 October 1972–September 1973) are rear-drive Sedans with one 3.7 AT each. All numbers below come from those versions; length, wheel size, CO2, eco class and gross weight are not measured on any of them.
Dodge Dart generations — what actually changed
2 generation (1961–1962). One version: 3.7 AT, 145 hp, RWD, 3-speed Automatic, carburetor, 76 L tank, 127 mm ground clearance, 1450 kg. This is the heaviest classic Dart in the set and the only one with a measured 127 mm clearance.
5 generation (restyling 1970–1971; restyling 3 1972–1973). Still a Sedan, still 3.7 AT, still RWD, still drum brakes and a carburetor. Restyling 3.7 AT (145 hp) drops kerb weight to 1355 kg (−95 kg versus 2 generation 3.7 AT), 0–100 km/h to 13.5 s (−0.6 s), top speed to 167 km/h (+10 km/h), mixed consumption to 14.4 L/100 km (−0.8), tank to 68 L (−8 L). Restyling 3 3.7 AT (105 hp) keeps 1355 kg but cuts power by 40 hp and torque by 41 Nm, tank to 61 L, mixed to 14.0 L/100 km; 0–100 km/h is not measured; top speed is 161 km/h (−6 versus the 145 hp restyling). Ground clearance on both 5 generation cars is not measured.
6 generation (2012–2016). Six FWD Sedans, all 50 L tank, 112 mm clearance, independent spring suspension front and rear, ventilated disc front / disc rear. Power is 160 hp on four versions and 184 hp on two. Versus 2 generation 3.7 AT, the lightest 6 generation car (1.4 MT, 1432 kg) is 18 kg lighter; versus 5 generation (1355 kg) it is 77 kg heavier. Drive, gearbox count and fuel grade all change: FWD, 6 speeds, 95 fuel.
Dodge Dart engine options and specs
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) and kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp) are calculated from the table.
| Version | Generation | hp | Nm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive | hp/L | kg/hp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT | 6 | 160 | 249 | 1368 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Manual 6 | FWD | 117.0 | 8.95 |
| 1.4 DSG | 6 | 160 | 249 | 1368 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Robotic 6 | FWD | 117.0 | 9.19 |
| 2.0 MT | 6 | 160 | 201 | 1999 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual 6 | FWD | 80.0 | 9.03 |
| 2.0 AT | 6 | 160 | 201 | 1999 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 6 | FWD | 80.0 | 9.19 |
| 2.4 MT | 6 | 184 | 236 | 2360 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual 6 | FWD | 78.0 | 7.80 |
| 2.4 AT | 6 | 184 | 236 | 2360 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 6 | FWD | 78.0 | 7.92 |
| 3.7 AT 145 hp | 2 | 145 | 292 | 3682 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Automatic 3 | RWD | 39.4 | 10.00 |
| 3.7 AT 145 hp | 5 restyling | 145 | 292 | 3682 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Automatic 3 | RWD | 39.4 | 9.34 |
| 3.7 AT 105 hp | 5 restyling 3 | 105 | 251 | 3682 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | not measured | Automatic 3 | RWD | 28.5 | 12.90 |
Same name, different cars: 3.7 AT 145 hp (2 generation) versus 3.7 AT 145 hp (5 generation restyling) versus 3.7 AT 105 hp (5 generation restyling 3). Do not treat them as one version.
1.4 MT and 1.4 DSG make 117.0 hp/L — 37.0 more than 2.0 MT/2.0 AT (80.0) and 39.0 more than 2.4 MT/2.4 AT (78.0). The turbo 1368 cc engine matches the 1999 cc cars on horsepower (160) and beats them on torque by 48 Nm (249 vs 201). Peak torque arrives at 2500 rpm on both 1.4 versions versus 4800 rpm on the 2.0 and 2.4. Compression is 11 on the 1.4, 10 on the 2.0, 10.5 on the 2.4. Bore × stroke: 72 × 84 (1.4), 86 × 86 (2.0), 88 × 97 (2.4). All 6 generation engines are Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 4 valves per cylinder, 95 fuel.
2.4 MT is the best mass-to-power figure in the whole catalogue: 7.80 kg/hp, 1.15 kg/hp better than 1.4 MT and 2.20 kg/hp better than 2 generation 3.7 AT. Restyling 3 3.7 AT 105 hp is the worst at 12.90 kg/hp.
Dodge Dart horsepower, 0–100, top speed and mpg
Fastest 0–100 km/h: 1.4 MT 8.5 s. 1.4 DSG is 0.1 s slower (8.6 s) at +39 kg. 2.4 MT 8.8 s, 2.4 AT 8.9 s. 2.0 MT 9.5 s, 2.0 AT 10.0 s — the slowest 6 generation pair, 1.0–1.5 s behind 1.4 MT at the same 160 hp because torque is 48 Nm lower. 5 generation restyling 3.7 AT 145 hp: 13.5 s. 2 generation 3.7 AT 145 hp: 14.1 s. Restyling 3 3.7 AT 105 hp: 0–100 km/h not measured.
Top speed: 2.4 AT 228 km/h, then 2.4 MT 227 km/h (−1). Both 1.4 versions 219 km/h. Both 2.0 versions 215 km/h. Classic Darts: 167 / 161 / 157 km/h (5 restyling 145 hp, 5 restyling 3 105 hp, 2 generation 145 hp).
Fuel (city / highway / mixed, L/100 km):
- 1.4 MT 8.7 / 6.0 / 7.4 — lowest mixed and lowest highway in the 6 generation.
- 1.4 DSG 8.7 / 6.4 / 7.6 — Robotic costs +0.4 highway and +0.2 mixed versus Manual, city unchanged.
- 2.0 MT 9.4 / 6.5 / 8.1.
- 2.0 AT 9.8 / 6.9 / 8.7 — Automatic versus Manual on the 2.0: +0.4 city, +0.4 highway, +0.6 mixed, +0.5 s to 100.
- 2.4 AT 10.2 / 6.7 / 8.7.
- 2.4 MT 10.7 / 6.7 / 8.7 — Manual uses +0.5 city versus Automatic; highway and mixed are the same 6.7 / 8.7.
- 3.7 AT 145 hp (2 gen) 18.2 / 11.3 / 15.2.
- 3.7 AT 145 hp (5 restyling) 17.6 / 10.5 / 14.4.
- 3.7 AT 105 hp (5 restyling 3) 17.1 / 10.2 / 14.0 — lowest mixed of the three 3.7 AT cars, still 6.6 L/100 km above 1.4 MT.
CO2 and eco class are not measured on every version.
What the extra displacement buys in 6 generation: 2.4 AT versus 1.4 MT is +24 hp, −13 Nm, +0.4 s to 100, +9 km/h top speed, +1.3 L/100 km mixed. 2.0 AT versus 1.4 DSG (same 1471 kg, same 160 hp): −48 Nm, +1.4 s to 100, −4 km/h, +1.1 L/100 km mixed. The 2.0 does not buy speed or economy versus the 1.4; it buys a naturally aspirated 1999 cc engine (boost: No) instead of Turbo.
Dodge Dart weight, dimensions, tank and ground clearance
Length is not measured. Wheel size is not measured. Gross weight is not measured. What is measured:
Kerb weight, 6 generation: 1.4 MT 1432 kg (lightest), 2.4 MT 1436 kg (+4), 2.0 MT 1445 kg (+13), 2.4 AT 1458 kg (+26), 1.4 DSG and 2.0 AT 1471 kg (+39, heaviest 6 generation). 2 generation 3.7 AT 1450 kg sits between 2.0 MT and 2.4 AT. Both 5 generation 3.7 AT cars are 1355 kg — 77 kg below 1.4 MT and 95 kg below 2 generation 3.7 AT.
Ground clearance: 112 mm on all six 6 generation versions; 127 mm on 2 generation 3.7 AT (+15 mm); not measured on 5 generation.
Tank: 50 L on every 6 generation Dart. 76 L on 2 generation 3.7 AT (+26 L). 68 L then 61 L on 5 generation restyling then restyling 3. Range is not a catalogue figure; tank volume is.
Which Dodge Dart version to choose
Daily 6 generation, lowest mixed fuel and fastest 0–100: 1.4 MT. 160 hp, 249 Nm, 8.5 s, 219 km/h, 7.4 L/100 km mixed, 1432 kg, 8.95 kg/hp, 117.0 hp/L. It is the arithmetic winner on acceleration and economy among the six 2012–2016 cars.
Same engine, Robotic gearbox: 1.4 DSG. You pay 39 kg, 0.1 s, 0.2 L/100 km mixed and 0.4 L/100 km highway. City stay 8.7. Choose this only if the 6-speed Robotic is the requirement; the numbers do not improve on 1.4 MT.
Highest horsepower and best kg/hp: 2.4 MT (184 hp, 7.80 kg/hp, 8.8 s, 227 km/h, 1436 kg) or 2.4 AT (184 hp, 7.92 kg/hp, 8.9 s, 228 km/h — the top-speed peak). Mixed consumption is 8.7 on both, 1.3 above 1.4 MT. Torque is 236 Nm, 13 Nm below the 1.4’s 249. The 2.4 is the buy if 184 hp matters more than 7.4 L/100 km.
2.0 pair — only if you want No boost at 160 hp. 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT match the 1.4 on horsepower, lose 48 Nm, lose 1.0–1.5 s to 100, lose 4 km/h, and use 0.7–1.3 L/100 km more mixed. 2.0 AT is tied with 1.4 DSG at 1471 kg and tied with both 2.4 versions plus 2.0 AT itself at 8.7 mixed — without the 2.4’s extra 24 hp.
Classic RWD, maximum torque: 5 generation restyling 3.7 AT 145 hp. 292 Nm (highest in the data, 43 Nm above 1.4 MT), 1355 kg, 13.5 s, 167 km/h, 14.4 L/100 km mixed, 68 L tank. Versus 2 generation 3.7 AT 145 hp: same power and torque, 95 kg less, 0.6 s quicker, 10 km/h faster, 0.8 L/100 km less mixed, 8 L less tank, 127 mm clearance is not measured here (it is measured only on 2 generation).
Classic, later restyling 3, 105 hp: 3.7 AT 105 hp. Same 1355 kg as the 145 hp restyling, −40 hp, −41 Nm, 161 km/h, mixed 14.0 (best of the three 3.7 AT), tank 61 L, 0–100 not measured, boost not measured. It is the weakest kg/hp (12.90) in the catalogue. Buy it only as that specific restyling 3 car, not as a substitute for the 145 hp 3.7 AT.
2 generation 3.7 AT 145 hp if the requirement is the 76 L tank and 127 mm clearance — unique in this data — knowing it is the slowest measured 0–100 (14.1 s), the slowest top speed (157 km/h) and the thirstiest mixed (15.2 L/100 km).
Short map: 1.4 MT for speed + economy; 1.4 DSG for Robotic at a small penalty; 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT for 184 hp; skip 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT unless naturally aspirated 1999 cc is the point; 5 generation restyling 3.7 AT 145 hp for RWD torque at 1355 kg; 2 generation 3.7 AT for tank and clearance; restyling 3 3.7 AT 105 hp only when that 105 hp car is the one you mean.