Topic: Dodge Announces Pricing on the Efficient Dart Aero Model

[Autos_Editor]

Chrysler Canada today announced pricing on its newest, most fuel-efficient Dodge model, the Dodge Dart Aero, which features a starting Canadian Manufacturers' Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $19,795 (excluding destination).
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[Fobroader]

Theyve allready done that.....

[mrthompson]

^Sweet.

[Gamefreak]

I see the Dart Aero 6MT is rated at 41mpg hwy on the EPA's website, or 5.7L/100km.  Looks like its NRCan rating will be just as "attainable" as my Elantra's claimed 4.9L/100km.

[dkaz]

Gamefreak, the Elantra with manual transmission has the shift indicator, do you follow that when you drive? 6.8L/100km is pretty decent considering how stop-and-go Edmonton's traffic.

Also, you're comparing apples to oranges. The US test method changed years ago to reflect more aggressive driving habits. The Canadian rating for the Dart is 7.4/4.9 L/100km with the 1.4T 6MT, 8.1/5.4 L/100km with the 2.0 6MT. The Canadian highway figures are attainable @ 105km/h with A/C off, the American ones maybe about 115 km/h.

Someone a block and half down has a Dart SXT 1.4 Multiair Turbo with 6 speed manual. It does look like a nice car overall, the seats don't look as bad as the photos depict them, but I still can't get over how big and out of place the B-pillar is.

[tooscoops]

they are trying to make a big deal about this aero version.... WHY?! if these features are that helpful, why not just include them... especially since they only increase the gas milage figures by .1l/100 on both highway and city.... quite silly to offer a special "fuel efficient" version of a fuel efficient car when the improvement is so minimal.

as for the car itself... its ok... nothing spectacular in looks... but offers some nice stuff. i'll be considering it for my wife's next car. i pity the people ordering them though as the options are rather personal style related... i feel like these will be mostly factory ordered.

[Erik]

they are trying to make a big deal about this aero version.... WHY?! if these features are that helpful, why not just include them... especially since they only increase the gas milage figures by .1l/100 on both highway and city.... quite silly to offer a special "fuel efficient" version of a fuel efficient car when the improvement is so minimal.

as for the car itself... its ok... nothing spectacular in looks... but offers some nice stuff. i'll be considering it for my wife's next car. i pity the people ordering them though as the options are rather personal style related... i feel like these will be mostly factory ordered.

Where do you see the fuel economy differences are so small?

[tooscoops]

the brochure.  its in front of me as i type!

1.4L I-4 16V turbo 6 speed manual  city 7.4L/100  hwy 4.9L/100

1.4L I-4 16V turbo Aero 6 speed manual  city 7.3L/100  hwy 4.8L/100

[Fobroader]

the brochure.  its in front of me as i type!

1.4L I-4 16V turbo 6 speed manual  city 7.4L/100  hwy 4.9L/100

1.4L I-4 16V turbo Aero 6 speed manual  city 7.3L/100  hwy 4.8L/100

If the difference is really that small, why even bother marketing and selling a different model. I think thats kinda embarrassing for Dodge.

[tooscoops]

my point exactly. i was checking out the different models and saw this "aero" that was extra fuel efficient.... then i read on and almost laughed.

all they would have to do to get milage that much better would be remove a hundred pounds or so... change the spare tire for a sealant and maybe go with low resistance tires. bam. done.

[Gamefreak]

Gamefreak, the Elantra with manual transmission has the shift indicator, do you follow that when you drive? 6.8L/100km is pretty decent considering how stop-and-go Edmonton's traffic.

Also, you're comparing apples to oranges. The US test method changed years ago to reflect more aggressive driving habits. The Canadian rating for the Dart is 7.4/4.9 L/100km with the 1.4T 6MT, 8.1/5.4 L/100km with the 2.0 6MT. The Canadian highway figures are attainable @ 105km/h with A/C off, the American ones maybe about 115 km/h.

Someone a block and half down has a Dart SXT 1.4 Multiair Turbo with 6 speed manual. It does look like a nice car overall, the seats don't look as bad as the photos depict them, but I still can't get over how big and out of place the B-pillar is.

I'll believe 4.9 when a manual calculation bears it out, not when the overly-optimistic onboard computer shows it, and I certainly don't believe you could achieve it while driving at 105.  The best I've ever achieved on the highway was 5.3, and the next best recording was 5.7.  Yes, I use the shift indicators (when they're working properly) and I almost always drive with an eye on conserving fuel.  I'd say I've done pretty well compared to other Elantra owners, but not compared to my previous car, an 01 Civic.

Anyway, how am I comparing apples to oranges?  Yes, the EPA and NRCan testing procedures are different, but I'm pretty sure those procedures haven't changed in the last two years since my Elantra was tested.  There's already been a lot of griping from Elantra owners about the official EPA ratings, so I'm just saying that I wouldn't be surprised if the Dart's NRCan ratings end up being just as unrealistic as the Elantra's.

[rrocket]

I'll believe 4.9 when a manual calculation bears it out, not when the overly-optimistic onboard computer shows it[/b],

They (NRCan) don't use the on-board computer to determine the mileage....

And I regularly meet/exceed NRCAn ratings with my cars...

[dkaz]

Fuelly...
2012 Hyundai Elantra average fuel economy - 7.8 L/100km
2012 Mazda 3 - 7.3 L/100km
2013 Dodge Dart - 8.1 L/100km, I'd take this number with a grain of salt at this point, 5 cars on engines that are likely not broken in yet.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze - 7.1 L/100km

I think what it boils down to is that some cars do better in the real world than others. Considering that Elantra only has one supposedly fuel efficient engine, while Mazda still has the old less efficient 2.0 and the gas guzzling by today's standards 2.5 in addition to their Skyactiv 2.0, and Cruze has a standard 1.8L engine, an eco tuned 1.4 turbo, and a performance tuned 1.4 turbo.

My car is rated 7.7/5.0 and I'm averaging 7.1. My car has only stepped out of the city once, an 80km trip out to the valley. I have an Ultra Gauge which is a pretty accurate fuel consumption meter, at 100km/h, I'm using 4.5-5.0L/100km. It increases to 5.5L/100km if I go up to 110km/h (I haven't gone faster yet lol), drops down to 3.5-4 L/100km at 80km/h. The American highway numbers for a manual 3 is 39 MPG, or 6.0L/100km.

[tooscoops]

for the dart with the 1.4, i've taken it out for a few spins...

it feels like its gutless until that turbo kicks in. so i found i was driving heavy footed just so i could feel some power. i'm sure i'd eventually not care and drive more efficiently, but at the start, i'd be driving it like my 1970 dart swinger... all throttle.