The 2014 Dodge Dart GT Brings Big Luxury Technology to a Sporty, Powerful Package | Prescott Brothers Mendota IL

By Patrick Rall G+

While the modern Dodge Dart sedan was introduced with an obvious focus on fuel economy with a side of technology, the new Dart GT package focuses more on performance with a double side of technology – making for one impressively loaded compact sedan that is fun to drive, very comfortable and still fairly fuel efficient when driven reasonably.

At one point, driving an affordable and efficient compact Dodge sedan meant that you had to sacrifice on power and amenities – but the 2014 Dodge Dart GT proves that is no longer the case. The Dart GT also makes it very clear why more models get the 2.4L TigerShark engine as started for 2015.

My 2014 Dodge Dart GT test car carried a base price of $20,995 and when you add in the $1,250 for the automatic transmission, $495 for the advanced navigation system and the $995 destination fee, you get a price as tested of $23,735.

The Exterior
There really aren’t all that many differences in the exterior design across the various 2014 Dodge Dart trimlines, but the Dart GT does have some features that give it a little sportier look than the other models.

Up front, the Dodge Dart GT gets a gloss black treatment to the grille, the grille surround, the headlights, the body trim between the headlights and the grille, the middle portion of the front fascia and around the projection fog lights. Like all new Dart sedans, the GT model has a naturally aggressive, almost angry look just from its basic design, but the blacked out front end really bolsters that sporty theme of the package.

Along the sides, the 2014 Dodge Dart GT wears package specific 18 inch wheels wrapped in performance tires and out back, the subtle chrome GT badge is joined by a blacked lower fascia that wraps around the dual bright polished exhaust tips. The back end also has the beautiful racetrack taillight design that I absolutely love.

The GT package doesn’t bring a long list of exterior features that differentiate it from the rest of the Dodge Dart lineup, but it has enough unique features to give this compact sedan the sporty look and feel that is becoming so popular in this segment.

 The Interior

While the Dodge Dart GT is designed to be a performance model of sorts, it is also a top of the line model with the most features within the model line. This includes gadgets like projection lights and the racetrack taillight on the outside, but the inside is where the GT really shines – even when it is sitting still. 

When you open the driver’s door of the 2014 Dart GT, you are greeted by a driver’s seat that is wrapped in soft black leather with a red accents on the bolsters and in the stitching. The black from the seats extends through the entire cabin, from the carpet to the dash to the door panels to the headliner with more red stitching on the center console and more red trim on the front door grab handles and around the large gloss black information panel on the dash. The front seats look great, but they also feel great with just enough mix of support and cushion for your back and bottom while the cabin of the Dart provides tons of space in every direction. The same is true of the front passenger seat and while the rear seats offer a little less leg room and knee room than the front seats, there is still a remarkable amount of space for everyone seated in the new Dart.

The 2014 Dodge Dart GT is the most powerful option in the lineup and with a sport tuned suspension mated to 18 inch all season performance tires, the GT package is also the best handling of the 2014 Dart lineup. This suspension setup is stiffer and noticeably so, but that slight reduction in ride smoothness relative to other Dart models is negligible in comparison to the improved in handling feel. Mind you, there is still room for improvement (you know, like an SRT4 model) with far more aggressive tuning that would yield far greater handling and a far more aggressive stance, but with a far stiffer ride. For those folks who want a gentle mix of ride quality and sport suspension stiffness, the GT package hits that nail squarely on the head. Whether you are zipping around curvy secluded roads or soaring along a gradually twisting highway, the Dart GT handles as well as any non-high performance model in the compact sedan segment. When you add in the power of the 2.4L engine, the Dart GT is very easily the best driver’s car in the Dodge compact lineup.