With a Cheerleader in the Trunk and Some Change in My Pocket
If at first you can't make a decision, ask your kid.
"Alexis, should we test drive a Dodge Durango, a Caravan, or a Dart?" I asked.
She picked the Dart. She's a smart, smart girl.
But here's the problem -- after going to the Dodge dealership to test drive a car, so I could write this post for BlogHer and Dodge, now I want the car. Seriously. I WANT A DART IN OUR DRIVEWAY.
There are lots of reasons. Let's start with this one:
While the Dodge Dart is considered a compact car, it's the biggest compact car I've ever seen. The trunk alone has enough space for AT LEAST eight little cheerleaders. Possibly nine. You can try and tell me that there's no reason to stuff that many cheerleaders in a trunk, but have you seen how much stuff those cheerleaders carry around? There's plenty of space for pom-poms and posters and megaphones and all of the stuff Alexis tries to drag everywhere.
And then there's this:
That's the passenger side front seat. REALLY. It flips up for storage, and there's enough space there for my camera bag in there. Partner that with the glove box that was seriously big enough to hold my laptop, and suddenly the Dodge Dart is a compact car that is big enough to hide all of my favorite things.
As a matter of fact, yes, I am impressed by storage space. Always. I'm not used to seeing it in a car, so it's extra impressive in my head.
So. The test drive. I should probably tell you about that.
Both the husband and I took a turn driving the Dodge Dart. We didn't drive a special model or anything -- we actually drove one that we would consider buying because it gets 39 mpg but costs under $20,000. Yet, even with that gas mileage and price, we found it to be a very suitable car. It's certainly not the zippiest thing ever, but HELLO, GOOD GAS MILEAGE MATTERS MORE.
The dash and controls made sense and were legitimately nice, the cup holders were in the exact right place, and I was able to figure out the radio in no time at all thanks to the large (8.4") touchscreen right in the middle of the dash.
That touchscreen switches to a video display when the car is in reverse, by the way.
I have the same sort of thing in my current SUV, but this one was better. It's bigger and easier to see, with a guide overlay that makes it very easy to figure out if you are OK to back up another four inches or not. If you've never had a backup camera, let me just tell you that they are FANTASTIC in parking garages and when parallel parking.
I will never have a car that doesn't have one again. Ever.
I'm also one of those people who insists on a solid safety rating for a car. The Dodge Dart passes my test. It has ten airbags, blind spot monitoring, and all sorts of other things that helped it to earn a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
And it's available in orange. Have I ever mentioned how much I love orange cars? Because I really, really do.
Alexis wants gray. She's boring.
The long and the short of it is that we will be looking for a compact car that gets crazy good gas mileage next year. We always have one of those around. We have kicked the Dodge Dart to the top of our list because it has the nicest interior I've ever seen in a car at this price range, because it has storage that goes on for days, and because I'm pretty sure Alexis will never forgive us if we don't buy one.
She was sold at the trunk, for what it's worth. She has talked about how cool that trunk is for days.
To celebrate the release of the Dodge Dart (it was new for 2013!), Dodge and BlogHer have teamed up to give you a chance to win a $100 Shell gas gift card. To win, all you have to do is tell me which car you would have picked if asked to test drive something -- a Caravan, a Dart, or a Durango.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 12/10/13 - 12/31/13.
Be sure to visit the Dodge Brand Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Reader Comments (300)
I would have chose the Dart as well. Just got out of the mini-van and have an SUV...now looking for a small car that has space for hockey equipment and doesn't eat gas. May have to check one of these out.
Shared via twitter: https://twitter.com/purselady80/status/410455936377970688
I would pick the Caravan because I took a nap in one at BlogHer and it totally ruled.
PS That flip up seat situation is GENIUS.
I would have picked the Durango because I need the extra space and just won't do minivans.
I would have gone with the Dart but since my hubby is crazy tall it probably would not have passed his test and he would have chosen the Durango.
I do believe I would have to go with the Dart. It's too dang cute.
The Dart, for sure. We're actually considering something like this as my husbands workplace recently moved from within walking distance from our home to a 14 mile drive, one way.
Dart. I'm tired of driving a mom-mobile. And I'm tired of getting crappy gas mileage in my mom-mobile. I would love to go back to a sedan but would have to convince hubs that we had enough trunk space for traveling.
I would have chosen the Dart
I would pick the Durango to test drive only because I would never buy one in real life. I'm more of a compact sporty type and would actually buy the Dart but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have fun trying out the big rig!
The Dodge Dart. We need something that gets better gas mileage.
I'd have done the Durango. I'm a truck kinda of gal, but have kids, so yeah all that.
I would def. test drive the dart. All my children are grown, and the gas mileage would be awesome. I am driving a Nissan Xterra, which I love, but has just okay gas mileage. It has awesome power and is a 6 speed-gotta have a manual transmission. Thanks for the photos, and the information!
I would have picked the Durango to test drive.
I would have to go with the caravan because I don't think all the kiddos would fit in the other two cars.
I would have chosen the Dart because it is sporty looking and cool.
I think I would check out the Durango as I still need lots of room for my family of 6 and I do not enjoy the mini van life. I know that mini vans are great, but I've done that and am over it!
I would have drove the Durango. I'm not much into mini vans. With 2 car seats and one really big 15 year old we need extra room.
The dart, because you make it look good! Or the durango, because I like being up high. It compensates for my shortness.
I'd choose the Caravan. I've only ridden in a minivan a few times and I think the big interior is awesome. It's nice to be able to stand up inside a car.
I'd get the dart.
Since I have a long butt commute (an hour each way, 240 miles every 4 days) I NEED killer gas mileage so I'd totally test drive the Dart. If I weren't more than likely inheriting the beautiful boat (aka my grandmother's car that is 7 years old and has 30,000 miles on it {mostly from me driving her places}) I would snatch one up to replace my classic '93 Chevy Lumina.
https://twitter.com/mgpt1/status/410620527272026112
No Charger?!?! ;)
The Durango, we have an '06 and I can't wait to upgrade.
I would love to drive the new Caravan! I have an older model and it is time for an upgrade! I love your review! This would be a very big blessing to us!
ninigossett at gmail dot com
I would choose the Dart. I will be looking for a good small car in the next year or two.
As awesome as the Dart looks, I think I need the room of the Durango.
Hmm, probably the Dart--my husband's car probably only has another year or two (it's 12 yrs old), and since we already have a minivan, we'd replace it with another car that he can drive to work (or I can escape in, sans kids, sometimes ;). LOVE that seat with the storage!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/410815754041184256
The Durango!
Free gas is awesome! The Dart for sure!
I absolutely would have chosen the Dart as well. And storage space under the passenger seat? Who thought of that? Genius!
I would like to try the Durango, it looks like a great car for my family.
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/410954932137644032
Very nice car. Great seat for the kids.
I'd also choose the Dart- I don't really need the amount of space you get in a minivan or SUV, and I like how it looks the best. (Because clearly aesthetics are the most important thing when you choose a car.)
I drove a Caravan for years...I'd love to try the Dodge Durango.
tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/411311534917173248
I want to drive the Durango.
I would like to test drive the Dodge Durango
The Caravan because I'm a mini van Mamma and not afraid to sing it.
I would love to try the Durango!
I tweeted at https://twitter.com/Reatex123/status/411548040336379904
I would love to try the Durango. I am ready for room and extra driving force.
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/411658109992448001
I think that I would have chose to drive the Durango. I have 4 children, 2 furbabies, my husband and all that they bring with them, I just require a bigger people hauler :)
I would have picked a Durango!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/411685667177910272
I like the look of the Dodge Magnum, but I'd also test the Caravan.
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I would have picked Dart if asked to test drive.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com