North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Fiesta VS 2016 Dodge Dart Near Chatsworth, GA

The Fiesta (except S) offers optional SYNC, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Dart doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Fiesta and the Dart have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Fiesta is safer than the Dodge Dart:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Fiesta is safer than the Dodge Dart:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Fiesta’s 5-year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Dart runs out after 60,000 miles.

There are over 67 percent more Ford dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Fiesta’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 11th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 31st in reliability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 32nd.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Fiesta 4 cyl. is faster than the Dart SE 2.0 DOHC 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Fiesta SFE 3 cyl. Manual gets better city fuel mileage than the Dart Aero Manual (31 city/41 hwy vs. 28 city/41 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Fiesta gets better fuel mileage than the Dart:

The Fiesta has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Dart doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Fiesta stops much shorter than the Dart:

For better maneuverability, the Fiesta’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Dart’s (34.4 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The Fiesta’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Dart GT’s (34.4 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Ford Fiesta may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the Dodge Dart.

The Fiesta Sedan is 10.4 inches shorter than the Dart, making the Fiesta easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Fiesta Sedan has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Dart.

The Fiesta Five-Door Hatchback has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the Dart (14.9 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Fiesta easier. The Fiesta’s trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the Dart’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

The Fiesta’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Dart SE/Aero’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Fiesta’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Dart.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fiesta’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Dart doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Fiesta has standard power remote mirrors. The Dart only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

Standard SYNC AppLink for the Fiesta allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, searching the internet, following twitter accounts and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Dart doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Fiesta, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Dart.

Insurance will cost less for the Fiesta owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Fiesta will cost $130 less than the Dart over a five-year period.

The Fiesta will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Fiesta will retain 43.98% to 46.16% of its original price after five years, while the Dart only retains 35.96% to 42.49%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Fiesta is less expensive to operate than the Dart because typical repairs cost much less on the Fiesta than the Dart, including $31 less for an alternator, $47 less for front brake pads, $287 less for fuel injection, $59 less for a fuel pump, $75 less for front struts, $227 less for a timing belt/chain and $873 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Fiesta will be $4698 to $5132 less than for the Dodge Dart.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Fiesta third among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Dart isn’t in the top three in its category.