2013 Dodge Dart long-term update: Unintentional keyless ignition

We’re nearing 12,000 miles on our Dodge Dart, which has proven itself a reliable road-trip car. The transmission-seizing woes of the past haven’t cropped back up, though there’s a slight lurch when nearing the stop (and the Dart prefers feathering of the throttle between shifts). But the Alfa-based compact still had some surprises--positive and negative--up its sleeve.

On the upside, I realized new nooks for storage space. The glove box is one of most cavernous that I’ve ever experienced—when reaching for a pen my arm disappears inside, and I can almost hear echoes as my fingernails scrape its depths. The passenger front seat also has a storage space in the cushion, which I could only imagine coming in handy for stashing—er, goods you don’t want prying eyes to see.

The entertainment system continues to be a high point as well. I’ve raved about the Alpine audio system in the past, and unlike old Donked out Buicks blasting Lil’ Wayne, whose interior panel rattling can be heard from a block away, the Dart’s cabin lining can withstand a lot of bass thumping before they start buzzing.