means the EPA classifies the 2013 Dodge Dart as a mid-sized car.

The Dart has more overall interior space than the D-segment Chevy Malibu and greater rear-seat legroom than either the Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima. The result is a sense of being an overachiever where it counts most, on the inside.

The other area where the Dart excels is that it can be optioned exactly the way you want it, a throwback to the good old days. Gone are the popular equipment packages said to simplify manufacturing and drive down costs while increasing quality.

Dodge claims the supply chain and production process are so well engineered this will not be an issue. Time will tell if that is true, but with the Dart's five trim levels (SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited, R/T) with 13 interior color combinations, 12 interior colors, six wheel choices, and all the à la carte options, Dodge offers buyers 100,000 different combinations.

With the Dart aimed at a young buyer profile, such a level of personalization will certainly be appealing, especially when potential buyers cross-shop the Dart against Ford's Focus, which has placed major options into preset packages. If Dodge has a handle on manufacturing issues, this is where the Dart can make good on the company's implied promise of getting a car built to order in 60 days, meaning excellent potential to capture consumers new to the brand.

The 2013 Dart has three engine options. The base two-liter four features 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a standard six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic.

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