The groundbreaking, all-new 2013 Dart blends Alfa Romeo DNA with Dodge style.

It’s classified as compact but with the dimensions of a mid-size car.

This fun-to-drive vehicle also ranks high on performance and fuel efficiency. Try close to 40 miles per gallon, city.

The Dodge Dart recently arrived on the lot of Cabral Chrysler Jeep Dodge at 1145 W. Yosemite Ave., Manteca.

Certified salesman Marty Steves displayed the Dodge Dart Rallye model on Wednesday in redline exterior and piano black trim, bold crosshair-grille work, and aerodramatic – Dodge uses this as a “final shape” term – rear with a spoiler and LED racetrack-design tail lamps.

“It has unique features for a car in its price range,” he said.

The one Steves showed came in black and light diesel gray interior featuring plenty of room up front and in the back for added comfort.

“The Dart is very roomy and safe,” Steves added.

The Uconnect 8.4-inch touch screen was part of the vehicle-information center consisting of voice command to handle navigation, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and a sound system with CD/DVD/MP3/SD card input.

The heating and cooling controls were simple dials that can be found just below the large screen dominating the center stack.

When it comes to safety, the Dart has a class-leading 10 standard airbags.

This Dodge comes in three advanced and fuel-efficient engines. The Rallye, for instance, was powered by a 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder with a six-speed manual transmission. The Dart also comes in 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines.

Test drivers also found the Dart to be good road handling, especially for spirited driving.

Dodge eliminated much of the wind noise to make for a quieter ride.

The wide-open window designs on this four-door compact sedan did away with blind spots.

All told, the Dart combines Dodge’s boldness with the refined performance that made Alfa Romeo a legend.

For more information, call Cabral Motors at 209-823-1148 or log on to www.cabralchryslerjeepdodge.com.