2013 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2013 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye Long-Term Road Test

Rear visibility is especially important to one of our editors. Will our long-term 2013 Dodge Dart's rear view mirror make the grade?

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bankerdanny

Except for those stupid headrests. All rear seat heaedrests should fold out of sight when not needed. Fortunately they are removable, so mine have been removed to a closet where they don't obstruct anything.

innovand

Trend of less rear-ward visibility = safer cars. There is less visibility because the A, B and C pillars are much, much stronger than last decade's models, partly achieved by the larger pillars. Also, the pillars and roof-lines house airbags now, and the big side-curtain in particular takes up some room. They FINALLY have real headrests in the back seat, which obstruct the rear window considerably but protect rear occupants over 3-foot tall from head/neck injury that could get pretty nasty in any collision, especially rear-impact. With the major gains in safety, its an acceptable trade-off for me. You quickly get used to it. Since there's really no solution that doesn't involve backtracking on those gains, the solution is in technology. Backup cameras and blind-spot warning (which is really only required because a majority of drivers actually have their outward rear-view mirrors adjusted improperly to see "what is behind them" and not "what is in their blind spot.") Since the cars generally come with big dash displays anyway, adding the a cheap-o VGA camera, wiring and software is pennies on the dollar. The current state of all of it is an extremely affordable advancement of safety, and it is definitely annoying, but only until someone T-bones!