The Dodge Dart is far from the brand’s prettiest or most reliable model sold in the last decade. However, it seems this little Dodge refuses to die in the U.S. market. That’s because the American carmaker managed to sell one brand-new example of this small sedan in Q1 of 2021. This comes five years after the carmaker discontinued this model.

According to Stellantis, Q1 sales for the Dart are down 67 percent from three cars sold in 2020 to just one in 2021. Since this is a brand-new car, we’re talking about a car that has lived in a dealership for at least five years. If we had to guess, the owner likely got a sizable discount.

Is the Dodge Dart discontinued?

The Dodge Dart arrived in the U.S. market back in 2012 as an affordable compact sedan set to rival the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. With a front-engine front-wheel-drive layout, this tiny sedan should’ve been a massive hit. However, after just four model years, Dodge decided to pull the plug in 2016.

As you might imagine, the Dodge Dart didn’t sell as well as the automaker had hoped it would. According to Car Sales Base, its best sales year was 2015, when 87,392 of these cars found new homes. In contrast, the Honda sold 335,384 Civics in the same year, says Car Sales Base. Additionally, less-than-stellar reliability ratings meant this small sedan couldn’t keep up with its Japanese competitors.

However, despite its discontinuation, a handful of these cars continue to sell year over year. In 2021, one person decided to buy a brand-new Dart instead of all of its superior competitors.

Did one of these cars sit for five years?

Since the Dodge Dart that sold in Q1 2021 is still a brand-new car, it has likely sat in a dealership for the last five years or so. Since most dealerships keep their cars outdoors, this brand-new car might already be battered by elements.

Additionally, it will at least need new fluids, a battery, and tires. Given the car’s age, it is already outside of its warranty period. However, a steep discount might’ve swayed one used car buyer into this brand-new car.

According to Car Sales Base, this might be one of the last new Dart models left for sale. In 2019, 15 of these cars found new homes, and seven did in 2020. As a result, you likely won’t find another available for sale.

Is the Dodge Dart a good car?

If you manage to find a brand-new Dodge Dart at a steep discount, you should probably still avoid it. According to J.D. Power, this sedan scored a 67 out of 100 reliability and quality rating. In contrast, the Corolla and Civic dominated this segment. Additionally, one that has been sitting for multiple years will likely suffer from even more issues due to a lack of use.

However, thanks to these issues and poor sales numbers, these cars have depreciated significantly. Despite having an MSRP of under $18,000. You can now find these cars for well under $10,000, even with low mileage. Hopefully, the owner of this newest 2021 purchase comes forth and shares the car’s final purchase price.