Sorry for the long comments ...
Oddly, what Dodge is doing with the Dart is VERY similar to what Ford did with the Focus between the 2012 and 2013 model years, although I think Dodge has a better handle on customer desires.
In 2012, there were essentially 6 Focus models:
• There was a Focus SFE, which would be analogous to the Dart Aero - although I didn't pay a lot of attention to either model.
• The Focus S was obviously the entry model with smaller wheels, hubcaps, and not even power windows at all four corners - it's main purpose was to allow Ford to say you could buy a Focus for under $16,000. It would be analogous to the current Dart SE (no offense to SE owners).
• The Focus SE was a fairly basic model with hubcaps and minor upgrades from the S. It would be analogous to the Dart SXT - although the SXT is a bit upscale.
• The Focus SE with sport appearance package sold for $700 more and added a sportier interior, 4-wheel disc brakes, fancier grille, alloy wheels and a sportier interior package. Feature-wise, this is analogous to the Dart SXT Rallye, while price-wise, it would be analogous to the SXT with Popular Equipment package.
• The Focus SEL was a mid-level car - it had dual electronic HVAC, but lacked leather seating, but had ambient lighting as an option, but not Sirius - and could be ordered with Sync but without MyFordTouch - which would be similar to Uconnect without the 8.4-inch screen. Opposite of above, it was featured more like the SXT with Popular Equipment package, but priced more like the Rallye.
• The Focus Titanium was the top model and roughly equivalent to the limited.
For 2012, the following changes were made to the lineup:
• The SFE was relatively unchanged, similar to the Aero.
• The Focus S got cruise control standard and got SYNC and Sirius as options, but dropped from around six colors to 4 - similar to the Dart SE getting optional cruise control.
• The Focus SE lost fog lights, but got the SE sport appearance alloy wheels standard. Dodge didn't really make similar changes to the Dart SE.
• The Focus SEL and Focus SE Sport appearance options were dropped from the lineup, however, there was a Performance Appearance package added to the SE model for around $2700. This really didn't match any of the previous cars - it could have graphite wheels came with leather seats, ambient lighting, fog lights, and 4-wheel disc brakes, but no electronic HVAC. (The Focus Sport Interior was dropped, while the Dart kept one of the Rallye interiors and dropped 3 of them and one of the base SXT interiors). This model is analogous to Dodge introducing the Dart SXT with Special Equipment Group, and dropping the SXT Popular Equipment Group, Rallye package, and Rallye Popular Equipment Group. (Although it is worth noting that pricing went the opposite way between the two companies - i.e. the Focus SE with Performance Appearance Package was almost the same price as a Focus Titanium, whereas the Dart SXT with the Special Equipment Group is essentially the same car as the Dart Rallye with the Popular Equipment Group - but priced at worst the same as the previous Rallye base model (i.e. The Special Equipment Group is the same price as the old SXT Popular Equipment Group, but includes all the upgrades of the Rallye model, but the base price of the SXT has also increased)).
• The Focus Titanium saw no significant changes, while the Dart Limited saw some options (like the Sunroof) included for no price increase from the previous Limited without the sunroof.
• The Focus ST was introduced, which would be analogous to the R/T or now the GT model.
No real point here - other than both companies seem to be doing similar things, but IMHO, Dodge is making better changes. Basically, Dodge's changes make sense to me, while Ford's did not:
• For Ford, the Focus SE Sport Appearance and SEL were popular "niche" models. The 2013 SE added alloys, but the base price increase as much as the Sport Appearance package previously cost - while it dropped fog lights and the piano black grille. The 2013 SE with Performance Appearance package was priced similarly to the old SEL - but was really NOT the same car.
Now for the Dart:
• I think all the base prices went up about $700 - that tends to get glossed over, and there isn't much you can do about it, but when you look at some of the savings on options - that factors into the net cost.
• On the SE - cruise control seems like a minor issue - but it is often expensive to add-on factory if it didn’t come on the car originally, and it is hard to add aftermarket without it looking tacky. I would have most likely passed on the SE due to it not being available. I'm still more likely to go with the SXT or SXT with SEG, but now I could be happy with the SE if I decided to go with that.
• On the Rallye and the SE SEG - Dodge essentially combined three options: They had the PEG for the SXT which gave a lot of convenience features, the Rallye model which gave a lot of sporty looks, and the Rallye PEG, which was the looks and convenience. Essentially, what Dodge did is drop the SXT PEG, and offer the old Rallye with PEG for the same price as the old base Rally model. Hard to argue with the logic of that - i.e. the base model SXT customer can still get that car (although for $700 more). The SXT PEG customer now pays the same increase in price, but gets the appearance upgrades of the Rallye package at no charge. The previous base Rallye customer now gets the SXT SEG and pays about the same price as he would have for the base Rallye package, but gets the Rallye PEG thrown in free. And the previous Rally PEG customer essentially gets the SXT SEG and get the Rally PEG at no additional cost.
• It seems like Dodge dropped the graphite Rallye wheel option. Personally, I never liked that look (just let my wheels get a month or two of brake dust if I want them to look gray), but I imagine they will still be available from direct connection or whatever Mopar parts are now - although it will cost more to swap out the delivered rims on the car than to swap them as an option pre-delivery.
• I even have to agree with the interior streamlining. Of the seven previous options:
o Black and Citrus - way too trendy, and really probably only looks good on the Citrus exterior car.
o Black and Red - similar, looks good on red or black or gray or silver cars, but not on all colors.
o Diesel SXT - I'm surprised to see this go, but personally, I was considering either this color or the Frost (tan) color. Probably, I would have gone with Frost, but Diesel was easier to find.
o Diesel/Diesel Rallye - if I got a Rallye, I would have gotten this color - but it is NOT as sharp as the black diesel rally.
o Black Diesel Rallye - IMHO, easily the best looking of the Rallye interiors.
o Black - Not a color I would want in the Southeast, but it is a popular color and you almost have to keep it.
• The changes to the Limited are pretty much a win-win with the sunroof included free (except for those concerned with headroom or possible leaks).