2003 Dodge SRT4 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Dodge Neon maintains its cab-forward design and ovoid headlamps, but new front and rear fascia give it a freshened appearance for 2003.

The new front fascia features a more integrated, more organic design. The upper grille has been enlarged, giving the Neon a cleaner, more aggressive, more contemporary appearance. The lower grille is more subtle, yet sportier. The redesigned front bumper better integrates the available fog lamps.

A new rear spoiler is attached at the ends, giving it a more integrated appearance than the previous wing. Last year's spoiler looked more like an aftermarket wing that had been tacked on. New exterior door handles, bodyside moldings and other detail work freshen the Neon. All models get new wheel designs.

SRT-4's grille is an inverted version of the Neon grille. Just behind the lower grille sits a cast-aluminum intercooler; Dodge left it visible in keeping with the car's intent. A functional hood scoop and unique integrated fog lamps give it an aggressive look. The tall rear basket-handle spoiler is designed to look outrageous and it succeeds. Sill-mounted ground effects give it the look of a sport compact car. Big tires fill the wheel well openings. Special wheels are designed to channel air to the brakes to help keep them cool.

Neon's long wheelbase and wide track contribute to its roomy interior, smooth ride quality and high-speed stability. Full-frame doors reduce wind noise and create a tight seal. The current Neon has a more rigid body structure than first-generation models, which results in a smoother, quieter, more controlled ride.

Interior Features

Dodge Neon features a roomy cabin, with generous front hip room. The driver sits high, for good visibility. Neon's front-seat space is comparable for the class. It has a bit more leg room than a Honda Civic sedan, a bit more headroom than a Chevrolet Cavalier. Neon SXT's new rear spoiler restricts rearward vision down low, but not unduly.

SXT's seats are quite comfortable, cushy and supportive. The side bolsters on the seat seemed a bit soft, but felt fine while driving. The new cloth trim feels good and looks like it will hold up well. Vinyl trim on the front edges of the seats gives them a nicely finished look and feel.

Dash and door trim are made of a premium material that is soft to the touch, providing an attractive appearance and feel and lacking the plastic look of many compacts. Map lights are mounted on the rear-view mirror, generally not the best location as your co-driver may accidentally adjust your mirror when using the light switch. Switchgear is easy to use and works well, though the turn signal stalk on our 2003 SXT wasn't smooth. The stereo sounded mediocre. Having to press a button to get the key out of the ignition slot seems like an unnecessarily annoying extra step. An appearance package with body-colored center dash added a sporty accent to our yellow SXT.

Back-seat passengers benefit from the large interior. It's not a bad place to spend short-to-medium-length trips. Rear-seat roominess is about average for the class.

The trunk is reasonably large, about average for the class. Gooseneck hinges intrude into the cargo space, but afford a relatively large trunk opening. Liftover height is on the high side. The rear seat splits 60/40 and folds down for carrying additional cargo.

SRT-4 comes with special interior trim, including a satin-silver center stack, shift knob and door handles. SRT-4 seats are modeled after those in the Dodge Viper with enhanced lumbar and lateral sections for better support when cornering. Agate-colored cloth is designed to grip the driver. Cast aluminum pedals look like those seen in racecars. A turbo boost/vacuum gauge sits to the right of the instrument cluster, underneath the dash brow.