2005 Dodge SRT4 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Dodge Neon is distinguished from other small cars by its cab-forward profile, arched roofline, and ovoid headlamps. Redesigned front and rear fascias, exterior door handles, bodyside moldings and other detail work freshened the Neon for 2003, and its appearance hasn't changed since then.

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.

Dodge has made some effort this year to distance the high-performance SRT-4 from other Neons. Some factory literature even calls it the Dodge SRT-4," dropping the Neon label entirely. The air intake in SRT-4's deep front fascia/bumper/air dam looks like an inverted version of the standard Neon grille, with two square air openings occupying the space above where the grille would otherwise be. Just behind the lower opening sits a cast-aluminum intercooler; Dodge left it visible in keeping with the car's intent. A functional hood scoop and fog lamps set into what look like brake ducts emphasize SRT-4's road racer demeanor.

Out back, SRT-4's tall basket-handle spoiler is designed to look outrageous, and it succeeds. (It also restricts rearward vision, but not unduly.) Sill-mounted ground effects give SRT-4 the look of a sport compact. Big tires fill the wheel well openings. Special wheels are designed to channel air to the brakes to help keep them cool. 2005 SRT-4s are available in a coppery color called Orange Blast."

Interior Features

The Neon boasts a roomy cabin. The driver sits high for good visibility. The Neon's front seating area has lots of hip room and legroom. Compared to the Honda Civic, Neon has more front seat hip room, comparable legroom, and less headroom.

The SXT's seats are quite comfortable, cushy and supportive. The side bolster appears a bit soft, but felt fine while driving. The cloth upholstery feels good and looks durable. 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's soft to the touch, providing an attractive appearance and feel and avoiding the plastic look that afflicts so many compacts. The body-color bezels that come with the Sport Appearance and SRT Design packages add a racy accent to the SXT. Map lights are mounted on the rear-view mirror, not the best location as your co-driver may accidentally adjust your mirror when using the light switch. Otherwise, switchgear is easy to use and works well, though the turn signal stalk on our test car wasn't smooth. The standard stereo sounded mediocre. And having to press a button to get the key out of the ignition slot is an annoying extra step.

Back-seat riders benefit from the Neon's big interior. The back seat of a Neon is not a bad place for short-to-medium-length trips. Rear-seat roominess is about average for the class, bettering the Civic for hip room, while the Honda offers more head and leg room.

Neon's trunk is reasonably large, at 13.1 cubic feet, but about average for the class. Gooseneck hinges intrude into the cargo space, but afford a relatively large trunk opening. Lift-over 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 race cars. A turbo boost/vacuum gauge sits to the right of the instrument cluster, underneath the dash brow.