Base price: $13,180; SXT, $14,375; R/T, $17,330; SRT-4, $19,995
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-drive; 4-door 5-passenger sedan
Interior volume, F/R/cargo (cu ft) 50/39/13
Wheelbase 105.0 in
Length/width/height 174.4/67.4/56.0 in
Turning circle 35.7–38.9 ft
Curb weight 2600–2950 lb
EPA city/hwy mpg 22–27/30–33
Fuel-tank capacity/range 12.5 gal/300–338 mi
Passive restraints driver and passenger front and side (opt) airbags
POWERTRAIN
2.0-liter SOHC 16-valve 4-in-line, 132 or 150 hp; turbocharged and intercooled 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-in-line, 215 hp 5-sp man, 4-sp auto
SUSPENSION
F ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
R ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
F/R vented disc/drum or disc
ABS optional
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DODGE NEON
Dodge’s small car enters 2003 with a fresh face that restores some of the cuteness of the original “hi” Neon. New elliptical headlights raise the fenders to give the face some more personality, while the grille and taillamps have also been reworked. The sporty ACR model is gone, but the company’s Performance Vehicle Operations group has cooked up something much better: a turbo Neon called the SRT-4. Its 2.4-liter four makes a road-burning 215 horses through a five-speed Getrag manual gearbox. Suspension, brakes, and tires have all been upgraded to improve handling, while the styling is enhanced with silver interior trim, special fascias, and a rear wing. Expect it to break seven seconds to 60 mph and eat Honda Civic Sis at the drag strip. Base Neons still offer tons of space for modest money. A little more crude than some competitors, they nonetheless drive well.
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