2005 Dodge Neon Review

Dodge Neon is a practical, inexpensive car with a roomy interior. It's also fun to drive. It's quicker than most compacts and feels sporty on winding roads. Neon's suspension nicely balances ride quality and handling agility. Its relatively long suspension travel and high ground clearance help it avoid bottoming out on bad roads.

The 2005 Dodge Neon SXT comes loaded with popular features and a retail price of just $15,925 (plus big cash incentives that can lower the final price). And it gets good fuel economy. The SXT is available with a sporty front fascia, rear spoiler, fancy wheels and other exterior features. Car enthusiasts gravitate to the Neon SRT-4, which boasts a 230-horsepower turbocharged engine, sports suspension, heavy-duty gearbox, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and 17-inch performance tires. It's fast. Only a Viper is quicker in the Dodge lineup.

The suspension nicely balances ride quality and handling agility, making the Neon fun to drive on winding roads but pleasant when cruising around. The Neon responds well in emergency lane-change maneuvers. Its fully independent, strut-type suspension offers high ground clearance and long jounce travel, which reduces the chance of bottoming under heavy loads. Soft springs and premium shocks are tuned to enhance the Neon's ride quality.

Indeed, we found that the Neon does not bottom out the way many cars do. When we hit a sharp dip, the Neon's suspension was soft enough to absorb the harshness of the dip, yet it was firm enough and had enough travel to avoid bottoming. As a result, the front of the Neon did not scrape on an abrupt dip on our test route where many others have scraped before. This makes for a more comfortable ride, with less need to slow to a walking pace for dips. The front disc/rear drum brakes that come standard on the Neon stop the car quickly and are stable under hard use.

The Neon stops more quickly than many of the other cars in its class. Still, we recommend the optional four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Whether the roads are slippery or dry, the antilock brake system helps drivers maintain steering control in panic braking situations. And disc brakes are less likely to fade on mountain roads than are the standard rear drum brakes. The SRT-4 delivers serious sport compact performance.

Its turbocharged engine develops 230 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 250 pound-feet of torque from 2200 to 4400 rpm. According to Dodge, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.8 seconds. The SRT-4 was developed with input from Dodge engineers who spend their weekends racing at Sports Car Club of America events. Last year, Dodge recalibrated the SRT-4's engine control module and specified larger, higher-flow fuel injectors, not only for more horsepower and torque but also for a broader torque band. That means less shifting under normal driving conditions.

Neon SRT-4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. A Quaife torque-sensing, limited-slip differential, provides more traction when accelerating out of the corners. Standard tires on the 2005 SRT-4 are B.F. Goodrich KDW II three-season radials, specifically developed to match the SRT-4's suspension and handling characteristics, with a tread pattern and rubber compound that maximize grip for cornering, accelerating and braking. Disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake distribution (EBD) are standard on SRT-4. They work well, and the pedal feels good.