The high-performance Dodge Neon SRT-4 sedan is one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2003 model year. It's the fastest under-$20,000 vehicle sold in America, but is comfortable and even gets an estimated 30 mpg on the highway.
The SRT-4 has a $19,450 base price, which is chump change for a car with its torrid performance. It has 215 horsepower and gobs of neck-snapping torque with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.
The base $12,935 Neon SE and higher-line $15,245 SXT have a 2-liter four-cylinder, 132-horsepower engine that delivers decent acceleration. The sportier $17,085 R/T generates 150 horsepower and is a bit faster.
The SRT-4 is in another league. It streaks to 60 in 5.6 seconds and attains 102 mph from a standing start in a quarter-mile run. Any car that tops 90 mph in the quarter-mile, traditional length of a drag strip, is fast. Much costlier cars can't match the speediness of the SRT-4, which is built with other Neons at DaimlerChrysler's Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant.
Car and Driver magazine declared the SRT-4 ("Street and Racing Technology'') the winner in a recent comparison test of highly rated small "fast and furious'' sedans, which included the Ford SVT Focus, Mazdaspeed Protege and Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V sedans. The magazine found on a track that the SRT-4 hit 100 mph in just 14 seconds and topped out at 153 mph. No wonder the SRT-4 speedometer marking goes to 160 mph, which is a purely fictitious number with many sporty cars.
Most people don't spend much time at race tracks, but all that performance translates to easy, legal fast merges and passing times on roads.
But forget about the SRT-4 if you want an automatic transmission. The only transmission offered is a slick, heavy duty five-speed manual gearbox, which works with a light, long-throw clutch. Lots of shifting isn't needed for fast acceleration; the 65-75 mph passing time is decent even without downshifting from fifth to fourth or third gear.
Fuel economy is an estimated 22 mpg in the city, and the 30 mpg highway rating is achieved partly because the engine almost loafs at highway speeds.
Dodge is aware that some SRT-4 owners will want to make the car go even faster--certainly the case with young small car drivers in the "fast and furious'' crowd. It thus says that the price of the SRT-R "means our customers will have more cash left over for aftermarket enhancements--although they won't have to drop a dime if they don't want to.''
The SRT-4 is the second fastest Dodge, following the 500-horsepower Viper sports car. Dodge is no stranger to high performance; it has a history of making fast cars dating to its 1956 D-500 model. But few expected the SRT-4 to be so quick--or as refined as it is.
The SRT-4 has exceptionally good steering and handling with its sport suspension and wide 50-series tires on big (for a subcompact car) 17-inch wheels. The stopping distance of 167 feet from 70 mph with hefty anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes nearly matches that of the $46,500 BMW M3.
Moreover, this Neon's supple suspension doesn't allow the bone-jarring ride delivered by some factory hot rod models. And the SRT-4 is refined and quiet--except for a droning exhaust noise that can be tiresome on long trips if the sound system is switched off.
The occasional backfire noises from the twin tailpipes are normally emitted by competition cars. But then, the SRT-4 was developed by Dodge's special Performance Vehicle Operations department, which knows SRT-4 buyers won't object to a few high-performance-related noises that would annoy average car buyers.
The SRT-4 is fairly well equipped with comfort and convenience items such as air conditioning, remote keyless entry and AM/FM/CD player.
This special Neon isn't one of those "sleeper'' fast cars that looks like an economy sedan. Rather, it has unique front and rear fascias, body sill extensions, new hood with a functional air scoop and a dramatic looking rear spoiler. There also are chromed dual exhaust tips.
Inside are special gauges, including a small turbocharger boost gauge that looks as if installed by a professional aftermarket high performance shop. There's also a satin silver center dashboard area, shift knob and door handles. Race-car-inspired carbon-fiber texture leather is on the shift boot and thick steering wheel rim, which allows a good grip.
Race-car-style seats similar to those in the Viper help hold front occupants firmly in place during spirited driving and emergency maneuvers, but might seem confining to those with thicker torsos; potential SRT-4 buyers not on the slim side best check them out.
As with all Neons, wide doors make it easy to get in and out of the generally quiet SRT-4 interior, which has plenty of room for four tall adults. There are power front windows, but rear windows are operated with manual cranks. Front doors have storage pockets but the dual front cupholders invite spills because they're too low under the center dashboard area. At least there's a lonesome single cupholder on the top of the console.
Safety features include $275 front side air bags.
The trunk has a high opening but is large, although wheelwells partially eat into cargo space. The inside of the trunk lid needs some sort of covering because it looks rough. Rear seatbacks flip down to enlarge the cargo area, but the pass-through opening between the trunk and rear seat areas is only moderately large.
DODGE NEON SRT-4
Price:
$19,450
Likes:
Fastest under-$20,000 vehicle. Sharp handling. Comfortable. Roomy. Slick shifter.
Dislikes:
No automatic transmission. Exhaust noise can get tiring. High trunk opening. Manual rear window controls.