2005 Dodge Neon
Summary
Dodge Neon is a practical, inexpensive car with a
roomy interior. 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.
Full 2005 Review
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). 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.
2005 Trims and Styling
The 2005 Dodge Neon lineup has been streamlined.
Three models are available: the basic SE, the sensibly equipped SXT, and the
high-performance SRT-4. All Neons are four-door sedans with four-cylinder
engines and front-wheel drive.
SE ($13,615) is the base Neon, and it is basic,
with wind-up windows, manual door locks, and 14-inch steel wheels. Air
conditioning costs extra ($1,000). Mirrors and body-side moldings are black.
Options: AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers ($175), cruise control ($250).
SXT ($15,925) adds air conditioning, AM/FM/CD with
six speakers, power front windows, power door locks (with speed-sensitive
automatic locking), keyless remote, power mirrors, power trunk lid release,
tachometer, map lights, 15-inch aluminum wheels, and body-color door handles and
bodyside molding.
SXT and SE come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder
engine rated at 132 horsepower. Power rack-and-pinion steering is standard on
both models. Antilock four-wheel disc brakes (ABS) are optional $695) and come
with electronic brake proportioning (EBD). SRT-4 ($20,650) comes with a
turbocharged 2.4-liter dual-overhead cam inline-4 rated at 230 horsepower. SRT-4
also features a heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission, limited-slip
differential, 17-inch aluminum wheels with 50-series ultra-high performance
three-season tires, high-performance suspension, four-wheel disc brakes with
ABS, Viper-inspired sport seats, plus special trim inside and out, including
bright pedal pads. SRT-4 is available only with manual transmission.
The Kicker audio package ($795) for SXT and SRT-4
consists of a 208-watt Kicker amplifier, eight speakers, sub-woofer, and
six-disc CD changer.
Safety features: Seat-mounted side-impact air bags
are optional ($390) on all Neons; we strongly recommend them. Three-point seat
belts are provided for all three rear-seat positions. The LATCH child
safety-seat anchor system, an emergency inside release for the trunk lid, and
child-protection door locks are standard on all 2005 Dodge Neons.
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. 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. Sill-mounted
ground effects give SRT-4 the look of a sport compact. Big tires fill the wheel
well openings. 2005 SRT-4s are available in a coppery color called Orange Blast.
Interior Features
The Neon boasts a roomy cabin. 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 body-color bezels that come with the Sport Appearance and SRT
Design packages add a racy accent to the SXT. The standard stereo sounded
mediocre. Back-seat riders benefit from the Neon's big interior. Neon's trunk is
reasonably large, at 13.1 cubic feet, but about average for the class. 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.
First Drive '05 Neon
The Dodge Neon offers sporty handling and good
acceleration performance, though it isn't the most refined car in its class.
Neon's standard single-overhead-cam 2.0-liter
engine delivers decent power. Step on the gas while cruising at 3000 rpm and the
Neon slowly gathers speed. 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.
Soft springs and premium shocks are tuned to enhance the Neon's ride quality.
The front disc/rear drum brakes that come standard on the Neon stop the car
quickly and are stable under hard use. 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. 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. Neon SRT-4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. Disc
brakes with ABS and electronic brake distribution (EBD) are standard on SRT-4.
2005 Dodge Neon Conclusions
Dodge Neon is roomy and comfortable, though it
isn't at the top of the class in refinement. For another perspective on the
Dodge Neon, visit
Edmunds.com. The well-equipped SXT offers a
strong value, while the racy SRT-4 delivers some of the best performance in its
class.