Check out our Used Dodge Neon Inventory!!!!
Introductions
The Neon is practical, inexpensive and roomy, and plenty fun to drive.
Relatively long suspension travel helps Neon avoid bottoming out on bad roads,
and it gets good fuel mileage. Dodge will stop building the current Neon at its
Belvedere, Illinois, factory to retool for an all-new small car for 2007. Yet
before that new car hits showrooms, there will be plenty of the current Neon
models left to sell. In any circumstances, the Neon is a solid car at a good
price, typically with some heavy dealer incentives. In 2006, smart shoppers
should be able to buy Neon at clearance prices.
Full review 2006
Driving enthusiasts love the Neon SRT4 ($20,700), which boasts a
230-horsepower turbocharged engine, sports suspension, heavy-duty gearbox,
four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and 17-inch performance tires. Model Lineup
The Dodge Neon is a compact, five-passenger, front-wheel-drive sedan
available in three models: the basic SE, the well-equipped SXT and the
high-performance SRT4. The SE and SXT are powered by a 2.0-liter, 132-horsepower
four-cylinder engine.
The Neon SE ($13,800) is spartan, to be sure, with wind-up windows, manual
door locks, and 14-inch steel wheels. A five-speed manual transmission is
standard. The sanely equipped Neon SXT ($16,110) adds the air conditioning and
CD, 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 molding. SXT
buyers can choose the manual or automatic transmission. Options inlude a power
sunroof ($695), six-disc in-dash CD changer ($350) and a Kicker audio upgrade
($495).
The SRT Design Package ($895) gives the SXT the look of the high-performance
SRT4 by adding a power bulge on the hood, unique front fascia, and dual exhaust
tips. The Neon SRT4 ($20,700) comes with a turbocharged 2.4,-liter dual-overhead
cam inline-4 rated at 230 horsepower. It 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, Viper-inspired sport seats and special trim inside and out,
including bright pedal pads. The SRT4 is not offered with an automatic. Safety
features on all Neons include front-impact airbags, three-point belts at all
seating positions, the LATCH child safety-seat anchor system, an emergency
inside release for the trunk lid and child-protection door locks.
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
are standard on the SRT4 and optional ($695) on other Neons. Side-impact airbags
are optional ($390) on all Neons. Neon's appearance hasn't changed much, but
it's still distinguished from other small cars by its cab-forward profile,
arched roofline and ovoid headlamps. Neon's long wheelbase and wide track
contribute to its roomy interior, smooth ride quality and high-speed stability.
For years Dodge made some effort to distance the high-performance SRT4 from
other Neons, even calling it the Dodge SRT4 in promotional literature, dropping
the Neon label entirely. The concept seemed to make even less sense when Dodge
decided to offer an SRT Design package for the standard Neon SXT. This borrows a
number of the appearance tweaks previously reserved for the high-performance
model.
The air intake in SRT4's deep front bumper/air dam looks like an inverted
version of the standard Neon grille, with two square openings where the standard
grille would otherwise be. A functional hood scoop and fog lamps set into what
look like brake cooling ducts emphasize SRT4's road racer demeanor.
Sill-mounted ground effects give SRT4 the look of a sport compact. Big tires
fill the wheel wells. The SRT4's 17-inch wheels are designed to channel air to
the brakes to help keep them cool.
Interior Styling and Features
The Neon is roomy inside. Back-seat passengers benefit from the Neon's big
interior, as well. The rear seat splits 60/40 and folds down for carrying
additional cargo.
The standard Neon SXT seats are quite comfortable, cushy and supportive. The
Sport Appearance and SRT Design packages include body-colored bezels around the
gauges that add a racy accent to the SXT. Our SRT4 test car had special interior
trim, including a satin-silver center stack, shift knob and door handles. The
SRT4 seats are modeled after those in the Dodge Viper sports car, 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 in
race cars.
First Drive 2006
The Dodge Neon is fun to drive. It offers sporty handling and good
acceleration, though it's not the smoothest nor the quietest compact car on the
road. In short, Neon isn't the most refined car in its class, as demonstrated by
its standard engine.
Step on the gas while cruising at 3000 rpm and the Neon gathers speed slowly.
The suspension nicely balances ride quality and handling agility, making the
Neon fun to drive on winding roads yet 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. When we hit a sharp dip,
the Neon's suspension was soft enough to absorb the harshness. The standard
brakes stop the Neon quickly and are stable under hard use. Indeed, the Neon
stops more quickly than many of the cars in its class, despite the handicap of
rear drum brakes. We nonetheless 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. The Neon SRT4 was
developed with input from Dodge engineers who spend their weekends racing at
Sports Car Club of America events. It delivers serious sport compact
performance.
Conclusion 2006
Dodge Neon's strength lies in its value. On the positive side, Neon is roomy,
comfortable and plenty fun to drive. On the negative side, it is less refined
than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. For more info on the Dodge Neon visit
Edmunds.com. Few competitors deliver as much as Neon for the money, and the
deals this year should be better than ever. No competitor comes close to the
brute strength or performance built into the Neon SRT4, unless you rank
$30,000-plus sports cars as competitors.