Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

2004 Dodge SRT-4

Get the best interest rate
Mathieu St-Pierre
Turbo pressure

Turbo pressure

The present-day horsepower race is not only going on with supercars and SUVs. It's happening throughout the automotive industry. Imagine if, 10 years ago, Toyota would have introduced a 170 hp Corolla; or if Nissan had decided to launch a 175 hp Sentra. How would they have compared to the cars available at the time? One thing is for sure; had they existed, they would have blown away cars such as the very peppy 1995 Volkswagen Passat (which had a 172 hp V6 engine) or the ever-so muscular 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 (which had a 210 hp DOHC V6 engine) right out of the water. They would have seemed pathetic compared to the compacts. Now, take that same logic and apply it to a Neon, but this time, turbocharge it to get 230 hp. Well, this time it is a reality and Dodge is the one to have done it by introducing the SRT-4. This vehicle is on the forefront of the power war and this is only the beginning... The tested 2004 Dodge retails for 27 875$ including the sunroof.

Exterior styling

All manufacturers are getting into the boy racer style these days. They want to attract young buyers and create a happening image for themselves. Dodge really hit the nail square on the head with the SRT-4. It's got the hood scoop, the fog lights, a front mounted intercooler behind a large aggressive mesh grill, a monstrous trunk spoiler and dual exhaust tips. The necessary 17" alloy wheel, meant to look like after market items, complete the look. Nothing says "race ya!" like this Dodge. A normal SX 2.0 would not even warrant a first glance but this one gets double and triple takes.

Body panel fit and finish is fair and the paint application is generally even however the orange peel remains quite visible. The Solar Yellow paint of the tester was apparently part of a limited run for 2004 as this color has been discontinued from 2003.

Interior styling

The front seats offer good lateral support but little lumbar support. They are non-height adjustable and this makes it very difficult to find a good driving position. The rest of the interior is standard Neon / SX 2.0 fare: cheapish hard plastics with at best, average fit and finish, but with decent ergonomics. The steering wheel is oversized, does not provide a good grip and is also awkward because it is slightly off axis. Visibility to the front and the sides is acceptable but rear and rear side ¾ is poor especially because of the high trunk lid.

Mathieu St-Pierre
Mathieu St-Pierre
Automotive expert
None