The 2001 DODGE NEON- Who says the average family can't have a little fun without spending a lot of money? The fact that most families are well under way before parents hit 30 is an American fact, and this new five-speed Neon ES does a perfect job of giving the young family a lot of usability and fun for a minimal price. So drivers without a firm hand on the wheel, a busy wrist on the shifter, and a lead foot on the gas need not apply.

The stylists at Dodge replaced the bubbly fun look of the predecessor with a more mature, edgy exterior aimed at buyers with upscale taste and a less-than upscale budget.

An engineering upgrade also accompanies the new design. The new Neon almost eliminates wind, powertrain, and road-noise problems that plagued the previous platform. Key changes included better-sealing/full-frame doors, more noise-deadening underbody mastics, and acoustic foam in various body cavities. Even the exhaust system was altered with a larger-volume muffler and a vibration-isolating flex joint. With very little room for improvement, this new Neon is undoubtedly the best yet.

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This new Neon screams new: The stylists at Dodge replaced the bubbly fun look of the predecessor with a more mature, edgy exterior aimed at buyers with upscale taste and a less-than upscale budget. What they created was a look that is a flying leap over other econo-minded contemporaries. Interior wasn't neglected either, with nearly every dimension increasing, lead by a trunk volume that climbs from 11.9 to 13.1 cubic feet.

IMechanically speaking, this ES isn't afraid to fight. Although sharing the same 2.0-liter/132-horsepower DOHC four as the base Neon sedan, with a manual gearbox, it'll still scamper 0-60 mph in a brisk 8.2 seconds. Helped by 185/60TR15 tires on cast-alloy rims in place of the basic 185/65SR14s on steel wheels, the agile-yet-sticky ES cuts through the slalom at a confident 64.9 mph, faster than a $75,000 Jaguar XK8 convertible.

The only complaint? A four thousand dollar swing in price between the base and the heavily optioned ES. A base price of $12,460 will get you from A to B, but a $16,460 check is required to add some panache, including air conditioning, foglamps, power convenience group, keyless remote, and the bigger tires. An $1800 package adds an upline CD sound system, traction and cruise controls, ABS brakes, light group, and alloys.

If you can get by without some of the upper-level goodies, a midlevel "SE-plus" variant will deliver virtually all the performance punch of a fully loaded example. This car is perfect for someone who needs some room for a less-than-extravagant price. The new Neon gives plenty of bang for the buck, and should satisfy plenty of compact-plus buyers. AZ/AutoNetDirect.com

SEE BELOW FOR THE NEW DODGE NEON SPECIFICATIONS