The Dodge Neon Returns To The Mexican-Market For 2020:
Some Minor Updates To The Compact Neon South Of The Border...
One of the cars that the U.S. and Canadian markets don’t get, but continues to grow in popularity in Mexico and the Middle East is the compact Dodge Neon sedan. We have talked about the car in the past, but the sporty compact sedan that is based on the European Fiat Tipo lineup returns to the Mexican market for the 2020 model year. We figured we would go through the Neon’s 2020 model year lineup for the market, to see what we are missing.
The 2020 Dodge Neon sedan offers an attractive design defined by sharp body lines that create a modern and sporty look. While many of Dodge’s models are ditching the iconic crosshair grille, the Neon proudly wears its crosshair grille that features a honeycomb grille pattern. The front of the car is enhanced with a new set of headlights that feature LED daytime running lights.
The rear of the Neon features sculptured tail lights that almost give you the impression of a hook. While the roof features a raised section to give more interior headroom to its driver and passengers. The Neon still holds true to Dodge DNA in its design.
Inside, the Neon stands out for its versatility and space. Designed to be comfortable to carry five adults who are 5-foot, 11-inches or 1.80 meters tall, the interior is surprisingly big for a car of its size. The front seats offer lateral and lumbar support and premium soft-touch materials are featured throughout the cabin. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has both height and depth adjustments, to make sure that the driver is completely comfortable in their driving position.
The trunk is the largest in the segment, with 18.36 cubic-feet or 520 liters of capacity. It makes the Neon possible to carry bulky items or luggage for the entire family. The cargo capacity can also be expanded, thanks to the Neon’s folding 60/40 rear seats.
Technology is another important aspect of Neon’s interior. The instrument cluster features a 3.5-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) screen, which can display several of the vehicle’s functions. The Neon also features a 5-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system, that features navigation and a reverse camera. The steering wheel features easy to control buttons for the Uconnect system as well as telephone functions. The interior also features various USB inputs and 12-volt outlets for passengers to power up their mobile devices.
Neon also features numerous features to make the drivers experience as pleasant as possible. Of course, the Neon features power windows and locks, automatic headlight leveling system, power mirrors, rear defrost, front and rear center armrest, automatic windshield wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, ParkSense® rear parking sensors, and a review mirror with a day-night function.
Three models are available for the 2020 model year. They include the entry-level SE, well-equipped Sport, and top-tier GT models.
Under the hood, the 2020 Dodge Neon offers two state-of-the-art engine choices depending on the model you choose. For SE buyers, the 1.4-liter “FIRE” inline-four-cylinder provides 95 horsepower and 94 lb.-ft of torque and is mated to a 6-speed manual. While power output doesn’t seem like a lot, this powertrain is for efficiency. It’s possible that this combination can get up to 39.5 mpg or 16.78 km / l.
For Sport and GT versions of the Neon, power comes from a 1.6-liter E-TorQ (not to be confused with eTorque) inline-four-cylinder which makes 110 horsepower and 112 lb.-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick sequential manual control. The combination is good for a fuel economy of around 39.1 mpg or 16.66 km / l in the right conditions.
Safety is a huge part of Neon’s appeal to the Mexican-market. The 2020 Dodge Neon has a number of advanced active and passive safety components that include…
- Brakes with ABS system.
- ESP * electronic stability control system.
- Traction control system (GT model only).
- Brake assist system (GT model only).
- System for climbing assistance (GT model only).
- Trailer control assistance (GT model only).
- Rollover prevention system (GT model only).
- Front and rear headers with height adjustment.
- Tire pressure monitoring (GT model only).
- Front airbags
- Side airbags in front seats (GT model only).
- Side curtain airbags (GT model only).
- ISOFIX system.
- ParkSense® rear parking sensors.
- ParkView® parking assistance rear camera (GT model only).
