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Dodge Stratus sedan comes with agile manners and keen prices
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. -- A crinkled blacktop route, lined with tall firs and lacing through foothills of the Cascade Range east of Seattle, becomes our laboratory to sample the competent road manners and precise handling characteristics for three different variations of the mid-size Stratus sedan by Dodge.
Stratus in the four-door package was redesigned in 2001 to replace a previous sedan of the same name. The new version, constructed on a stiff new platform and powered by stronger engines than the predecessor, appears in a sleek shell with fresh interior appointments.
But don't let the name confuse you because Dodge applies the Stratus label to a coupe as well as the sedan. Both were revamped last year with new structures and powertrains, and both share some exterior styling points yet each is unique, since the sedan rolls on a platform that's different from the coupe and engines also vary.
Dodge originally divided the Stratus sedan into two models: SE and ES.
Stratus SE, the base edition, totes a four-cylinder engine tied to a four-speed automatic transaxle. The 2.4-liter plant with dual overhead cams musters 150 hp at 5200 rpm plus torque of 167 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
Stratus ES, the luxury version, carries a 2.7-liter dual-cam V6 scored to 200 hp at 5800 rpm and with torque numbers rising to 190 lb-ft at 4850 rpm.
The six-cylinder engine for Stratus ES also connects to the automatic four-speed transaxle, although as a sporty concession Dodge offers optionally the AutoStick feature for clutch-less shifter control similar to a manual stick.
The V6 may also be added to Stratus SE, and several safety systems show up as optional gear for both models, such as anti-lock brakes and curtain-style side air bags.
With the 2002 models, Dodge also spins off a racy new R/T edition in limited numbers.
That R/T tag denotes a tilt toward performance in a sport-tuned version with firmer suspension. The initials abbreviate a designation of "Road and Track" in recognition of Dodge's muscle car heritage that traces back to the 1960s when Hemi-powered muscle cars ripped across America.
Stratus R/T gets the V6 engine used by Stratus ES but the standard shifter is a five-speed manual.
In addition, a performance suspension tweaks spring rates with front and rear stabilizer bars applied and the chassis lowered by about half an inch.
Anti-lock brakes are standard, along with 17-inch Vertex aluminum wheels capped by Michelin Pilot MXM4 all-season performance tires.
All three versions of Stratus in sedan style exhibit proficient driving manners. While we prefer stiff suspension traits of the R/T version, the base Stratus SE and plush ES editions can be downright nimble when steered through a set of curves.
Despite such sporty traits, Stratus as a sedan favors a smooth ride quality, and the passenger compartment, padded and insulated, amounts to a comfortable space outfitted with convenient gear.
There are further concessions for comfort that seem incongruent with the sporty nature of this car, such as the generous proportions of the cabin with seats for a family of five and four doors of a practical sedan rather than only the two doors of a coupe.
Can a sedan with four doors and seats for all in the family effect the sporty personality of a two-door coupe?
Well, factors of practicality and comfort ultimately outweigh the lively manners and pavement poise, but Dodge's design clearly demonstrates you can pick a sensible car with four doors and room for all yet still get a fun-to-drive vehicle that's quick to respond when prodded by the go-pedal in the passing lane.
Our tests with Stratus included a day of driving around Seattle through urban and suburban venues like fast-clip freeways, downtown streets with stop-and-go traffic and that romp through the Cascade foothills on winding backroads.
We felt spirited acceleration from the V6 used by Stratus ES and R/T. Punch it and it goes, whether starting from the gate or overtaking a slower car.
This plant, out of an aluminum block with twin overhead cams and multi-valve technology, generates healthy power but still operates on regular-grade gasoline.
Gear ratios for the transmission have been calibrated to produce quick getaways in stoplight derbies and typical stop-and-start in-town driving situations. Thus, Stratus feels even quicker and can transform a dicey freeway entry into an easy maneuver.
We also drove the Stratus SE with the 2.4-liter four-pack engine carried forward from the predecessor Stratus sedan. Although this plant musters 50 less power points than the V6, it still feels energetic.
However, Dodge prices the V6 upgrade on Stratus SE for only $850, which pitches a comfortable mid-size sedan with V6 power for less than $19,000. With fuel economy numbers differing by only a single point per gallon between the two engines, that makes the V6 hard to resist.
Both SE and ES have the same suspension components, but wheels and tires differ. The SE gets 15-inch wheels, but ES bumps up an inch larger and rolls on more aggressive tires. The larger tires feel more stable during a turn, and ultimately enhance the car's agility.
Four-door Stratus stretches long and wide over a taut package with fluid lines patterned after the coupe.
The windshield initiates a graceful arch in profile that extends over sensuously shaped doors to merge thin rear roof pillars in a swoop to the high deck of a tail. That arching profile repeats design cues of other sedans in the Dodge fleet, while the stubby prow with body-colored grille in cross-hair pattern conveys an image of the racy Viper sports car. Flanking the grille, front corners carry multi-lens headlamps set above round foglights.
Inside, Stratus provides generous room for riders by extending the windshield forward to the firewall, increasing the length and width of the cabin, then abbreviating space for the engine.
Up front, two high-back bucket seats are clad in cloth fabric or optional leather. The rear bench holds three, with folding seatbacks split 60/40 to access the trunk.
Stratus as a sedan compares favorably in behavior to mid-size imports but beats them in price. The luxury edition, Stratus ES, loads luxury gear aboard but still keeps a rein on the bottom line -- beginning at $20,660.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 DODGE STRATUS SEDAN Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size sedan
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
108.0 inches
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| Overall Length: |
191.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
DOHC 2.7-L V6
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| Transmission: |
SE I4: Auto/4
ES V6: Auto/4 AutoStick
R/T V6: Manual/5
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc
opt.ABS/EBD
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
I4 A/4: 21/30 mpg
V6 A/4: 20/29 mpg
V6 M/5: 20/28 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 18,000 to $ 28,000 |
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