The new Neon rides smoother and quieter than before. There's less wind noise, less engine noise, less road noise and less vibration. The Neon seems quieter and more refined than Chevy's Cavalier does. The new Neon seems to ride better than a Honda Civic - high praise.Chrysler redesigned the Neon's fully independent MacPherson-strut front and rear suspensions. The ground clearance was raised slightly to provide significantly more suspension travel. (Jounce travel was improved by 15 percent in the front and by 30 percent in the rear.) This greatly improves overall ride quality while decreasing the chance of bottoming under heavy loads. Softer springs and premium shocks give the Neon a smoother ride than before. Neon's redesigned single overhead-cam 2.0-liter engine feels more powerful than its predecessor. A new air induction system broadens the torque curve, which makes the car feel more powerful around town. A new exhaust manifold, cylinder head cover and timing belt cover, and attention to a myriad of details reduce noise. The brake pedal feels firmer. The brake system was redesigned for improved pedal feel. The thickness of the front brake rotors was increased and low-metallic linings were used to keep them from squealing. We recommend the optional four-wheel disc brakes with antilock brakes ($595). Whether slippery or dry, the antilock brake system helps drivers to maintain steering control in panic braking situations. Disc brakes are in theory less likely to fade out on mountain roads than the standard rear drum brakes. The ABS option also includes traction control, which helps the driver maintain control when accelerating on slippery surfaces. We drove the Neon back to back with the Honda Civic, Chevy Cavalier and other cars in its class at Chrysler's proving grounds at Chelsea, Michigan. We drove them over different types of pavement and on a short road course designed to test handling. There, the Neon seemed better than its competition, both in terms of handling and ride quality. It rides nicely, handles well and is fun to drive. It's more stable than the old Neon and its manners are much more refined. A week on Maryland's roads showed the Neon to be quite stable at high speeds. It soaks up road vibrations well and offers good acceleration and very capable handling.
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