2006 Dodge Stratus
Expert Review

The Dodge Stratus sedan won't turn heads in West Hollywood. It's not a trendy car and is best suited to blue-collar Middle America. Still, it provides a good blend of practicality and sportiness despite an aging design.

The Michigan-built Stratus sedan shares its design with the more upscale Chrysler Sebring sedan. The Stratus sedan shouldn't be confused with the Stratus coupe, which has a Mitsubishi design shared with the Sebring coupe and is made at that Japanese automaker's Illinois plant.

The Stratus was introduced for 1995, and the last time it got major changes was in 2001. That's when it received more attractive exterior and interior designs, and also a stiffer body structure that gives it somewhat of a European sedan feel.

Since then, Dodge has given the Stratus sedan ride, handling and noise insulation improvements, besides new safety features such as side-curtain airbags.

Holds Its Own
The Stratus sedan still lacks the polish of popular import-brand competitors, such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. That's fierce competition, but the Stratus sedan can pretty much hold its own with them — particularly the sporty R/T version with its smooth V6, sport suspension and wider wheels and tires.

The 2004 Stratus got a revised front end for a slicker appearance, and it looks good with clean, chiseled lines that should stay in style for some time.

The prices are right, and Dodge dealers may be more willing to lower them than dealers for the more popular foreign makes. The base Stratus SXT sedan lists at $20,145 and the sportier R/T stickers at $21,625.

Decently Equipped
The SXT has a decent amount of standard equipment. It includes air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM stereo radio with a single disc CD player, split-folding rear seat and power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry.

The R/T adds performance items that make it stand out more. They include a sport suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with low-speed traction control and a rear spoiler.

Also, the R/T interior has an upscale sound system with 6 speakers, satin silver instrument panel bezels and a compass-temperature display.

Nearly a dozen option packages contain a variety of comfort and convenience items. But the fair amount of stand-alone extras include a power sunroof, side-curtain airbags, 8-way power driver's seat, anti-lock brakes with traction control for the SXT — and leather upholstery, in-dash 6-disc CD changer and chrome alloy wheels for the R/T.

Two Engines
The SXT has a standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower. It provides decent acceleration with its dual overhead camshafts and 16 valves.

The R/T's smoother 2.7-liter V6 also has dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It provides faster acceleration and is a worthwhile $850 option with an upgraded suspension for the SXT.

Fuel economy is good for a mid-size family sedan: an estimated 22 city and 30 highway with the 4-cylinder engine and 21 and 28 with the V6.

Discontinued Manual Transmission
Last year's 5-speed manual gearbox has been discontinued, leaving a 4-speed automatic transmission. Some car buffs might wonder why the sporty R/T sedan isn't offered with a manual transmission, but such a gearbox is more at home in the sportier Stratus coupe, which is much less of a family car.

The best handling is delivered by the R/T because it has the sport suspension and wider (50-series) tires on 17-inch wheels, compared with thinner 60-series tires on smaller 16-inch wheels for the SXT. Still, the SXT doesn't have undersized wheels or tires.

Despite a firmer suspension, the sedan's rigid body structure and supple all-independent suspension allows both versions of the Stratus sedan to deliver a good ride.

The power rack-and-pinion steering is quick and has a slightly better feel with the R/T than with the SXT. Stopping distances are short.

Roomy Cabin
The airy interior is roomy, providing good space for four to five (if they squeeze a little in back) tall adults. Major controls are easy to reach and use, and interior materials have decent quality, although it's not up to standards of the car's best import rivals.

While large, the trunk has a high opening that doesn't facilitate quickly removing luggage at busy airport terminals. And rear seatbacks should fold flatter when they're flipped forward to enlarge the cargo area.

The Stratus sedan may not satisfy those looking at more polished foreign rivals, but it offers good value for the money. How picky are you?