Interior
reviewed by
The interior of the Dodge Stratus is more like a cockpit than most mid-size cars, which gives the Stratus coupe and sedan a sportier interior ambience.
The Stratus sedan comes with new seat fabric for 2004. The standard seats are comfortable, but lack side support, not good for hard driving or long trips. SE and SXT come with manual adjustments. A power driver's seat is available that seems more supportive, with manually adjustable lumbar support and eight-way power adjustments that are straightforward and easy to operate. A leather package ($695) for ES and R/T models comes with nice-looking leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift know, and steering wheel audio controls.
The sedan's shifter and hand brake lever feel beefy, nicer than the coupe's. White-faced gauges lend a sporty appearance with color-keyed accents on 2004 models, and all sedans come with full instrumentation, including a tachometer and temperature gauges. A textured material on the dash adds to the sporty theme. The center of the dash features a small storage cubby between a pair of vents.
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) are controlled in the sedans by three large knobs, a great design that makes adjustments quick and easy, even with gloves on. The stereo system is more tedious. Radio stations are preset by pressing a separate Set button, more awkward than simply holding down a button. The single-disc in-dash CD player that comes standard on the SXT model works well. The six-disc CD changer available as an option on the R/T ($300) is a separate unit, located down below the HVAC and stereo controls, recessed and awkward to reach. It's best to load it up when parked. Buttons for switching disks are awkward to reach, but are big and easily identified.
Stratus coupes benefited from an updated interior for 2003. The seats are covered in Spade/Saratoga cloth. The R/T offers perforated leather as an option ($1,215), a package that includes a six-way power driver's seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, compass, outside temperature display, and a HomeLink universal garage door opener.
The cockpit theme of the Stratus models is reinforced by round analog instruments tucked beneath an arched cowl. Different models rim the instruments with bezels of various colors. White-faced gauges lend a sporty appearance. Although the dashboard is flat and linear, there's a wrap-around feel to the cockpit. The center console is nicely designed, and includes a pair of cup holders, but the plastic looks cheap, not as nice as the sedan's. Reading lamps are provided front and rear. Coupes come with rudimentary HVAC controls that look like they came from a compact and the handbrake lever is spindly. Some models offer a new, silvery material on the center dash and door panels that would look better on a bass fishing lure. The R/T coupe has nice brushed-aluminum trim. R/T also comes with radio controls on the steering wheel.
From the driver's seat you can easily reach window and lock switches mounted on the door, much better than placing them in the center. Stratus provides excellent outward visibility for the driver, thanks to the broad and tall expanses of window glass and relatively narrow windshield pillars.
The downside of their sleek designs is that neither the sedan nor the coupe are extraordinarily roomy cars and rear-seat accommodations are not as comfortable as those found in the boxier mid-size cars. Getting in and out of the rear seats of the Stratus sedan is tight. Once back there, it's uncomfortable. There's little room for adult feet and you sit low in the seat. Worse, the rear seats lack support on the outside edges of the seat bottoms, making you feel like you're falling to the outside. And there's no center armrest. Overall, the back is best for child safety seats and young people who don't notice things like comfort. The rear bench does seat three, however, and the Alcantera inserts in the rear of leather R/T models look nice.
A folding rear seat, split 60/40, comes standard on coupe and sedan and adds to their practicality.
Passive safety measures include three-point seatbelts for all five seat positions and dual-stage frontal airbags. We strongly recommend opting for the side-impact airbags.
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