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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s like replacing the typewriter with a computer.

The Dodge Neon sedan brought out in 1993 has been replaced by the Caliber crossover for 2007. It will be in showrooms next month.

Neon held down the entry-level end of the market for Chrysler Group, though poorly, with sales of only 113,332 units in 2005, down from 113,476 in 2004.

An automaker typically gives itself an “atta boy” anytime sales of one model top 100,000 units. But those 113,332 were produced on only one shift of 2,100 workers at its plant in Belvidere, which has capacity for 300,000 units with 3,100 workers on two to three shifts.

Besides that, Neon also came up short on looks, room, comfort, performance and innovation. Remember, this is the car that initially came with a 3-speed automatic to save money.

Neon was to frump what Caliber is to fashion, starting with dramatic styling to keep it from being lost in the crowd like Neon. It features the Dodge crosshair grille, flared wheel openings and huge tail lamps that make the compact not only look sporty yet rugged, but also larger than it is. A roof spoiler complements the look.

While Caliber looks longer, it’s 1 inch shorter than Neon, though 1 inch wider and 4 inches taller in recognition that consumers want more hip and head room than length. It’s also about 5 inches longer than a PT Cruiser.

Caliber comes in SE, SXT and R/T versions. The SE and SXT have a 1.8-liter, 148-horsepower 4-cylinder as standard; the SXT a 2-liter, 158-h.p. 4 as optional; and the R/T, only a 2.4-liter, 172-h.p. 4. Engines were developed with Hyundai and Mitsubishi. A 2-liter diesel is available for markets outside the U.S.

Neon had a higher performance SRT4 version, and Caliber is expected to as well.

The SE and SXT are only front-wheel-drive with a choice of manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions; the R/T only all-wheel-drive and only with a CVT with Autostick for manual-mode shifting.

But Larry Lyons, vice president of front-wheel-drive products, said R/T will get that drivetrain along with manual later this year at a price about $2,000 less than with AWD and CVT.

We tested the SXT at length and the R/T briefly on an extended run up, down and around the hills and mountains in Arizona.

Caliber, with the optional 2-liter and CVT, performed with lots of spirit. It took sharply twisting turns through the mountains without getting winded or excessive body lean.

The SXT comes with 17-inch, all-season, radial tires that grabbed the pavement without wandering onto the sand and gravel shoulders in a series of hairpin turns.

The light-effort steering gave it agility to maneuver into and out of the continual twists in the path. Steering was crisp, not so loose you had to wrestle the wheel out of a turn.

Caliber took a stretch of roller-coaster pavement here without bottoming out, or worse, introducing the melon to the headliner.

The suspension kept most of the road harshness from filtering into the cabin, but then, the roads in Arizona aren’t filled with potholes like they are in Snow Belt climates.

The R/T features sports-tuned shocks and spring rates, larger sway bars and a little heavier steering effort for more aggressive driving. R/T rides on wider-profile, 18-inch, all-season radials for sure-footed handling.

Later in the model year, Caliber will add electronic stability control to keep the vehicle on course. The system applies the anti-lock brakes and/or limits fuel to the engine when wheel slippage is detected to keep it from wandering off course. Too bad it’s not here now.

The CVT has an infinite number of gear ratios and finds just the right one based on pedal input. When rounding a corner and the road headed skyward, the crossover continued to accelerate without pausing to search for the proper gear. The CVT makes the 2-liter feel more energetic.

The 2-liter is rated at 26 m.p.g. city/30 m.p.g. highway and the 2.4 liter in the R/T is rated at 23/26.

Seats are well cushioned cloth with wide bolsters upfront to hold you in place. This was especially appreciated when trekking through the mountains.

Headroom is unusually spacious front to rear thanks to the 4 inches in added height. Curves in the backs of the front seats give those sitting in back plenty of knee room. Dodge also lowered the floor a couple inches in back so passengers can easily slip their feet under the front seats.

If you still feel the need to stretch, rear-seat backs recline 20 degrees.

The backs also fold flat to increase cargo capacity. And the cargo floor is a rubberized mat that can be removed for cleaning.

Caliber faces lots of competition in the crossover market so Dodge came up with a variety of surprise-and-delight features to draw attention from the rivals.

These include MusicGate, pull-down speakers in the hatchlid so youth can park at the beach, open the hatch and listen to the tunes without having to open all the windows and turn up the sound.

There’s also Chill Zone, a cooled beverage storage bin above the glove box that holds four, 2-ounce bottles.

Other novelties include a storage compartment in the top of the dash; a removable flashlight in a recharger built into the headliner above the hatchback lid; a cell phone/MP3 player holder that flips up out of the center console armrest; and a 115-volt outlet in the center console to power a laptop computer.

There’s also illuminated cupholders; coat hangers built into the grab handles above the rear doors; and heated leather or cloth seats ($250). A soil- and odor-repellant seat fabric treatment comes out later in the year.

But there are a few gripes, one being manual only seats, and rear door openings that are just a tad narrow.

And that’s not counting the need for hand-held computer and crystal ball to figure out the options and what model can have which ones at what price.

MusicGate, for example, runs $400 to $500 and leather seats $900 to $1,000 depending on the model.

And the 2-liter adds only $100 to the sticker, but you first must order the CVT for $1,000. When you do, ABS is tossed in.

Our notepad is filled with $??? notations.

And two exterior colors, Solar Yellow and Sunburst Orange, cost $150 extra. But you have to get the Appearance Group at $645 to add Solar Yellow or Sunburst Orange inserts on the seat backs and bottoms as well as the instrument stack on the dash. And why wouldn’t you?

Excellent little crossover that should do well, once it becomes clear what you get for what price.

The SE starts at $13,985, or $410 less than the Neon. The SXT at $15,985, and the R/T at $19,985. All prices include $560 for freight.

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2007 Dodge Caliber SXT

Price as tested: $19,730*

Wheelbase: 103.7 inches

Length: 173.8 inches

Engine: 2-liter, 158-h.p. 4-cylinder

Transmission: Continuously variable

City: 26 m.p.g.

HWY: 30 m.p.g.

THE STICKER

Base price: $15,425

$400 Driver convenience group with compass, outside temp gauge, universal garage door opener, electrochromatic mirror and tire pressure monitor

$495 Music Gate

$1,000 CVT transmission with ABS

$100 2-liter 4-cylinder that comes only with the CVT with ABS

$750 Power sunroof

$150 Sunburst exterior paint

$645 Sport appearance group with fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels and color keyed inserts on the seats and instrument panel

$250 Speed control

$320 AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD player and MP3 player

$195 Sirius satellite radio

*Add $560 for freight

PLUSES

– Crossover replacement for aged Neon sedan.

– Attractive styling and good interior room.

– Clever amenities such as Music Gate, Chill Zone and heated leather or cloth seats.

– Available AWD–in the R/T model.

– Good mileage.

– Pleasant ride and handling.

– Side-curtain air bags standard.

MINUSES

– Options quickly boost the price.

– Price tough to determine with all those options.

– Electronic stability control not coming until summer.

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Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation and Wednesday and Friday in Business. Hear him on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:22 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:22 a.m. Sundays.

jmateja@tribune.com