Overview & Reviews

Building affordable yet appealing compact cars has often been a struggle for American automakers. Popular Japanese nameplates have done well as a result, and U.S. consumers are familiar with their reputations for quality and reliability. So Dodge took a different tack when it introduced the front-wheel-drive Dodge Neon sedan and coupe (alongside the identical Plymouth Neon) for the 1995 model year: The company made it fun to drive. The suspension and steering were carefully tuned to make the car handle well in the corners, and a pair of engines was available, including a 140-hp DOHC four-cylinder -- a lot of power for an economy car at that time. Of course, it didn't hurt that the Neon was cute as a bug and cheaper than most peers, either. It quickly caught on with budget-minded shoppers and was popular with young driving enthusiasts looking for a domestic alternative to import performance cars.

Unfortunately, Dodge lost its way when it redesigned the Neon for the 2000 model year. The car was a bit more refined than the original but was heavier, more expensive and no more powerful. The arrival of the turbocharged Neon SRT-4 sedan for 2003 brought some enthusiasts back into the fold, but by then most economy-car buyers had flocked to other brands. The Dodge Neon was discontinued after the 2005 model year; its successor is the Caliber four-door hatchback.

Most Recent Dodge Neon

Sold from 2000 to 2005 in sedan form only, the second-generation Dodge Neon offered a roomy interior, a smooth ride, nimble handling and strong brakes. Downsides included weak and unrefined engines, excessive wind and road noise, and an overall lack of polish and feature content compared to other economy cars. Crash test performance was mixed, as the Neon earned solid ratings in government tests but performed poorly in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing. Antilock brakes were optional on all model years; side airbags became an option in 2001.

Initially, buyers could get only a buzzy 132-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic. The performance-oriented Neon R/T and ACR models arrived for 2001 with a 150-hp four-cylinder. They were quicker than other Neons, but you could only get them with the manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic finally replaced the three-speed unit in 2002. The Plymouth version of this car was sold only in 2000 and 2001 and was never offered with the 150-hp engine or the four-speed auto.

The Neon SRT-4 sedan is one of the few bright spots in recent Dodge Neon history. Sold from 2003 to 2005, this scrappy econosport sedan represented the most performance you could buy for $20,000. Key ingredients were a high-boost turbocharged 2.4-liter engine good for 215-230 hp and 245-250 lb-ft of torque (output increased slightly from year to year) and a completely retuned, track-ready suspension. Not only could this Neon get you to 60 mph in under 6 seconds, it was a cinch to place in the turns, particularly the 2004 and 2005 models, which came with a limited-slip differential.

Past Dodge Neons

Sold from 1995 to 1999 in sedan and coupe form, the original Dodge Neon was smaller and cuter than its successor. It also offered a better combination of features and performance for its day. Refinement was never its strong suit, though, and Neons with the base 132-hp engine and three-speed automatic transmission were noisy and slow. However, when equipped with the optional twin-cam engine, the five-speed manual transmission, and the upgraded running gear offered on Sport and R/T models and Competition Group-equipped base models, the first-generation Neon could be a lot of fun to drive.

Resale value has always been a weak point of the Dodge Neon, so buying a used one will cost you very little. The flipside is that reliability is also below average on this car, so you should expect to put some money into repairs. A thorough check by a mechanic is recommended before you buy -- steer clear of any Neon with a history of engine or transmission problems.

User Reviews:

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  I have 90k on it - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By ALL HIGHWAY - March 21 - 12:07 pm

  I have had this car 4 years and still love it!!! I commute to work 84 miles every day. I have over 90K miles on it. I have NEVER raced it or beat it up. Even so,it DOES get expensive to maintain. The front end/ control arms and bushings wear out (@60K), synthetic oil changes are more expensive, the brakes cost big bucks to replace, the viper seats are SO comfortable, but they are poor quality and the vinyl cracks. Tires are expensive to replace. Shifting isnt smooth. Contrary to most Dodge products, I have very little oil leaking even after 90K miles. I have driven from NJ straight through to MO, MPG has NEVER been better than 24 MPG. Still, I love this car no matter what.

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  reliable car - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By red - March 17 - 3:02 pm

  This is a car has a very low maintenance but expensive parts when they got to be replace. I had to replace the tires only 1 time @ 75,000 miles, change the plugs and wires, fr brakes once. Now I got to replace the fr. struts. I think this is not bad after having 95,000 miles on the car.

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  Loved my R/T - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By deadmeet - March 17 - 8:42 am

  I bought a pair of R/Ts new for me and my wife hers white/blue stripes mine Brilliant blue pearlcoat with silver stripes. hers remained totally stock,mine received a cold air/K&N combo with aftermarket exhaust.we have not had cars as fun to drive or reliable in our lives. Both our cars still get about 38mpg (I bump the rev limiter on a daily basis) with each over 150k miles we are deciding on what we would want to replace them with...seems funny that todays hi-tec hybrids and flex-fuel vehicles only get low 30s mpg What was so special about our neons? (I was raised on Big block Chargers and Road Runners..a lot of fun, but a huge difference on reliability)

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  2000 Dodge Neon - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By dkthcks - March 15 - 9:32 pm

  117K miles in 5.5 yrs. Its been driven hard both city and Hwy miles. Routine mechanical have incl. tires 2xs, brake work, spark plugs once. Clutch still going strong with not so nice driving. Brakes squeak in the rain or high humidity. Best car I have had. Good gas mileage. However, car now at 136K miles and developed an oil pressure problem. Was a GREAT car until now.

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  great car! - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By AC - March 15 - 5:50 pm

  This was my first brand new car! Bought it with 32 miles on it and have enjoyed it immensely. I had had a Honda Accord, followed by a minivan (3 boys) and I was ready for a fun car for myself again. I looked at Hondas but for the mileage I put on them, needed lots of room for many years of ownership. I have only done routine maintenance and tires (brakes done this year). Its small so my extra large husband doesnt like it at all but that is ok with me. I get 37 mpg on my road trips to visit family 500 miles away and around 30 in town. I need a better vehicle in snow, however, and am going to trade in for a small SUV. Ill miss the gas mileage, but this is NOT a snow car!

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  Best bang for the buck, hands down. - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By George - March 14 - 8:18 pm

  I just love it I cant be more happy with it. I have a Vette with a worked 383 that was never as much fun as thing car is right out of the box. Put a couple grand in upgrade parts into and youll blow the doors off anything on the road. The only cars that can take it on the highway, bone stock, are the STI and EVO. WRXs get smoked.

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  Fun To Drive, Big Go-Cart - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By Michael McIntyre - March 12 - 6:44 pm

  The 2004 Neon was a vast improvement over previous years of this vehicle I had owned. It looked sporty and it still had the fun driveability that I had loved in this car. I have experienced no maintenance problems, but I did opt for the 70,000 7 year optional warranty just in case.

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  Love it but minor problems stink - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By nate - March 6 - 10:38 pm

  Ive owned the car for about 4 months now and there are several problems that have driven me crazy trying to fix. All the seals on the windows are shot. My backseat carpet is constantly soaked. Reverse stalling.. sometimes in reverse the thing stalls. Struts gave out after 1 big bump! Annoying stereo setup (maybe not factory.. not sure about this) What I liked about this car. Very reliable. Nice gas mileage. Easy to fix. Fun to drive (especially on straightaways) Very good oil consumption...about 1/2 a quart every month keeps it at nice levels even with me beating the crap out of it. No broken lines yet. such as the brake, gas, or any others

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  kick ass ride - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Baja Ben - March 6 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. you know its a good buy when every time I get out of it I think to my self damn I love that car. the bang for your buck vaule is unbeatable. it is nice to know that you could whoope on any car out there that is less then 50 grand. just watch out for poles

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  The Best Car I Ever Had - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Christina Harris - February 28 - 4:40 pm

  This car has the best performance and duribility around. I have never had such a wonderful experience driving this car. It is very comfortable and spacious and kid friendly.