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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  An astouding vehicle for the money - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Scotch - May 25 - 10:45 am

  Ive wanted this car since it was a concept, and I will say that the production car seems even better, if only because of the turbo. There are so many things to appreciate about this car: fantastic power curve, LSD, decent (but stiff-legged) suspension, the exhaust note, the excellent aftermarket support, even the mileage (27-29 mpg on average for me) has been very good for a car of this type. I have very few serious complaints about this car, except that I wish it were lighter and handled as well as my 96 Neon, but that car has Koni adjustable struts - unfair comparison. I could have ordered an 06 ACR, but I didnt feel it was worth a nearly $3K permium over my car paid $19,7XX for mine.

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  Its Used - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Casie - May 20 - 12:31 pm

  This car seems to be lacking serious horsepower. Or at least mine is. I have the worst gas mileage in the history of 4 cylinders (5spd to boot) Approx 16 mpg. Also it has a major problem with the window sealing. I have a major leakage. Anytime it rains it leaks. If I am driving I hear a lot of air leaking through. But what can I say, its used.

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  mostly positive - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By dimples052000 - May 19 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a 2003 sxt 4 door in october. I havent had any problems with the car. The gas mileage really needs to be worked on. I have a friend who drives a 1995 neon and she gets better gas mileage than me. Even the chevy cavys got better gas mileage. The car handles curves and turns like a dream.

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  Perfect so far - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By cometogene - May 17 - 9:23 am

  Bought it sight unseen for sticker price when they first came out. Never even drove one, but I figured how could I go wrong for the price. Man was I right. Smokes almost everything on the road for $20K! Best purchase I ever made.

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  A terrific car that endured a hard life - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Dave - May 15 - 12:32 pm

  This was one of the most fun, well-balanced cars out there if you got a stick-shift. The automatic turned it into an econobox, but with the stick, it was a really well-balanced car for fun driving. Great mileage, an interior about the size of a Camry, and total reliability even though we had it running mainly on NYC and Jersey City streets really impressed us.

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  Perfect $20K Road Racer - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By CHARGED UP!! - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this Rocket Car for nearly a month, and I still CANT BELIEVE how good a job Dodges designers did on this one! They have created the PERFECT SPORTS VEHICLE. It accelerates like a Rocket Car, corners like it was welded to the Switchback Road, rides like a Class Sports Car, brakes like an Indy Car! The Perfect Sports Car, plus it is a decent four door sedan with a large trunk and good fuel economy. It has great style inside and out, and the quality of materials and of build are unmatched by any car near this price. Its Look, Sound and Performance attract the attention of every citizen in the area.

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  Daily commute rocks! - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Eric - April 29 - 10:11 pm

  We paid over MSRP in April 2003 when these just came out. We werent planning on a new car, but I was compelled by the performance and my wife had the same reaction to the styling. (Ours is yellow). We took a test drive, and the first thing we noticed is that this is NOT a Neon. The build was very tight. Special attention went into these cars. With limited production, Dodge wanted to make a statement. The SRT line was unveiled And we had to have it. Words to describe this car: Practical, economical, exhilarating, and reliable. We had to justify using this as a family car. A) the back seat was very roomy, and the trunk was spacious. B.) We get 29-30 MPG hwy and 25-26 daily driving.

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  Had a neon before? This is way different - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By fishandring - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I am going on one month of ownership and this vehicle handles like a champ! It outperforms all cars under 25000 and most cars under 30000...barring the handling of the miata.

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  Love it - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By Shawn - April 23 - 2:48 pm

  I got the car used, it has 150,000 kms on it now. The car has never let me down. I bought it when in school, and it was a great buy. The car seems to have a bad rep, I however really cant find many bad things to say about it. I sold it to buy a new BMW 3 series when I finished school mainly because I needed a more grown up machine. If you want a cheap, long lasting little economy car, with a bit of sport, but an RT Neon.

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  GLH!! - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By Mike - April 15 - 4:25 am

  This car is by far the fastest, most responsive and most fun vehicle you can get for the price. Period. It will run with the bigger dogs, able to keep up with cars 10-15K dollars more that its price (perfect example: this will out run the most expensive, upgraded $32,000 version of the RX-8). It looks great (although I do have to admit that other than the dual exhaust and wicked huge spoiler, the back end looks a little plain) inside and out. And I cant say enough of how I love those seats! Spectacular support without sacrifice of comfort. The tires look great, and perform wonderfully no matter what the road conditions (I was amazed at the grip they had in the winter months). Awesome.