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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  easy to love - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Anthony_Neo1 - June 11 - 2:00 am

  No problems at all as of yet. Very easy to maintain. Decent size for me and the boys.

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  SRT MINE - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By popville - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Well the best thing about this car is it is a sleeper. It looks like a neon but woah watch out it has power of a race tuned machine. 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, great gas mileage if you keep your foot of the gas. all around good car.

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  Bought Another One! - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Christine - June 6 - 6:43 pm

  This new baby replaced my old 96--so many of the bugs have been worked on that Im even more pleasantly surprised than I expected. Gas mileage, even though the new one is auto and prior was manual--is still phenomenal. Only drawback is the significant lag in pickup, which I did not experience with my former Neon. (My former wasnt nearly as cool looking though. Great to have a car I dont have to park a block away and sneak into places to avoid being seen)

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  Split Decision on this car - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By BigSAC - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Its got a nice exterior look and decent accelaration for a car in its size/class. The doors feel cheap. The big problems that I experienced were reat oil seal and then a blown head gasket, around the 65-75 thousand mile timeframe. Ask any mechanic, the head gasket will blow, and while the replacement gasket is improved, it will blow also. Each of these repairs will cost $1000+.

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  Had to have a Neon R/T - 1999 Dodge Neon
  By Larry Hofmeister - June 4 - 2:00 am

  Loved the look of these R/Ts when they came out and had been very pleased with my 4 door Neons purchased in 1995 and 1998. Its sharp, comfortable and responsive. Good road manners even on a long drive. 5 speed is a joy to shift. My only disappointment I dont think this car is as quick as it should be, although Im not one to pound on equipment either.

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  dodge neon - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By maryehill - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I have realy enjoyed my dodge neon. It has been a very good car for a wonderful price. There are only two things I would change about it: the car needs a bigger gas tank and the interior of the car need to be changed.

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  SRT-4 - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By Lovealot - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Me and my boyfriend decided on this car because he wanted a turbo and i didnt want to have to spend a whole lot. The exterior of the car could be a lot better. Neons in the past look like crap cars and this just has that look. Its quick and fun to drive, the look is just not for me.

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  Santa Fe Dodge Sucks. - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By TwizeeK - May 29 - 2:00 am

  I instantly fell in love with the car, great handling, good pickup, affordable aftermarket upgrades, and a killer sound system. Everything went great until i had an unfortante opportunity to have to use the extended maintenence warranty purchased from Santa Fe Dodge. This is when my nightmare began. The dealership was simply un-cooperative, slow, and above all else rude and incompetent. I ended up paying $500 for an insurance deductablt when the salesman told me it would be covered. My advice, buy this car, but from ANYWHERE but Santa Fe Dodge.

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  Katy Rocket - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By Katy80DMS - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely the best little car Ive driven and Ive had Escorts, Cavaliers,and Subarus. Handles with crisp precision, with a little understeer. Excellent acceleration for engine of this size, generally no problem at all merging with Houston freeway traffic.

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  Neon Good for the Money - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By silverneon - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I like my Neon. It is sporty and fun to drive. I have not had any major problems yet at 19,000 miles. Compared to others in its price range-- best buy.