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:

• 

  Rock - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By loploplop - May 26 - 2:00 am

  Ill stick with em till they die.

• 

  Awesome car, fun to drive - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By nyydynasty - May 23 - 11:20 pm

  Ive had my car for over a year now. Its so much fun to drive, and the gas mileage is pretty good for a turbo. I can get up to 300+ miles to a tank when on the highway (without boosting). Handling takes some time to get used to, but its not bad. Could be better, though. Performance is amazing, once you get past the wheel hop.

• 

  noisy brakes - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By froggie - May 23 - 2:00 am

  Great car....just cant understand why the brakes are soooo noisy...sometimes its very embarressing to pull up to stop sign or red light...took back to dealer many times and they said this is normal..............

• 

  Good, but..... - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By luislll - May 21 - 10:00 am

  My options were the SRT-4, Impreza WRX (Or STI), Mitsubishi evolution. I drove the srt-4, good power for the money, but is not confortable, I felt tire after the test drive, the seats were not the best, also I didnt like the turn radio. I have decided for the Impreza, now Im thinking between the WRX or the STI; I know that the difference on price between those models and teh SRT4 are big; but if you are going to spend more than 20K (besides the modifications), you need the best.

• 

  I Hate This Car - 1999 Dodge Neon
  By kellyj - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Where do I begin with my complaints? You name it, and it has broken on my Neon. I have replaced the head gasket, the transmission, the sunroof motor (twice), water pump, and the starter twice and it is still not running at this current time. I would NEVER recommend a Neon to anyone that I know. I have had nothing but problems with this car. Most of the stuff was covered under my warrenty, but it is still the hassel of taking it to the garage every month and being without a car for a few days because it has broken down again!!

• 

  Neon Sxt - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By caliroller - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Real road rocket, strap yourself in for a fun, fast ride.

• 

  Nice ride - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By tuda - May 7 - 2:00 am

  yo i got one of these bad boys and what i did with it is i put a cold air intake in there a supercharger and a whole lot of other stuff. Put 2 15s in the back and i got some 12 in rims that stick out like 10 in. Handling is awsome and it races better than any other Civic out there.. and all this for 12 gs. So all you Civic lovers ill see you all later cause this Neon will burn all of you.

• 

  Not as bad as its rep - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By JustynTime - May 3 - 2:00 am

  I needed a new car. I wanted a neon. I found a 95 neon with alittle over 100k on the ticker. I never had a problem with it.then my girlfreind wrecked it. I needed a new car, again I wanted a neon. This time I got a 98 with about 50k miles. I have had to replace the head gasket but the key to not having to replace it again is making sure you replace it with the correct gasket. Being that it is 2004 you will be buying one of these babies used and the head gasket has already been replaced. Now my girlfreind needed a new car. Guess what we got, thats right a 95 4door neon. Out of our 3 neons we have only had the one problem.

• 

  2005 Dodge Neon - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By blueram13 - May 2 - 5:53 pm

  Economy car that provides good gas mileage and reliable transportation. Drives 80 miles a day to work. Last Neon (1998) drove 175,000 miles and only needed a head gasket. Very happy with all around performance.

• 

  neon is nothing special - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By danda - May 2 - 2:00 am

  For a long time it was a great car. It is still pretty reliable. My problems are with the paint, and the durability of the accessories. The door panels keep falling off and breaking. The windows havent worked right for a long time, The antenna fell off. The gas tank door broke one day. The car is horrible in the snow. Its a reliable vehicle. The gas mileage has decreased, but it still gets 25-32 mpg.