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:

• 

  I Keep Giving it One More Chance - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By neondeb - April 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive, very sporty, great gas mileage (29-30). However, we had 22 service visits in first 3 years, 20 of which were for Service Engine Light! They never really knew why, but kept replacing things. After 50K miles, it mostly stopped. AC died at 50,300 after all our trouble, they did a courtesy adjustment. Sun roof has issues. One bad thing...slow- speed (20 MPH) front end collision (fender bender) completely crushed hood/fender/radiator/AC condenser! Too much damage to bother fixing, so sad to see it go.

• 

  Love My Neon - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Andra - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Simply a great car. Corners like its on rails! Economical, safe and fun to drive! Great value for the money!

• 

  pretty good! - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By cgiven3 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Great first/second car. It saw me through several trips back/forth from Louisiana to Illinois, including all my belongings! Roomy, fuel efficient, low-maintenance, and affordable!

• 

  The Neon is not reliable - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Sean S - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Having purchased my 95 Neon with only 1200 miles on it made me feel like I was buying it new. But this ended about 2 years later, when the $5500 bills for transmission repair/replacement began to pile up. I recently put an additional $500 in repairs into the car, but it didnt help my "lack of acceleration" problem. The brakes are extremely loud and give way too easily. The rear speakers havent worked since 1998. I will never buy another Neon.

• 

  Va-Voom! - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Dick Bert 10 - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought a new Neon R/T with all the toys from a delaer for $13,500. While it may be 2 years old in a few months, its still a new car to me since I keep one for about 5-6 years anyway. The 03 has more legroom and creature comforts than my old 98 did. The magnum engine has as much h.p. as the old 2.0 DOHC, but sounds quieter under load. The 4-wheel discs stop it quite well. The 5-speed makes this pocket rocket a blast to drive and the Goodyear P195/50R16s make it grab in the corners. Ill be upgrading the tires to Bridgestones as soon as I wear the OEM Goodyears out. All in all, I am very pleased with the Neon R/T.

• 

  only my opinion - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By hdcon88 - March 19 - 10:00 am

  Well this is our third neon we owned We shopped around a lot and found very few neons on lots in our area as well as several states while we were in, the reason we bought another neon was the fact that the only way to get anything out of it in resale was to deal only with dodge again,because no one else would give us over 2000 for our 99 neon with 77000 miles on it.Well as for the new car my wife likes it so far ( only 200 miles) but my biggest complaint is the seats are not very forgiving or supportive for my 66"

• 

  A steal @ $9995 - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By sweaterlover - March 19 - 10:00 am

  We happened upon a Dodge Neon looking for basic tranportation, and walked away with a steal. With a sticker price of $15460, it is overpriced, but when the deal discounted the cae, including a $2500 rebate, down to $9995, no one could pass this up. With a manual transmission at that price, many may pass it up, but a manual makes the car more fun to drive, as it is slightly underpowered (been driving a 200 horsepower van for years).

• 

  Not bad for a little guy - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By lblazich - March 17 - 2:00 am

  The Neon was my first new car. I have really enjoyed driving it. I have not had any problems with it. It is small enough for me to get into small parking spaces but large enough for my family of four to be comfortable. This car has driven on two continents and in three countries and has been nothing but wonderfull. I am very glad I got a manual transmission.

• 

  Great Cars - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By neonknight97 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for 7 years and for what I have had to put in it you cant find a better car.

• 

  Lovin my R/T - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By LAP - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Overall I have been very pleased with the purchase of my R/T. Its loaded including side impact air bags, key- less entry, traction control, pwr moonroof, CD changer, etc. and the price tag was still under $20,000. It also has good gas mileage, sporty looks, more spacious interior than I was expecting and can handle my aggressive driving habits. The only downfall....it doesnt hold its value!