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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  2001 Neon - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By Michael McIntyre - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Neon is alot of fun to drive and is a peppy little car with little or no sway in turns and absolutely superb braking. This vehicle is sure-footed in snow and easy to drive in most other weather. For the price of this vehicle, you cannot complain about the drive although many do.

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  Crap on Wheels - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By DantheMan - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Weve put about $4000 into this car, repairing things that should not break. Sun roof-4 times Head Gasket Front Transmission Seal Real Oil Seal Oil Pan Gasket Thermostat Water Pump CD Player Plus, you get to hear the eletrical sounds as they pulse through the radio. The windshield wipers sound cool, the ac has a high screetchy noise, whereas the redefrost is a low hum. No, Im not kidding. Whenever you turn something on, you HEAR it on the radio. Stay away. Stay far away.

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  tough little car - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By clyjp - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Excellent commuter vehicle. very reliable and fun to drive.

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  Great Fun Driving Car - 1999 Dodge Neon
  By mactart - January 2 - 2:00 am

  Fun to Drive, Peppy, 4Doors a great asset, back seat plenty of room, back seat split also used quite a few times. Love the cloth seats, and sun roof when it worked. Its broken twice, fortunately broke closed. Use my MP3 Player in the cassette player slot which I cannot do with a CD. Had a blown head gasket, and two sun roof failures. I still love driving it the head gasket was repaired after warranty ran out, but actually started to leak before warranty was up, but didnt realize what it was.

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  Dodge SRT-4 by Actual owner - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Dominick R. Calise - December 28 - 2:00 am

  Excellent performance. The best performance car for the money.Fun to drive.

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  2003 Dodge SRT-4 Flame Red - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Flakdodger - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Flew to Florida to purchase. Drive home conviced me I got what I wanted. Fast, agile and just plain fun to drive. Pulled steady 24mpg cruising back to Wisconsin from Florida. Get thirsty when the boost comes on. Minor drive train noise, but acceptable considering the perfomance.

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  ACR Two Year Review - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By yamura - December 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Neon, one of the cheaper cars I ever bought but probably is the most fun of all to drive. Excellent seat-steering wheel- pedal realtionship, comfortable seats, blazing quick if you want to drive it that way, outstanding handling, economical, and this one has been dead stone reliable.

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  Looking forward to my next Neon - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By LadyLuck - December 17 - 2:00 am

  At 7,000 miles, I took my Neon in because I was leaving a puddle of coolant wherever I went. There was also a knocking in the steering column which was explained to me as some sort of rusted out pin that holds the steering column in place. Since then, wonderful smooth sailing. I hear everyone on the engine noise thing, I test drove a Civic, a Cavalier, and a Golf before buying this Neon new. The Neon was the loudest of them in my opinion, but the dealership gave me the best offer for my trade-in, by several thousand-and they were much friendlier about answering my questions.

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  This Car Rocks! - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By LoveMyCar - December 16 - 2:00 am

  I love Dodge Neons! I just love the way the new ones look, and my car is reliable. My only dislikes is that my car didnt come with a CD player, cruise control, or antilock breaks. Other than that, Great car!

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  nice to drive, but relability problems - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By cbeck - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought with 102000 miles. Fun to drive. handles nice. Not too bad power wise for a small car. Timing belt broke with a 142000 miles. Bent up all the valves in the head. Facing expensive repairs. Had constant oil leaks from engine. Transmission speed sensor went bad. Trunk lock doesnt work. Ac quit working. Car seemed to self destruct at about 140,000.