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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  Do not buy!! - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By sponge81 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with only 24K on it. It was my first car. I should have realized that it was a piece of crap when the previous owner told me they already had to replace the transmission. every 6-7 months, something else would go wrong with it, my head gasket went, then the timing belt, and now my check engine like keeps coming on and going off again. It only has 50K on it right now! Ive been really good to it, regular oil changes and tune-ups, but it was a very bad buy, I will never buy another Dodge.

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  MiniMopar - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By MoparFamily - September 3 - 2:00 am

  My wifes mopar of the trio (a 92 lebaron, 74 charger the others) is the sporty around town cruiser. Not to forget cross country, this little car, packed down with both our lives in the trunk and rear seats will still hit 115 on the open highway with the a/c on! The pick up is slow due to its outdated 3 speed auto (heck even my 74 charger has a 3 speed!!) but once the engine winds up its off. the steering is very precise,No problems with it so far, look forward to getting her an srt-4 in the future.

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  Best value - 1999 Dodge Neon
  By arcdude - August 29 - 2:00 am

  What a great deal! Used Neons are incredibly cheap and you get a great car for the price. With the 5 speed, you get performance that is not expected from an economy car. And with all the aftermarket performance parts available, you can get it to perform as high as you want. The look on the face of the young, smartaleck 5.0 Mustang owner as he gets blown away by a Neon is priceless!!!

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  Reliability and Economy - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Caramel - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Neon new 8 years ago as a commuter car (4D, 5-speed manual). Has been serving me with excellent reliability and economy. With an 80/20 mix of highway/city, mileage is consistently better than 31 mpg. No major repairs so far, only wear and tear items such as brakes, tires replaced. Including cost of purchase, fuel, insurance, maintenance and repair, the cost per mile is 21 cents at this time.

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  My Red SRT-4 - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By E.S.L - August 27 - 10:00 am

  My wife an I bought the SRT-4 Feb. of this year, and we must say it is a very fun, fast car to own. If we had to choose to buy over again we would. Only down side the choice of colors, i.e. no yellow, but they did have every other color (blue, red, black). Otherwise a great overall car.

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  great car - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By wlm888 - August 25 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the price. very roomy inside for a small car. great fuel econemy.

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  Complete Lemon - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By preevyet - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Have had an oil leak problem fixed 3 times, but of course not the same problem. Still leaks, have learned to just put oil into it occassionally, cheaper than a third repair. Too much invested to sell, will keep until it completely dies (which should be soon). Also had the timing belt go out, power steering pump die, turn signal fail now twice. O2 Sensor has failed a third time, for a total repairs cost over 5 years of about $1,400.

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  Great first car - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By HavasuNeon - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car. It is great. Very reliable, a/c works great (a huge concern since I live in an area that regularly sees 105). The only problem I have with it is that it does not have an interior trunk release, which makes it a hassle to drop people off at the airport/ pick up a person in front of a store, etc. No maintenance problems as of yet.

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  2002 dodge neon se - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By dappledachsie - August 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 02 neon se last feb.2002. the car has been in the shop many times for the idle and poor gas mileage and also for stalling out while driving and when you come to a complete stop. the dealer claims theres nothing wrong. id like to know if anyone else has any of these problems. please let me know. what can i do to correct this problem? thanks for your time!

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  Id buy another - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By cts4ba - August 15 - 2:00 am

  This is our second Neon and, for the price, its worth the investment. You get a lot of car for the money when compared to what Honda, Toyota and Nissan has to offer. The incentives and rebates make Neon the top choice in my book. Ive found that dealing with a 5- Star dealer is a definate plus.