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:

• 

  DODGE DOES NOT EQUAL QUALITY - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By mr832 - May 20 - 2:00 am

  I have had my ES neon for 3 and a half years and 64k miles I bought it new and I have been fairly happy with it. It has good power as long as you realize its not a sports car its an econ car. my sunroof craped out after the 1st year and the dealership said it would be $675.00 to replace it! had an electrical problem with the a/c after the 1st year and had the bearing replaced in the wheel at 18k miles.

• 

  2000 and newer are the best - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By sandy budach - May 20 - 2:00 am

  never had to have roadeside,stalls or anything.

• 

  Used Neon Experience - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By KVL - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car from the original owner at a discount, knowing that the head gasket would eventually need repair. It was in good shape and fun to drive. I drove it over 1000 miles the first month, on a trip to Maine. About 4 months later, my mechanic replaced the gasket and also replaced the timing belt, major head bolts, and other things that needed it. Since then, it uses maybe a quart of oil per 1500 miles (instead of 500 or less miles before).

• 

  Financial Disaster - Disposable Car - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By Johann - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Initially very pleased with my new Neon. It was inexpensive, handled well. That didnt last. The car is 3 years old, and feels like it is falling apart. Just before 50K miles, a dealer replaced everything under the hood but the engine. Front brakes have been done twice, and the rear fell apart in the drums. Ride quality is now poor and beats you up on longer drives. Rough and NOISY. Rear visibility and at the window pillars is very poor. The car depreciates in step with your payments. 3 year old, $16K car is now worth $4k and still going down. With depreciation, a Neon costs over $30K!!!

• 

  Financial Disaster - Disposable Car - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By johann - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Initially very pleased with my new Neon. It was inexpensive, handled well. That didnt last. The car is 3 years old, and feels like it is falling apart. Just before 50K miles, a dealer replaced everything under the hood but the engine. Front brakes have been done twice, and the rear fell apart in the drums. Ride quality is now poor and beats you up on longer drives. Rough and NOISY. Rear visibility and at the window pillars is very poor. The car depreciates in step with your payments. 3 year old, $16K car is now worth $4k and still going down. With depreciation, a Neon costs over $30K!!!

• 

  Totally reliable, economical little car! - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By *~Kelli~* - May 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Neon new in April of 1997 and I have been more than pleased with it ever since! When it was new there was an issue with the transmission that was promptly replaced without any problems and ever since then, it has only been to the shop for scheduled maintenance (knock on wood). It gets SUPER gas mileage! Even today, it is still getting 39mpg hwy and 35mpg city consistently. For a 4cyl car it has alot of power and speed. We now have a Chrysler LHS to use for a luxurious family car, but my husband still drives the Neon daily with no trouble for his 150 mile round trip commute.

• 

  Good Little Car - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By chamb - May 13 - 2:00 am

  My wifed owned for 8 years (purchased new) and NEVER had any problems with this car. Althought this isnt the safetest car on the road today, it did hold up well on 5/12/03 when she was broadsided by a new Ford Windstar Van...thank God nobody was hurt !!! Now she wants another one...that says something for this little car.

• 

  Perfection Thy Name is Neon! - 1998 Dodge Neon
  By BC Reed - May 12 - 2:00 am

  This car is fantastic! I have an Iceman cold air intake on it and it gets 30/40 mpg easily with a gain in performance. I am over six feet tall, yet it is comfortable to drive on long trips or around town. I have yet to find a car that combines the power (150 plus HP) with the mpg and the room that this little baby offers. I have had zero trouble with it and I will keep it until it dies. I HIGHLY recommend a Neon to anyone who wants a performance car that has all of these pluses and still runs on regular gas.

• 

  2001 NEON ACR - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By ginpin - May 11 - 2:00 am

  IVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, AND IT IS TRULY FUN TO DRIVE. ONLY COMPLAINTS ARE THAT ITS TOO SMALL FOR 2 KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT(WHAT DO YOU EXPEC FOR THE PRICE) AND THAT IT RIDES LIKE A TRUCK. HOWEVER, THE SUSPENSION THAT MAKES IT RIDE SO ROUGH ALSO MAKES THE THING HANDLE LIKE ITS ON RAILS. I RECOMMEND IT FOR THOSE WHO WANT A CHEAP LITTLE CAR THATS FUN TO DRIVE.

• 

  Nice and good car - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By ptar - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I got this car at 16900 miles. Now it has 33500 miles on it. It has been a very good, reliable car. It hasnt had any problem. Its fun to drive and a very good sound system. But the engine sound is a little bit loud but pretty normal for this size of cars. Overall I like it a lot.