The Dodge Neon Is Too Underrated
The Dodge Neon was a car that had an excellent acceleration time, though it was lacking in many other features leading it to become unpopular.
Written by Serena Aburahma
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Dodge
answered the need for inexpensive vehicles with its Neon model from 1993 to 2005. The brand installed some of the cheapest materials available. Still, the Neon became one of the most affordable vehicles to drive as well as modify
(in later years). What's so unique about the Dodge Neon?
The Dodge Neon was first produced in 1994 as a budget car. However, what made it so unique was the power it offered for an inexpensive vehicle. Dodge made a 2.0-liter four-cylinder standard on the base version and paired it with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Its Neon model could generate 130 hp, but you could opt to have it tweaked to get 150 hp if you chose. The acceleration time for a 0 to 60 mph run was eight seconds, one of the best in its class, according to
Auto Evolution
. That was surprising at the time because most budget vehicles only had enough power to get you where you wanted to go and didn't offer anymore. A three-speed automatic was available if you didn't want a manual gearbox.
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What did the Dodge Neon offer consumers?
While it offered an excellent engine for a small car, it didn't come with too much else, especially for the base model. The vehicle had 13-inch steel wheels, rounded headlights, and dual airbags. Its base came with a white exterior and gray-colored bumpers.
A tachometer and power steering were standard on the higher trims, but they were add-on options on the base. You could also get a front-wheel drivetrain, rear drum brakes, and front ventilated brake discs.
The second generation made some improvements to the exterior and interior, but not a whole lot since Dodge was going for a vehicle that you could get for under $20,000.
When the third generation rolled out, consumers saw a pleasant surprise with a sportier version, the SRT-4. It came with a bigger bumper, air intake on the hood, a set of fog lights were added, and a large wing adorned the trunk.
One last refresh in 2003 didn't help the declining sales Dodge saw with the Neon. There just wasn't enough offered to compete with its rivals to make the low price worthwhile, so in 2005 Neon's run finally ended.
How did it compare with its rivals?
Dodge's SRT-4 was the best performing version they had. According to Car and Driver, its Inline-four-cylinder engine producing 215 hp could take on a 0 to 60 run in only 5.6 seconds, which is considerably faster than its biggest rivals, according to
Car and Driver
. The Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V clocked a 7.3 second time, while the Ford SVT Focus ran it in 7.7 seconds.
However, it didn't fare well when it came to fuel economy. The SRT-4 only managed 14 mpg when it came to Car and Driver's tests, while the Nissan got 18 mpg.
However, the SVT Focus, which had
a 2.0-liter four-cylinder
, was able to get 20 mpg overall, far better than what Dodge's Neon could muster. Saving money with a budget car
While the Dodge Neon saved consumers money with its inexpensive price tag, insuring it was even better, provided there weren't any
problems with one's driving record
. The budget car was relatively cheap to replace if something happened to it. Finding an insurance company to offer great coverage for little money can be challenging to do when there are so many options. But, it doesn't have to be difficult because you can use
Jerry
to do the hard part for you. We can search through many companies to find the best coverage that meets your needs for the price you want. Sign up with us today, for savings of up to $887.
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