Coming Soon

Dodge Neon 1st Generation

1995–1999 · sedan

The first-generation Neon arrived for 1995 as a sub-compact aimed squarely at the Civic, Corolla, and Sentra. The 'Hi.' ad campaign gave it personality and the car backed it up with a willing chassis, decent power from the 2.0L SOHC or DOHC four, and curb weights under 2,500 pounds. Available as a 4-door sedan and a 2-door coupe, with a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic. The R/T and ACR trims are the ones enthusiasts still hunt for. Sold under both Dodge and Plymouth badges until Plymouth wound down.

Watch out: Owner reports of head-gasket failures on the 2.0L SOHC and DOHC engines of this era, especially on cars that have overheated or had a delayed coolant flush. Brittle interior plastics and weak door-handle assemblies are also common as the cars age. Rust on the rear strut towers and the rocker panels appears on Rust Belt cars.