The Dodge Neon is a compact sedan made by the American automaker, and it’s currently the most affordable offering from Dodge in the region. The very first Neon went on sale in 1994 and back then, it was sold by Chrysler and Dodge. In fact, the Neon shared many of its chassis components with the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The first generation avatar of the Dodge Neon lasted for about four years, before being replaced by the second generation model in 2000. With the launch of the second-generation Neon, Dodge continued to use the old platform, albeit with a few minor tweaks.
It was only in 2016 when the all-new third-generation Dodge Neon was unveiled, did this sedan look even slightly modern. Dodge ditched the outdated Chrysler platform for a newer one borrowed straight from the Fiat 500. Over the coming years, Dodge has continued to make small improvements to the Neon, though it hasn’t really changed since 2016. In the UAE, the 2019 Dodge Neon competes with the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta.
Exterior
I don’t think that the 2019 Dodge Neon is a particularly good-looking car and as such, won’t really turn many heads as you drive by. It also doesn’t look particularly ghastly, so it shouldn’t offend anyone either. The front fascia gets a streamlined hood, narrow grille with Dodge’s signature ‘plus sign’ logo, curvy yet bulbous headlamps, sculpted bumper with an air dam and a dual halogen foglamps.
The sprightly and dynamic stance of the Dodge Neon is clearly visible when viewed side on. Also quite evident from this angle is the Neon’s rather compact proportions. Other notable design highlights here are the rising window and shoulder line and crisp, 17-inch alloy wheels. Around the back, there’s a pronounced boot-lip extension, large LED taillamps, and a bulky rear bumper. The 2019 Dodge Neon measures in at 4.532 meters in length, 1.792 meters in width, 1.497 meters in height, and boasts a wheelbase that’s 2.636 meters in length. And despite its small exterior footprint, the Neon’s overall boot volume is an impressive 520 liters.
Interior
The cockpit layout of the 2019 Dodge Neon may not have any distinct trait or design element that makes it stand out, but it’s certainly not sleep-inducing. In fact, the center dashboard and lower stack areas are actually angled towards the driver, presumably for better ergonomics and a sportier feel. There are also a few swooping lines and gentle contours to make the interior look more appealing. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked and to make matters worse, the quality of materials and trim are just not up to scratch.
I feel that there’s enough space for four adults to travel in comfort, though squeezing a third passenger in the back won’t be very welcome. As for conveniences and features, the 2019 Neon can be had with automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, power-adjustable driver’s seat, parking sensors with rear camera, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a 7-inch touch-infotainment system with navigation. Some of the safety features include 6 airbags, traction and stability program, and hill assist.
Engine and performance
The 2019 Dodge Neon is powered by a 1.6-liter four-popper producing 110 hp and 152 Nm of torque at the front wheels, whilst transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The Neon can do 192 km/h and the run from 0-100 km/h takes around 11 seconds. It can also return a decent fuel economy of 6.3 L/100 km.
Verdict
The 2019 Dodge Neon is priced between AED 65,900 and AED 74,900, while its insurance premiums start from AED 1,483 and AED 1,685.
