Reviews - Chrysler

Overall Rating

Neon is small by US standards but competes with mid-market European and Japanese saloons here. It's lively and quite well equipped but never made a big impression with British buyers.

• Low used prices now
• Willing engines give brisk performance
• Lots of equipment on top versions

• Ride quality is bettered by many rivals
• Cabin looks and feels a bit tacky
• Thirsty old-school three-speed auto

Chrysler made its name over here with its comfortable Voyager people-carriers. By comparison, Neon is a bit of a sideshow. It's not special enough, talented enough or spacious enough to rival class-leading family saloons such as Mondeo, Peugeot 406 and Passat. But it's relatively cheap and worth a look if you appreciate traditional saloon values in a reliable package that's just a little different. The airy cabin allows front occupants plenty of space but there's not that much legroom behind. There's plenty of kit, including ABS and twin airbags on all except LE versions, but interior styling is a bit low-rent and Americanised. 2.0 versions are most popular; they're livelier than most of the opposition in manual form, but the lazy three-speed auto transmission reduces driving pleasure and adds substantially to fuel costs. Handling is accurate and fairly fluent, although the ride is noisier and less smooth than leading rivals.

NCAP: Not tested

Best Models: 2.0 GLX

Worst Models: 2.0 Auto

Replacement: New Neon launched in 1999

• Daewoo Nubira
• Hyundai Lantra (1995-01)
• Mitsubishi Carisma (1996-99)