This compact nameplate first appeared for the 1995 model year and quickly became one of Dodge’s most recognizable small cars. The original Neon arrived in the mid-1990s as an affordable, practical, and unusually lively front-wheel-drive sedan, later joined by a coupe body style. It built a reputation for simple packaging, roomy interior space for its class, and a playful chassis that made it popular with budget-minded drivers and enthusiasts alike. Over time, Dodge expanded the range with sportier versions, including the well-known SRT-4 performance variant, which gave the Neon a serious following in the tuning and grassroots motorsports worlds.
The original run continued through the 2005 model year, after which the nameplate was discontinued in North America and replaced by newer compact offerings. The badge did not stay gone forever, however. Dodge later revived the Neon name for overseas markets, including a modernized sedan sold in the Middle East beginning with the 2017 model year and a later Mexico-market version. Because the nameplate returned after a clear production gap, it is best treated as having multiple production periods rather than one uninterrupted history. As a result, the earliest model year is 1995, while the final year cannot be locked to a single permanent ending.