DODGE Neon 1994-1998 Photos, engines & full specs

Chrysler proved that it could build good econobox cars when it introduced the Neon in 1994, which surprised the market with its low entry-level price and powerful engine.

Usually, when a carmaker built a low-budget car, its base engine was powerful enough to move the vehicle from A to B and nothing more. But when Chrysler did it with the Neon, it did more than that and was able to hit the 60 mph (97 kph) mark in less than eight seconds. That was already hot-hatch territory, and the Neon was just a low-budget car.

The base trim level showed white paint and gray bumpers. Its door handles were black, and so were the mirrors, while the 13" steel-wheels featured dog-dish hubcaps. The styling was rounded in the early '90s trends with some of the weirdest-looking rounded headlights on the market. Its unusual high greenhouse made the car stood apart from its competition.

Inside, the base version offered dual airbags, and that was it. The power steering and the tachometer were on the base versions' options list but standard on the upper trim levels. There were no pockets in the doors, but it provided two cup-holders in the center console.

But the big surprise was under the hood, where Chrysler installed a 2.0-liter, fuel-injected engine. The base version provided 136 hp, while the 16-valve version pumped out 150 horses. Dodge paired them to a five-speed manual as standard, with an option for a three-speed automatic.