What is the Plymouth version of the Dodge Neon?

The short answer: the Plymouth version of the Dodge Neon is the Plymouth Neon—a badge-engineered twin offered by Plymouth that shares its platform, engines, and overall design with the Dodge Neon, with branding and trim differences only.

The Plymouth Neon was the Plymouth-branded counterpart to the Dodge Neon, produced by Chrysler to offer a similar compact car under the Plymouth badge. Both cars were sold alongside each other, with brand-specific styling and equipment choices rather than fundamental mechanical changes.

Badge-engineered twins: how the Neon family was split

Here are the core similarities and differences between the Dodge Neon and the Plymouth Neon.

• Shared mechanicals: both cars used the same engine options, transmissions, and suspension setup, offering essentially the same driving experience.


• Common platform: both were built on the JA platform, enabling parallel production and parts interchangeability.


• Branding and styling: Plymouth Neon featured Plymouth badging, grille details, interior trim, and color/option combinations that differentiated it from the Dodge Neon.


• Trim and equipment variations: available features and packages could differ by brand and market, giving buyers distinct option sets even when the cars were mechanically similar.


• Market positioning: both cars aimed at the compact-car segment, with branding targeting different dealer networks and customer preferences within Chrysler’s lineup.

In short, the Plymouth Neon is the Plymouth-branded counterpart to the Dodge Neon, sharing most of its engineering while offering brand-specific styling and trim choices.

Historical context and lifecycle

During the 1990s, Chrysler used badge engineering to offer essentially the same car under multiple brands, expanding consumer options without duplicating design and development work. The Neon family appeared in both Dodge and Plymouth showrooms, delivering a small, affordable, front-wheel-drive compact option with similar performance and practicality across both brands.

As Chrysler reorganized its brands in the early 2000s, the Plymouth brand was gradually reduced and ultimately phased out as a separate marque. The Neon nameplate did not persist under Plymouth beyond that transitional period, while Dodge continued to carry the Neon lineup in some form for a time. The result is today’s understanding that the Plymouth Neon was the Plymouth-branded version of the Dodge Neon, produced during the Neon era and discontinued with the mixing of brands.

Summary

The Plymouth Neon was essentially the same car as the Dodge Neon, offered under the Plymouth name with branding and trim tweaks rather than major mechanical changes. For buyers and collectors, the key takeaway is recognizing them as badge-engineered twins from Chrysler’s Neon family—identical in core engineering but distinct in branding and showroom presentation.

What was the last year for the Plymouth Neon?

2001
2001 was the last year for the Plymouth Neon, and the Plymouth brand as well. The last Plymouth Neon, which was also the last Plymouth ever produced (a silver four-door sedan), rolled off the assembly line on June 28, 2001.

What was the Plymouth version of the Dodge Neon?

The Plymouth Neon is the same car as the Dodge Neon, with the only difference being the brand badging. They were produced by Chrysler from 1993 to 2001, sharing the same platform and offering similar body styles (two-door coupe and four-door sedan). While virtually identical in appearance, Plymouth and Dodge sometimes had slight variations in trim levels or available features.
 
This video introduces the Dodge and Plymouth Neon: 45sAuto ChatterYouTube · Nov 1, 2025

• Identical models: The Plymouth and Dodge Neon models were essentially the same car with different brand names, differing only in the emblems on the hood and trunk. 
• Shared platform: Both versions were built on the same platform. 
• Body styles: They were both available as a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan. 
• Brand identity: While the cars were identical, the brands sometimes had different marketing focuses. For example, Dodge sometimes received more performance-oriented variants, while Plymouth offered a wider range of more whimsical trim levels, notes HotCars. 
• Production timeline: The Plymouth Neon was produced alongside the Dodge version until the Plymouth brand was discontinued at the end of the 2001 model year. After that, the Neon continued as a Dodge model until production ended in 2005. 

This video discusses the history of the Neon and its variations: 58sMy Old CarYouTube · Sep 18, 2021

Is the 2001 Plymouth Neon reliable?

As a whole, consumers found the vehicle's reliability and performance to be its strongest features and styling to be its weakest. 54 out of 94 of owners (57% of them) rank the 2001 Neon five out of five stars. Overall, consumers seem aligned in their opinions of the 2001 Plymouth Neon.

How much is a 2000 Plymouth Neon worth?

How much is a 2000 Plymouth Neon worth? The value of a used 2000 Plymouth Neon ranges from $552 to $1,425, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options. Get a free appraisal here.