Dodge Neon has been restyled for 2002 with a stronger Dodge identity. The new look actually shortens Neon by about an inch. More significant is the upgraded automatic transmission option, now a four-speed instead of a three-speed, for quieter running on the highway, and better fuel economy.

In fact, the whole Neon lineup has been re-shuffled for better value. A lower-priced base model packs nearly as much equipment as last year's SE, while the SE and ES models move up in content. The high-performance R/T and competition ACR models still deliver some of the most driving fun you can have in a small, economical car.