Chrysler Neon vs Honda Civic
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Honda Civic wins on money kept: 63% retained after three years vs 52%, worth about R 372 961 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Neon | Civic | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 156 500 | R 725 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 2 735/m | R 12 672/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 72% | 80% |
| Retained after 3 years | 52% | 63% |
| Value after 3 years | R 80 606 | R 453 567 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 75 894 | R 271 433 |
| Value after 5 years | R 58 289 | R 347 468 |
| Our tier | Orphan & discontinued | Mainstream |
Chrysler Neon →
Chrysler's budget sedan of the late 1990s and early 2000s, pitched at Corolla and Jetta buyers with more standard kit for the money. The 2.0 R/T added a mild performance angle to the second generation. Survivors are cheap to buy but parts supply is thin, so it is strictly a bangernomics purchase today.
Known for: cheap spacious american compact
Honda Civic →
Honda's best-known nameplate arrived in SA under its own badge in 2001 after decades of Civic-based Ballades. Sedan and hatch generations came and went, and the local range now consists of the turbocharged Civic RS and the Type R hot hatch, the latter priced over R1 million. Buyers rate it for solid build and engines that run forever, so clean used examples sell quickly.
Known for: bulletproof engines and strong resale
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Chrysler Neon or the Honda Civic?
The Honda Civic. It keeps about 63% of its price after three years against 52% for the Chrysler Neon, a gap of 11 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Chrysler Neon loses about R 75 894 over three years and the Honda Civic loses about R 271 433. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Chrysler Neon runs about R 2 735 per month and the Honda Civic about R 12 672, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.