Overview & Reviews

One of America's most storied automotive brands, Dodge has been around since the early days of the auto industry. In the past couple of decades, it has revitalized itself to be a producer of aggressively styled and performance-oriented vehicles.

Two brothers, Horace and John Dodge, began the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle company in 1914, after having worked as manufacturers of bicycles and automotive parts. Their first vehicle was a touring car that proved a fast favorite with car buyers; it was soon joined by a roadster and a four-door sedan. By 1917, the company's model line had grown to include trucks. Dodge cars and trucks were used as staff vehicles and ambulances in World War I.

Dodge was briefly owned by a banking firm and subsequently sold by its new owner to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928. From there, the brand slowly evolved into the division responsible for trucks and performance-oriented cars. Post WWII, Dodge introduced vehicles like the military-inspired Power Wagon truck, Hemi-powered Coronet and the Royal Lancer; in addition, the manufacturer began offering dealer-installed air-conditioning.

Vehicles like the Dodge Dart and the Coronet kept the manufacturer in American driveways throughout the 1960s. That decade also saw the launch of one of Dodge's most iconic vehicles, the Charger. Dodge's muscle car was based on the Coronet platform, and featured a fastback roof line, hidden headlamps and a full-width taillamp panel. Best of all, the Charger could pack one heck of a wallop under the hood. A 318-cubic-inch V8 was standard, but buyers seeking maximum brawn could upgrade to a 426-cubic-inch, 425-hp Hemi V8. The company also introduced a Mustang-fighting pony car, called the Challenger, in 1970.

As with other American auto manufacturers, Dodge's fortunes started to slip in the '70s due to changing tastes and increased competition. The company was saved from extinction in the early '80s thanks to government loans and the sales success of its Omni and Aries economy cars (the former an attempted copy of the VW Rabbit). But 1984 was when Dodge made its mark in the history books with the introduction of the wildly popular Caravan. Ideal for families and able to seat up to seven, the space-efficient Caravan started a whole new vehicle segment -- the minivan.

The early '90s saw the company wow the public with the V10-powered Viper roadster and an all-new Ram pickup that set a new standard for big-rig-like styling. A few years later, Dodge came to be part of DaimlerChrysler, a result of the merger of the German company Daimler (owner of Mercedes-Benz) and Chrysler.

The merger never really worked, however, and Daimler sold Chrysler and Dodge to a private equity firm in 2007. Soon after, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy. The federal government intervened and eventually Dodge came under control of Fiat, a European automaker known for its small cars, an area where Dodge's entries had been roundly criticized for mediocre build quality and unrefined performance.

More recent years have seen Dodge concentrate on the more practical vehicles in its lineup, making notable improvements to the performance and overall quality of its midsize Avenger sedan and Journey SUV entries. Dodge also spun off its truck line, making it a separate Ram brand. But make no mistake; Dodge is still considered Chrysler's performance division thanks to cars like the Challenger and Charger. Time will tell how successful Dodge's latest makeover is.

User Reviews:

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  Love it! - 1991 Dodge Shadow
  By Shadowgrl - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I really love my Shadow... as a teen age girl its the best thing sence sliced bread. IT runs well and the convertable top it great!

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  Great Car - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Original Neon Owner - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I am the original owner of my 1996 Dodge Neon Highline Coupe. Ive had it for 5 years now, and 70,000 miles later, Im still very happy with it. Yes, Ive had the head gasket break too, just like everybody else, but I took care of the problem, and havent had anything go wrong since, besides a tail light bulb burning out ($1.00 replacement). I drive it hard, and its been so reliable that I am not even thinking about trading it in yet. Im planning on keeping this car for at least another 2 or 3 years. Its been a great investment!

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  Neon Power - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By go neons - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I have a standard 1995 Neon. This car is so much fun to drive and packs substantial power. With a 2.0 liter engine with 16 valves and 132 horsepower, this compact car can easily take somebody off the line. Ive had a few problems with my Neon: paint chipping and the head gasket. These problems were fixed, so Im still flying by other cars. Long live Neon Power!

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  you get what you pay for - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Rex - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Neon in 98 and it had 40,000 miles. I knew that it wasnt really built to last but reliability was high on my priority list so I gave this car a go. For the most part, it treated me right since I didnt really have any major problems until I surpassed the 100k mark when my engine just died on me. I think this car is great for a college student or for someone buying for the first time. Keep it for no more than 3 years and move on.

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  My peppy lil neon does it all !! - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Sparky95 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 95 Neon 4 DR Sport with manual transmission new in 1994, and have loved putting 100K miles onto its odometer these past eight years. It has excellent acceleration, power, handling, gas mileage (32-34 mpg), and reliability. Its a terrific commuter car that fits into small parking spaces. My only complaint is with the A/C compressor - had to be replaced twice, but when its on, my Neon is cooool.

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  Nice car! - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By AntMan - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Good car, more than enough power stock, although more never hurt. Never had one problem with mine, only the factory recall issues 2 to date that I have gotten nothing really. Good design, nice new look, great gas milage, I always get more than 300 miles per tank.

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  WOW! - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By Joanne - May 6 - 4:10 pm

  This car is the best thing Ive ever owned. I bought the car sight unseen and did not even want it. I had to trade in my Durango for a more fuel efficient vehicle. Needless to say, when I went to pick it up at the dealership I fell in love. The car actually has power, even though it is a four cylinder. The style is wonderful (my car is black with red interior). Im telling you for the price it is amazing. Its the best bang for your buck. Ive even gotten comments on it by total strangers. Remember its anything but cute.

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  1995 Intrepid - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By intrepid1995 - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I drive the 3.3L 161 HP 1995 Intrepid and it has been a great, reliable car. Changed transmission fluid and rotors once. The rest is basic maintenance, tire rotation, oil changes, etc. Not only is reliable, it has a lot of room, is fairly powerful with good acceleration, and is fun to drive. It has 135,500 miles at this writing and still runs great.

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  Love it - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By eeel - May 6 - 2:00 am

  Great looks, ride, performance and handling. For the money, cant be beat

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  2001 Dodge Durange Review - 2001 Dodge Durango
  By cathiek - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Dodge Durange 11 months ago, and have been extremely happy with its performance. The ride is quite smooth, and it is has lots of power. The power and heated front seats are very comfortable, and the sound system is outstanding. We have pulled a boat and trailer with six people and had no problem towing. We have also found it to get better gas mileage than expected -- traveling down a highway at 65 mph it will get between 18 and 22 mph.