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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  Frustrated - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Frustrated - February 1 - 5:06 am

  We bought our first car the day before Mothers Day. The next day, while driving, the car started smoking and the inside filled up with smoke. The car was leaking something from below which was actually dripping in little fire balls. The car went back the next day. They said it was a bad axle seal and that the company wants them to replace the part not just the seal b/c something may not be right with the whole part. Long story short, some hot words from my husband the manager found us a new car. Picked it up on Tues, brought it back Wed. There is a short somewhere preventing the controls on the steering wheel, horn, interior lights from working. So two cars in a week, both returned.

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  Love It! - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Melissa - January 31 - 11:33 am

  I bought my Journey in 02/09. Have loved it since then. I love the minivan features in a car. Weve been on three long distance (1000+ miles) trips and it has worked great. As with any SUV the mpg could be better. We have had a problem with muffler noise which was fixed and the brakes have been changed at 19,000 miles (dang!). Also, in the NM heat I have had some issues with compartment doors opening/closing. I really do love this car. Its great for the family. We have the Video Entertainment Package which is perfect for travel. My husband will watch movies on the front screen while I run into the store which keeps him content. Would buy it again in a heartbeat!

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  New to cars. - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Trisstis - January 29 - 8:00 pm

  Because of the recent hike in gas, I sold my 99 S-10 and made the move to a smaller car. Its a huge difference to go from 20mpg highway to 32! I have a long commute, so I needed a fuel efficient, reliable and sporty little car. I really got it in this one, and it has a great sound system. Only con is that its really very silly to have power front windows...but not in the rear. Why did they do that?

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  Freeway Cruise - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By sugareasy6 - January 27 - 9:50 am

  I drive many new cars. Dodge was reliable in that there was always wind noise, excessive road noise, steering wobble and generally less control that one would want. The Magnum RT HEMI is an entire different machine. The undesireable noises have been handled to a large degree. The winner is the front suspension, wheel/tire size and the star is the Hemi Engines performance. The vehicle response is almost to much. Acceleration is great and the RWD makes good use of all the power. Sudden power spurts at freeway speeds for lane change ie passing, on off ramp performance and emergency deceleration are all outstanding. Ists hard to find a dealership that has one in stock and most dealers

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  Great price, quality ratio - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By Tom - January 26 - 3:13 pm

  Traded a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. My wife and I could not be happier at this point. The car has a lot to offer for the price. It handles well and gets 25 to 26 honest mpg. at 78 to 80 mph (checked 3 times). At 70 it gets 30 plus mpg. Around town it gets 25 mpg. It needs more pick up from 0 to 40 but it can cruise along at 90. I suggest a 2.4 that gets 185 horses - but still gets good milleage. This is the first 4 cylinder I have ever had. Im impressed. Sunroof and other options are really enjoyable. Inside is "plasticy," but the price is right. It handles better in high winds and over rail road tracks at higher speeds than my friends 4cyl camry.

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  Like this Ride - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By EzRider - January 26 - 2:00 am

  This is not my 1st SUV. This vehicle has a very responsive V8 and is a rear wheel drive that is made and designed to pull a trailer, haul passengers, and carry cargo. This SUV does what it was designed to do very competently with a very solid feel. I have pulled a 3200lb trailer with this SUV and was very pleased with the way it handled. This is NOT a small SUV, but a mid-size that competes very well with its larger rivals.

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  From Hell - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By AHHHHHHHHHH - January 26 - 12:56 am

  Ive leased a Grand Caravan a Pacifica a Durango a Town and Country and now this and by far the last 5 years have been great but this car is from HELL The AWD coolant case broke and spilled all over my driveway leaking toxic fluid everywere My MYGIG on top of the dash came apart and short circuted causing a minor fire! After backing into a pole in Spokane [my MYGIG is broken] it caused $7000.00 and the dealer is stupid and saying my backup camera is working and I TORE THE WHOLE ______ UNIT APART!!!! Cant through Chrysler without getting a automated message saying Get Lost! THIS IS MY LAST CHRYSLER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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  99 SE Sport - 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By 270win - January 25 - 4:06 pm

  We skeptically purchased this van with 60K on it after years of being strictly Mercedes/Honda drivers. Im shocked at just how good the experience has been. It seems from the other reviews that you can also get bad ones too but ours has been trouble free for 30K+. We are planning to sell it and are looking at another Dodge Grand Caravan. Ours is still rattle free and drives exactly like a new van. I drove two others, an 04/05 this week with 25K and 37K and they drove just like ours. We have looked at Odysseys but have found them to be more pricey and more noisy with rattles. If you find a good one they are hard to beat!

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  Lovin the Charger SRT8 - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By srt8nit - January 24 - 11:56 pm

  Im just like a little kid when it comes to driving this machine. I have to give Dodge two thumbs up on this one. The performance and handling of the vehicle are just supperb and Im loving every minute of it. Ive been enjoying the performance and handling of German made vehicles for some time now and Dodge has brought me back home.

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  Remember When - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Freddymc - January 24 - 6:03 pm

  I was a young family man during the orginal charger days & it just wasnt what I could afford and more so it didnt fit my family needs, however if it was a 4 dr. things may have been different. Now Im 60 & still like my cars thats why I have the Daytona Charger in Go Man Go. It does what the original era did to the kids & young family men of today as well as those that were their douring those great days of the muscle car. What a great car and it has for sure the looks & the power. I suggest to everyone that is shopping for the ultimate car to test drive the Charger before you decide to buy any other car. If you choose the Charger enjoy the ride & muscle as I do every day.