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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  power for less - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By twinturbo1587 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  this car is sweet, very qiuck for $21000. 0-60 in 5.3 and 1/4 mile in 13.9: this car is best known for performance.

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  lotta car for the money - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By nwilkin - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This car has been great. Roomy interior beats all other competitors. I bought the larger 3.2 engine, have not regretted it as the car has plenty of power.Transmission speed sensor failed under warranty, limp home mode allowed the car to be driven to the dealer. Air conditioner failed at 41,000 miles, Chrysler fixed it under their goodwill policy. I had the exact same A/C problems with my 95 Intrepid. Door Seals have shrunk, will need to fix later. Overall an excellent car, will buy another one.

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  Recommended car! - 2001 Dodge Stratus
  By cfdp - April 6 - 8:54 pm

  No major repairs required since Ive owned it. Purchased w/ about 43K miles. This car has served me an awesome time, again and again. The most problems I have had, had been with the front end (bearings, breaks, turn signals...), but maybe b/c mine is a rebuilt title? All fixed and drives so smooth! Cruises nice around 70mph. Manual trans. is the only way to go! Very fun, especially to watch people look at your car take off scratching their heads???

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  Best choice I have ever made - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By Jessica - April 6 - 11:50 am

  Well I go to college that is 2 hours away from home and my old car didnt seem to be making it. So I decided to purchase a new car. The Dodge Caliber caught my eye and wouldnt leave me alone. Everywhere I looked i saw an ad and I wanted it more. So finally after my first year of college I decided to go get it. I fell in love with it on the spot. The base model is prefect for a college student like me. Also I am 5 9 and I wanted a car that wouldnt feel squished in. Perfect choice. Lovin it.

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  WOW!! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By gallowhl - April 5 - 10:00 am

  I was in love the moment I laid eyes on my black Magnum. I wasnt even aware that it existed. My husband and I were looking for a 2nd option to the new Mazda when we say the front end of this amazing vehicle. We studied the lines of the body, the options, the gas mileage, the interior (what we could see. The lot was closed at the time). Within 10 minutes of leaving the lot we both agreed that we had just changed our minds. We bought it the next day. SOFT is the word I would use to describe the way it rides and handles. It the most different looking vehicle Ive seen. It also seems to have a personality to it. Its perfect for me and anyone who appreciates

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  Magnum - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By Nightbreed - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive have my 5.7 liter magnum rt for 3 days now and Ive love everything about it. It feels like a race car and a luxury car rolled into one. The hemi is a major jump from the 3.5 and is worth the price of admission. The looks of the car have people dropping their jaws. All I can say is Im thrilled to have one in my driveway.

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  well... - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By john louisiana - April 3 - 10:07 am

  louisiana has the worst roads. my car has 100000 miles, and the only things that r wrong is the shocks are a bit old, brakes need to be changed, and the a/c went out. a/c cost $800! and battery post was causing false dash signals, in particular the oil light. I fill the tank for $24 dollars. i love the V6, but the headlight lens is foggy. Beautiful car. 16 inch rims, blue speckled paint. You can fit 4 bodies in the trunk. dont ask me how i know that. safety feature in the trunk that allows you to open it from the inside. cant do much mud riding, but great on the highway. oh driver window rattles when lowered.

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  !!!!SRT!!!!! - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By John - April 3 - 9:06 am

  Ive put 30k on my car and I loved every mile. the power and fuel economy is like having your cake and eating it too. Handling is smooth around the turns even at high speeds and ESP makes it safe in bad weather conditions. This thing stops on a dime and will launch like a rocket!

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  Pretty Darn Proud - 2004 Dodge Stratus
  By Sarah - April 2 - 11:00 am

  I love this car! Ive had this car since 2006 and I love it. It couldnt be more reliable, I believe if you take care of your car you wont have any problems. I love to travel and my parents dont have to worry when I take my car. The engine still looks brand new and it has 47,000 some miles and not a hint of a problem. The gas mileage is pretty good, phenominal on the highway. The speaker system is awesome and the exterior has a little bit of a younger look than some of the other cars out there. Great for a college kid or a family. Heres to more trips and a great car!!!

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  2009 Grand Caravan, Wow! - 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By jon - April 1 - 5:40 pm

  Love to drive this vehicle. This is the most usefull vehicle I have ever owned. My wife and I replaced our truck with this van and now we have the best of both worlds. The 4.0 V6 has plenty of power and the 6 speed automatic is smooth as silk. We have grown to appreciate a quit ride as weve gotten older and this van delivers.