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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  2003 DURANGO SXT - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By WAYNE RHODES - April 27 - 10:00 am

  REAR DIFF. HOWEL BETWEEN 50-55 MPH. RATTLES. NOT MUCH HELP FROM DEALER

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  My MiniVan - 1997 Dodge Caravan
  By David - April 27 - 7:08 am

  After researching for another car I decided to look at the ratings for the Dodge I own. It was unexpected to see such lower ratings for it. I figured I would help out and show that my minivan did not fall apart like the others. I bought my minivan in 1999 when it was a 2 year old model. My wife and I have loved every minute of it, and we have 2 kids. I have the 3.3L Sport, and I get at least 19-21 mpg, with good passing power and comfort. I currently have 134,000 miles on it, and I havent had any issues at all. The engine is still strong, and the interior looks good, even with kids. I can remove the seats, interchange them, and still have plenty of room in the rear. No complaints.

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  1997 Dodge Intrepid - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By Debbie Eubank - April 26 - 8:30 am

  I bought the 1997 Intrepid for my teen. She learned to drive in this car. I felt that it was very safe for her. I bought the car from a neighbor who had kept it in the garage so the paint was in mint condition. The Intrepid has been reliable and is a very comfortable ride. It has quick acceleration and power. It is a great car for road trips and handles well. It is not economical on gas because it has a 3.5 liter engine. It definitely has the power when you need it. Have never had any major mechanical problems with the Intrepid.

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  Fantastic car! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By dnstrom - April 23 - 3:43 pm

  This was a compromise between an SUV, sports car, luxury car, and an economy conscious car. What a perfect fit. It does all well and is fun to drive and be seen in! I already have a truck that gets 10 miles to the gallon and wanted something to fill the gap and yet I dont like most cars! Wow!

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  Engine Blow! - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By Alice - April 20 - 10:24 pm

  I was another victim of an engine blowout on the 2.7L engine. The car was also a pleasure to drive because of the amount of space, but the brakes were a bit of a hassle and required new break pads more often than similar cars in its class. The engine started giving me troubles a couple years ago and I kept putting small bandaids on the problems (mostly to do with the way the car handled oil). Then one day, I noticed a louder-than-normal knocking and then grinding and then.... Im disappointed I didnt get more life out of this car, but it did get 146,000 miles, so its not a total loss, but I wasnt prepared to buy again so soon.

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  Mustang eater! - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Turbo-G - April 16 - 7:49 am

  This car is one rocket right out of the box. I cant believe the real power this thing puts out. I love the looks on the faces of the other brand owners when you smoke past them on the road. I live in an area with a lot of Mustang owners, and now a lot of sad Mustang owners. This car is one fun ride. Just hop in and get it on. Best bang for the buck hands down.

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  I love this truck - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By SixSpeedJunkie - April 12 - 6:09 pm

  This truck is my first new vehicle, and it has turned out to be exactly what I wanted and needed. I have the six speed manual transmission which I love, sports package, and I got it in 2 wheel drive. The gas mileage is terrible, at 16mpg being the best I have gotten, but its hard to stay off the gas when driving a truck that is this much fun.

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  My Durango - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By jack - April 10 - 12:21 pm

  I love my Durango and my wife says its the only kind of vehicle that Im ever allowed to purchase her. Be warned though, gas mileage stinks!

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  Great Value - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By The Shamus - April 10 - 12:12 pm

  Neons generally have a bad reputation. My 2001 was purchased new, and I have replaces two tie-rod ends and a fuel pump switch. I had a bad battery replaced under warranty. The interior is roomy for my large 6 foot 2 frame and the seats are more comfortable than anything else I drove in this range. I have 100K miles on this car, and it still responds well. The front disc brakes and exhaust are all still factory original. It does not handle deep snow well. Ive come back to a dead battery a few times for an unknown reason. The radio is upgraded and works well. Infinitely more comfortable and spacious for the passengers than my wifes Corolla.

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  2004 Neon - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By sdimig - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car. I owned an original Neon and got 165K miles and 10 years of good service out of it. I walked out of the dealer with this one for $13,040 including tax and tags. Did I mention there is a $2500 rebate? The imports (Honda and Toyota) are overrated and overpriced in my opinion. Both the Ford Focus and the Neon are very nice cars for a low price.