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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  I love my Magnum - 2006 Dodge Magnum
  By Step Tyner - August 10 - 3:13 pm

  Aside from rather poor rear quarter visibility, that impossible-not-to- damage-while-parking lower front clip, and a seeming inability to "memorize" my garage door opener code, the car has been entirely trouble free. The concept is a superb one. Who says station wagons have to be snails? The interior cargo space includes handy grocery racks and a host of fascinating little compartments and such. And, while the interior decor is a bit Spartan, the seats are comfortable and all the controls are conveniently placed.

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  Joseph Kirane owner - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By joseph kirane - August 9 - 10:18 am

  This vehicle was a dealers when we purchased. We liked due to the room and durability of the seats. It has a smooth ride. Several months ago we were away from home when the car would not start due to something with the key. The vehicle would not start and had to be towed back to the dealership. Also the ABS light came on at 53,000 miles and needed to be replaced at $600 job by the dealer. Keys are $140 to replace and not dependable. The newer computer system they said is in the vehicle is a poor system and can cause these things to happen when there is actually nothing wrong. Too expensive to replace.

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  Digging the Durango - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By Dodge Fan - August 8 - 4:04 pm

  Superb vehicle! Leaps and bounds ahead of the previous style Durango. Hemi has everything you could want in a motor, cant complain about the gas mileage. It was posted on the sticker and was well known when it was rolled out. You cant expect 335 hp in a big SUV to compare to a Ford Escape in terms of mileage. Ride is smooth, handling is precise. Extremely quiet even at highway speeds. Could be more leg room in the 2nd row. Leather seats are high quality and heated seats are quick to warm. The transmission is slow to engage going from reverse to drive. Bad visibility looking over you shoulder due to the pillar being in the way. Good fit and finish, though glove box is too small.

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  Im not really sold, though this was a big truck - 2016 Dodge Durango
  By stevefromtheburbs - August 8 - 2:37 pm

  I had this for a week, while my car was in the shop. I liked many aspects of this, and many I did not. Ill try to be fair about both sides. The goods are: The look is awesome, Dodge has it going on. From the retro squared boxy design, to the LED running lights, to the rear lights on the tailgate, to the height, it is all super good. The car is heavy, and feels like it is a tank, so you feel confident about driving and not feeling like you will get blown around in the wind. The leather seats are super sweet, but getting in and out of them requires patience, and some pain. The equipment level is good for the price. The price is $42K, but for what you get, in todays market, is about average, or slightly above average. The headlights and driving lights on together give you a great view. The bads are: This thing does not want to stop....it is a beast and will require some pedal effort to get it to stop. The getting in and out will hurt you as the large plastic pieces on the sides of the seat snag you and it hurts....it is too big to sit over or down into...so you have to climb in and as you do, you will get hurt. Gas mileage was in the 14-15 range. The 3rd row seats are for kids...but nice to have. The shifting at times is horrendous, banging around like it is hunting for a good gear.....and the auto start/stop thing is nothing but annoying for the little bit of gas you might have saved. The interior lights are not LED - which is crazy because on our Dodge Journey SXT plus, they were all LEDs inside. For $42K, you have to have at least what the Journey is offering, right? Not in this case. The front bumper rides very low to the ground and wants to scrape all the curbs as you pull into a parking spot. It was a great ride, but I was happy to turn it back in at the end of a week. I had put about 500 miles on it and I was not feeling like I wanted to go buy one. You should rent for a week before buying to see that it is worth the steep price for what you get. I loved the storage on this thing, but you might realize you dont need anything this big and expensive.

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  Think Twice at Least - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By shooterschmidty - August 6 - 11:02 pm

  I was atracted to the Dakota due to the low price but now wish I had spent a little more up front and bought a Frontier or Tacoma. It rides well around town and on the highway, but offroad it is very disapointing. The ground clearance stinks, and the approach angle is even worse. It needs at least another 2-3 of suspension to be worthwhile offroad. Oh, and front tow hooks and skid shields arent even standard on the 4X4.

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  Try One you might like it! - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By B Nyce - August 6 - 2:00 pm

  I purchased my 2007 AWD R/T used with 11,000 miles. I enjoy the slap shift tranny and its great in bad weather. Simply downshift instead of breaking and it stays straight and stops well. Interior is very compfortable for four adults. Reclining rear seats a plus. Cant hook up my Ipod - bummer! Add the shock tower support for a more solid feel - it works great and reduces cowl shake on bumps plus improves cornering. Over all I am enjoying the call a lot. Average mileage for city is 22 mpg on the highway over 27. Not bad for all wheel drive. If I shift manually it is great fun to drive as well. I recommend the 2.4L engine for improved performance. Enjoy your Caliber.

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  Not Bad - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Malisha - August 5 - 7:37 pm

  My dad purchased this car for me, as my second car. It was extremely nice at first, and I loved it. This car does lack extreme horsepower. It takes me about 20-25 seconds to reach 60! Slowest car I have ever driven. The transmission is starting to act up, and the struts are starting to go. Air conditioning was charged when my dad purchased it, and then it was warm agian the summer after. Didnt even last 1 year! But the car has never let me down. Always starts, even when its cold outside. The paint chips like no other. And the windows leak entremely bad. When I drive on the expressway, all I hear is wind, and thats with the windows up.

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  So far, so good - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By DM - August 5 - 7:21 pm

  Bought this car off a mechanics lot with 96,000 mi. for $1,900. After owning it for two weeks, the "anti-theft system" (which in this case causes the steering wheel to lock up unless the [proper] key is inserted into the ignition) went ahead and locked up the steering wheel even though I was indeed trying to start the car with its own key. Had to take the car back to the mechanic, who removed the "anti-theft system" for about $300. My faith being shaken, I began to prepare for the worst, but (so far) the car has given me no problems since. I find acceleration with the 3.3 to be sluggish, although the car does handle well for its size.

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  So far so good - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Jay - August 5 - 1:02 am

  Make sure you buy the stick shift in this model. The automatic is really slow. Driving this model with the stick has been great. It more than keeps up with similar vehiles in this class. Havent had one single problem with the engine. Gas mileage is great, getting over 32mpg

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  OK SUV - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By mike20 - August 3 - 1:38 pm

  OK family vehicle. Has enough power. Transmission shifting needs help. A/C is very poor.