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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  Honest - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By nick - January 31 - 7:48 pm

  Good looking truck, paint excellent, fun to drive, like the way it sits with optional 265 tires, like tie down brackets in bed, very quiet on highway, good dash layout, great deal from dealer.

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By irishprincess - January 31 - 1:32 am

  We purchased our Durango about two months ago. The satelite radio is a favorite feature for our family because when you travel, you do not lose your channel. The middle row has plenty of room to seat adults, however the 3rd row seat is recommended for kids. The cargo space is adequate, but you would have to use the luggage rack if taking alot with you on a trip. We opted to get a DVD system on our own because it is less expensive than the dealerships price. The gas mileage is not great, we average 13.5 MPG. The guage in the upper console tells you your average gas mileage, which is a nice feature. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone. We love ours.

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  Im Glad I Got Rid of my Ford - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By Bry - January 31 - 12:07 am

  I love my new Durango! The old body style was ugly but, this one is totally hot. Im the youngest person Ive ever seen driving one. I have a powerful V8, I dont think a V6 would be enough power for so much SUV. We love it.

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  Good truck - 1997 Dodge Dakota
  By lil ram - January 30 - 11:10 pm

  Good power, plenty of room for gear and four wheeler. Only drawback is that the tranny is weak, 44RE tranny is not the best tranny for constant towing on a daily basis, but a good weekend warrior.

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  Its great for the money - 2005 Dodge Stratus
  By jarrod - January 30 - 9:00 pm

  I like the car so far. It is a little slow and loud, but thats what you get for havign a four-cylinder. The gas milege improves over time. I have noticed the tires have to stay totally balanced for a good smooth ride. Special edition package is great, looks a little classy, adds alot of value to the car

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  Reliable Family Car - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By Al_in_OK - January 30 - 3:13 pm

  I love this car! With normal maintenance this car has been wonderful for our family and the many 700+ mile trips we used it for. We are the 2nd owner (1st was a rental company who put 25K mi on it). I average only 22 MPG, which is lower than others claim. Car is most bang for your buck for a full sized car. This car "floats" down the highway, making for a relaxing drive anywhere you want to go.

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  Best in Class - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By handyguy - January 29 - 10:41 am

  After owning a Ford Ranger and looking at all the available vehicles in this class, purchasing the Dakota was a no brainer. Its roomier, quieter, smother and better handling, especially in corners where the Ranger had a tendency to feel like it was going to flip over. The lack of storage, if you forego the center console, is is very annoying. There is nowhere to store your cds except in the door pockets, which is less than ideal. The rear seat also leaves much to be desired in the club cab. with such generous headroom in the rear, they could have raised the seats a couple of inches, which would go a long way toward making the seat more usable for those over 5ft tall. Overall, buy it!

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  Cool little car - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By lovin it - January 27 - 6:14 pm

  Well, this is a very fun car. The day after I bought it, it started blowing a fuse and shuting off on its own. I found out that one of the most common problems for the Neon is the O2 sensor wiring harness detatching. I had mine fixed and it cost $195.00, the auto electrician told me that most shops never tell you its some thing simple, they just fix the harness and charge you for a sensor! Beyond that one very badly timed breakdown, I would say this has been a great car. I love my Neon!

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  Reliable - 1996 Dodge Dakota
  By Reggie - January 26 - 12:36 am

  Bought my Dakota new in 1996, has 140,000 on it and still going strong. Uses no oil to speak of and has not given me any problems other then the poor quality interior. Comfort is great considering Im 66". Gas milage could be better, could use a split heat defrost option. Exterior is holding up to Maine winter very well considering the truck was purchased in Arizona. Does very well in the snow for a 2wd, I use a 70 lb sand bag in the bed and good all season tires, so far no problems. Probably the best vehicle I have ever owned.

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  OK, but Issues - 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By nfonnesb - January 24 - 5:30 pm

  We didnt have any problems with this van for the first 45K miles, but then the transmission seized up and had to be replaced (70K mile warranty covered all but $100, but was gone for a week with no backup which was tough). Some of the electrical features work intermittently, windows stopped working, back lift gate latch doesnt work (have to use key to open each time), engine light is on and off. Even so, it gets good gas mileage and is comfortable and safe to ride in. The DVD is a life saver with 4 young kids and long trips. The stow and go seats are great and we have used this many times, all seats lie flat so it is a like a covered long bed truck if needed.