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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  This car I drive - 1991 Dodge Dynasty
  By Joshua_S - April 2 - 6:36 pm

  Well I was really loving this 91 dynasty of mine but just two days ago the transmission has almost completely failed. I guess Im going to have a used tranny put in but otherwise I was happy with this car. When it was given to me I hadnt had a single problem with it. Not one. It always started and still does even though its tranny wont shift gears. The thing is I am guessing on the mileage because the odometer broke at 47,000 k. I like the bench seats for the most part because they are quite comfortable. Not as ergonomic as the Japanese counter-parts but still comfortable. It does have a reasonably powerful engine but it isnt a smooth ride. Not as smooth as other cars I ride of same age.

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  Me & My Dodge - 2004 Dodge Stratus
  By plegal_101 - March 31 - 6:23 pm

  I was going to write a review weeks after I got my car, but decided that wouldnt be the right thing to do because I hadnt "broken it in" by then. So now I write almost 3 months later and I am SO glad I waited! Car was fine until about a month ago. I started hearing weird things with the brakes and took it in (better safe than sorry) and got the "nothings wrong, these are brand new brakes" ordeal. Thats fine, but why do they squeak like they are old as dirt? I dont like how my seat belt (the little clicker part) is all the way down on the floor and I have to reach in a really ackward way to get to it. The interior is also cheap looking but I needed a car badly!

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  Nice family van - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By 98 dodge - March 31 - 6:10 pm

  I bought this car new. I sold it on Jan. 23 2005, for a fully loaded 2005 Toyota Sequoia. During that time I had the van I put almost 124,000 miles on it, it had never let me down. I had the mid-level SE trim w/ the 3.3 ltr. flex-fuel engine. The van had a nice interior for a Dodge, and it was pretty sturdy until we were about to sell it, the paneling was falling off. The paint was not faded or rusting, it looked like new.

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  Not bad for the money... - 2005 Dodge Caravan
  By LakeOzark - March 31 - 2:09 am

  For what you can buy these things for it is the best "people mover" on the market. We traded the wifes 2000 Chevy Tahoe, and at first I thought we made a BIG mistake - but then I realized my payment went from 700/month to 320 and realized things were not so bad. If you take into account the class of vehicle you are buying it is a STEAL. I payed $18000 out the door and got a very comfortable, very safe, very roomy new vehicle that get good gas mileage. The fit and finish is fair at best, but once again I can not expect the quality of a $40K vehicle. So far I am very happy with it and for a growing family it proves very useful. One recommendation - buy the GRAND not the short one we bought

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  just bought - 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By edel - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a new left over 2001 ES GC. It has too many options to mention and I think I got it for a good deal of $28K. MSRP was $35.5 new. So far so good. We tried the 2002 MPV and Odyssey and the Dodge appears to give best bang for buck

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  02 SLT - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By sylvia - March 30 - 2:55 am

  The Durango is a truck and performs as such! I love mine, have had no major problems at 56,000 miles. It isnt perfect, but for the money it beats anything else!

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  Great Truck - 1990 Dodge Dakota
  By Great Truck - March 29 - 11:31 pm

  I am a sixteen year old and this is my first car. My father bought it for me when I was fifteen. That was my birthday gift from him and my mother. Ever since we had the truck I have had a lot of fun. The only thing I dislike about the truck is the color. It is blue and silver with double red stripes going down the side, and the chrome on the mirrors, bumbers and front end is showing its age.

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  Neons are cute, but beware! - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Carolyn - March 29 - 4:31 pm

  Bought my Neon in 2000 with only 24,000 mi on it. The dealership had already replaced a head gasket. Since then, I have had to replace the radiator, an O2 sensor, and the dash circuit board (my speedometer stopped working!) The brakes squeak constantly, it slips in the rain even with good tires (I wont even mention in the snow), and the doors/handles freeze solid in the cold. Rear speakers are blown, tape deck quit working. So many problems, and it only JUST passed 56,000 mi. AC isnt very cold, and sucks the life out the acceleration. When I first got the car, I loved how cute it was, but now I look at it and I cant wait to buy my Honda CR-V. No more Dodge products for me!

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  Very Pleased - 2004 Dodge Dakota
  By wolfinblue - March 26 - 9:02 pm

  I love my Dakota! Nice and powerful and throaty sounding 3.7L V6. Towing my 17 boat is a breeze. 18,000 miles and no problems. It handles great and is very comfortable ride for a pickup. Road noise and wind noise is a little more than I would have liked, and factory stereo (Non Infinity) is a joke. Worst factory stereo Ive heard on a modern vehicle. I have replaced the speakers and head unit and added a small Bazooka sub. Otherwise, Im very pleased with this truck!

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  almost perfect - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By tar rat - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This van is nearly perfect, except for one major flaw; the transmission. We had to have it fixed three times and, if I wasnt trading it tomorrow, it would be going in for a fourth time.