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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  What a GREAT 1st New car - 2009 Dodge Challenger
  By Spice - October 24 - 9:46 am

  I bought a B5 Blue Pearl right off the showroom floor. My wife walked in with me and said Are you serious, you like this car? I said if you dont like it, lets go. And she said Are you kidding me? Its beautiful Two hours later, I drove it away with only 3 miles on it. What a nice ride. Performance way better than the Corvette I used to have. Looks that turn heads even when sitting still. Very comfy inside, with easy to read gauges and all radio/heat controls at hand. The slap-stick tranny is nice, witch your tach and bump it to the right,...and boom, your flying at 80 MPH and still in 3rd. Nice job Dodge, you did it right!!

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  Caliber Is Fun - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By JoeTennessee - October 24 - 1:13 am

  I purchased one of the first Calibers available. We knew we were purchasing an inexpensively built car so high expectations for quality of the interior and ride were not a factor. It was a sharp, fun, inexpensive car. The fuel rating also sold us and is the only negative we have. We have driven the car 24,000 miles now and the typical overall mileage is around 23 mpg even though the "city" low rating is 26. This was a severe misstatement by Dodge. I have owned several new cars and trucks over my 35 years of driving and have always gotten at least the minimum reported mileage that was disclosed. Yet, we still love our little yellow Caliber!

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  Please dont buy a durango. - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By bkredr@comcast.net - October 23 - 9:06 pm

  Its a 2005 with 55k miles on it and its going back to the dealership or the 11th time! Now I have collant in the oil so Im sure its going to be a major deal. Its already had cooling problems, stearing problems, stalling issues, and on and on. There is a reason the trade in value is 8500 for a 4 year old car with 55K. Please go to the link below before you buy a dodge or jeep. I realy hate that this is what dodge and jeep have become, I was a die hard jeep guy for the last 20 years but not any more.

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  Way too heavy!! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Homer - October 23 - 5:26 pm

  This car is nice inside but needs to go on a diet. The Hemi is struggling with the 4100 pound weight of the car. Add a few passengers and the performance is lack luster.

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  Take the 2.7L off the market!!!!!!!! - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By Sarge - October 23 - 2:48 pm

  After buying this car and riding in a friends RT, I should have gotten the RT or SRT8.. Yes the price was nice for a new car but, what was Dodge thinking?? No ABS on the SE and a 2.7L that can hardly pull itself out of the way???(Saves tires I guess). My friend tells me how his RT gets 15-20 around town (depnding on his foot) and a nice 25-30 on the highway.. This 2.7 is getting 12-17 in town and 21 on highway no matter how it is driven. What gives??? Anyway if you want a Charger >>>>>Get nothing lower than the SXT and you will be very happy... Dont get me wrong, I cannot wait to give this to my highschooler, it is big, safe and SLOW!!!

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By ihatemycaliber - October 23 - 9:43 am

  Bought my caliber Aug 2006. Was so excited I actually got one! Now I wish I had just walked away. Already replaced both outer tie rods, both struts, lower control arms blew and now the engine is dead. I am trading this in, taking a loss and getting a Honda. This was the worst mistake ever.

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  The Avenger is GREAT!! - 2008 Dodge Avenger
  By John Phillips - October 23 - 2:13 am

  I bought a 2008 Dodge Avenger with a 2.4 L engine. I am a college student, who travels over 300 miles a week. The car does an awesome job, it excels well, it drives great, is great on gas, really fun to drive. I bought the car because i fell in love with the design and how it ran. The car is roomy and i get alot of comments on it. I was worried when i purchased it becuause everyone told me that dodge was crap, but it has done very well. i am glad i purchased it, and i wouldnt have gotten anything else. this is my first car, and i gotta say it is the best car i have driven, and will def be the best car i will ever own. I have driven a taurus and a sonata, and the Avenger is the best. love it

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  Great in a Crash! - 2009 Dodge Charger
  By dlp - October 22 - 11:39 pm

  We rented this car but the next day we were in a head-on collision in rush-hour traffic on an expressway in Tulsa. (Not our fault -- a driver next to us lost control, spun out and got turned around to face us.) All of us in the Charger walked away with NO injuries. We all drive smallish imports were all giving those cars second thoughts now. I know this isnt the kind of review Edmunds likes, but I hope they do post it, as safety can be a major issue in an auto purchase.

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  Number 7 Chrysler Minivan - 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By John - October 22 - 10:30 pm

  After owning 6 other Chrysler Minivans, this one is by far the best. Great build quality, no squeeks or rattles, good performance out of the 3.3L, comfortable seats, really neat blackberry color, black interior (ok,dark slate). Stow and Go an engineering marvel. I cant think of anything I would change. Maybe the sport suspension from the 4.0L engine model, but the stock suspension is just fine, very Honda-like.

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  good car for us - 2002 Dodge Stratus
  By jason f. - October 22 - 7:51 pm

  this car has been very good for us so far. Weve put 105000 miles on the car since we bought and only one major complaint. We kept losing transmission fluid every few months. Problem was due to bad connectors not made for our seasons in Minnesota (so we were told). After being fixed several times under warranty and the warranty about to expire the dealership replaced the connectors with a different type and we have had no problems since. Gas mileage is not the best but when I step on the pedal I go.