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:

• 

  2005 Dodge Magnum RT - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By B.Wilcox - September 23 - 4:31 pm

  Overall its been a good car for me. Does not do well in the snow, I park the car in the winter and drive an suv. I love the sporty and strong look of the car. Although it may not look like it from the outside the back seat is very comfortable and has plenty of room.

• 

  A step up from my cavalier - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By SummergrL1024 - September 23 - 10:00 am

  I had a cavalier for four years...lasted me from 97,000 miles to 129,000. I just bought a 2004 neon sxt and I am getting more for my money. For 18,000 (the same price as a sedan cavalier) I am getting a six cd changer, spoiler, sunroof/moonroof..options that would have pushed the price to 20,000 on a cavalier. And I got a great warranty!!! couldnt go wrong.

• 

  Buy it! - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By DhUNTCVS - September 23 - 10:00 am

  BUY IT WE LOVE IT THIS IS THE BEST BUT OUT THERE FOR THE MONEY DONT WASTE MONEY ON A CADILLAC THE DURANGO HAS ALL THE STYLE AND RIDES BETTER!

• 

  GREAT SUV IF A/C WOULD WORK - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By JAYFAV - September 23 - 10:00 am

  WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE DURANGO IT WAS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE GAS MILEAGE. THEN A MONTH AGO THE A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN WE WOULD START IT UP. WHEN WE WOULD GET WHERE WE WERE GOING IT WOULD START BLOWING COOL AIR (NOT COLD). WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HEMI AND A/C DO NOT GET ALONG AND THERE WOULD BE AN COMPUTER UPDATE SOON. WE GOT THE COMPUTER UP DATE A FEW DAYS AGO AND IT DID NOT WORK. DON BOHN DODGE HAS BEEN GREAT BUT DEALING WITH CHRYSLER IS A NIGHTMARE. I WROTE CHRYSLER SINCE THE DURANGO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN NO HELP. THEY DONT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY. I SO DIGUSTED ALL I WANT IS MY MONEY BACK.

• 

  REGRET BUYING IT - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By nam - September 22 - 11:18 pm

  I bought this car from a old guy. It looked Nice. The owner saTransmission, engine, everything under hood, and gas mileage id its good works fine. My dad said dont buy it. 2 months later my transmission broke. 10 days later my engine stopped working and my reverse never stopped. Every 10 days it was with my mechanic. Now the check engine light is always on. It runs like a piece of junk. I tried clunking it but wasnt excepted. Dont buy it

• 

  Nice car for the money - 2004 Dodge Stratus
  By Captain Jim - September 22 - 5:16 pm

  I have 44,000 bought it from a rental company after a year with 26,000 miles on it. I have now had it 4 years and it has only been in the shop for regular service and one additional time for front brakes about 80 dollars. I got it for a good price and it has been perfectly reliable so far. I have the extended warranty but have never had to use it so far. I had a 30,000 plus Nissan Z and it was more fun to drive but way more expensive to maintain it was always in the shop.

• 

  I already got a ticket ! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By carlos - September 22 - 2:56 am

  A great car . rides very well. If you dont pay attention you can find yourself driving at 62 on a 45 mph zone. Lots of fun to drive.

• 

  Good Value - 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Dan GRANDERSON - September 21 - 12:09 pm

  No such thing as the perfect vehicle, however the 2013 Grand Caravan offers reliability, pracitcality and value in a moderately priced mini van. Have operated this van with absolutely no problems for over 68,000 miles.

• 

  Awesome SUV - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By manolito31 - September 20 - 8:29 pm

  This has been the best SUV Ive ever driven (and Ive driven Land Cruisers, Montero Sport, Montero, Murano, CR-Vs, Rav4s, Ford Explorers.) Its so quiet, pretty solid, pretty good off-road, all though I havent been able to get more than 12 MPG in the city, I still recommend this vehicle for everyone looking for an spacious car for the family and pretty good on long trips.

• 

  A disposable minivan. - 2000 Dodge Caravan
  By Yariswhite09 - September 20 - 10:27 am

  Buying this van in February of 2000 and owning it for almost 10 years, its not what we expected of it. Dont get me wrong. It rides quite good was pretty frugal on fuel (WAS) but now is just a overtaxed sheet of metal. To start, a pair of brakes only last 15K miles (dealer never could solve the problem), a failed pwr. steering pump at 49K, and now a transmission that has trouble shifting into 2nd gear and the rubber linings around the van are all warped. And the frame is rusting out. These are disposable vans for people who keep cars for no longer then 60-70K miles. For a more reliable van, go for a Honda or Toyota van. The only thing these vans have to offer is price. No value. No quality.