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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  Not bad for a little guy - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By lblazich - March 17 - 2:00 am

  The Neon was my first new car. I have really enjoyed driving it. I have not had any problems with it. It is small enough for me to get into small parking spaces but large enough for my family of four to be comfortable. This car has driven on two continents and in three countries and has been nothing but wonderfull. I am very glad I got a manual transmission.

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  close but not not quite there - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By r/tman - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Its a fun car to drive but there is a lot of little things that should not be there on a car pushing $30,000. Door seals that have been replaced, twice, a transmission that isnt sure if it should be in gear when cold, dealer cant find the problem, numerous rattles that shouldnt be there. The ownership experience would be a lot more fun if these things werent there.

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  We like it! - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By Susan Kirton - March 17 - 2:00 am

  We just bought it and paid 10,000 for it. I didnt want a sedan initially, but I am very happy with the styling and solidity of the car.It could use a few more amonites, but other than that we are happy wih our purchase.

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  Top Of The Heap... For The Moment - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By mitch - March 15 - 1:30 am

  Ive found the new Durango to be a very pleasant riding vehicle (for an SUV), and it handles quite well despite its size. The design and construction being all new from the ground up since 2004 was one of the primary reasons I bought it. In a Road & Track review of the top SUVs (including the Armada and Pathfinder), Road & Track named the Durango number 1. The performance is rather impressive for a vehicle weighing in at 6000 pounds. I opted for the Hemi, and the motor has a great sound to it - not overly loud, but enough to let you know you have some beef under the hood. The fit and finish are pretty good and the layout of the controls, seating, and general space.

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  mikeeee - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By mike hollaway - March 13 - 2:00 am

  reliable, but front tie rods give me trouble

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  Great car except for transmission - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By homeowner-commuter - March 12 - 2:00 am

  Bought car new for my wifes 25th aniversary. Loaded, really a nice car, right up to when the transmission came unglued at just under 55K. Dodge wouldnt touch it as the warrenty had expired. Dealer said it would cost about $3K to fix and take 4-6 weeks. Too many plastic parts (to save weight?) Basically, I traded it in on a new Ford for what I still owed on it.

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  Great Homeowners Truck - 2000 Dodge Dakota
  By Homeowner-Commuter - March 12 - 2:00 am

  Perfect for commuter/homeowner. Estended cab is "just right" for most trips and jobs. Long distance driving is a little rough after the first 8 or 9 hours. V-6 gives more than enough power and pretty good mileage, good looking, very reliable. If I ever have to let this one go, Ill buy another Dakota to replace it.

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  Great ideas & design- build quality? - 2002 Dodge Stratus
  By Parryprime - March 11 - 2:00 am

  I really liked this car when I bought it. I thought I really got a great value for the money. Powerful V6, good handling. Unfortunately at 30K the brakes went out so I had to get them repaired. The service man at the dealership had a distinctly ominous tone in his voice when he told me my transmission needed the powerflush. Yikes! Im selling it and then Im turning Japanese! I cant afford not to at this point. Lets face it, you might save 2k at purchase but youll make up the difference through precipitous loss of value and major repairs. A good car for 2 years then, buyer beware!

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  My Dodge - 1999 Dodge Durango
  By Priscilla - March 11 - 2:00 am

  I prefer this body style compared to the new 2004 Durango.

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  Good for what it is. - 1999 Dodge Neon
  By big_dog - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new my only vehicle since 1999. Excellent gas mileage, fun to drive - faster than a 6 cylinder Mustang. Very nimble around town and a stable freeway cruiser. Of course, I also have the 5 speed and DOHC. Absolutely no problems and going on 80K miles. For comparison, I drove an Audi TT w/180hp and could not "feel" a difference in acceleration or handling (though I dont mean to suggest that the Neon is a better car!). However, the wind noise at 55mph or above is awful. I plan on keeping this vehicle to play with when I replace it with a new Audi or Porsche, etc.