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:

• 

  Love It - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By DustinSizem - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I totally love my car! I got this car for my first car, I got the electric blue and boy does it stand out! My front end drags alot and I am going to have to get the paint touched up but that is the only complaint I have.

• 

  1 great ride - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By earl main - July 15 - 2:00 am

  the new durango is very different than my one. 2004 durango is very quiet,great turning radius,great fuel miliage.

• 

  One word sums it up: awesome! - 1995 Dodge Viper
  By Tom - July 14 - 11:35 am

  It has tremendous load of torque that can be felt at every gear. Comfort level is better than expected. It gets very good gas mileage on highway (21 MPG) due to the overdrive 6th gear. Attract attention like no other cars on the road (except for the Murcielago). If you drive a car for so long and get used to it, youll forget how good looking it was to you (thats why you buy it in the first place), and eventually get bored with it. That is not the case with the Viper. The attention it gets, from the time it starts rolling out of the garage until the time it arrives at the destination and parked, will assure you that youre driving one of a few best looking vehicles on the planet.

• 

  Wonderful car!! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By krd - July 13 - 2:26 pm

  Just got my Magnum a couple of weeks ago. I bought the car that the dealer ordered because the one I had ordered wasnt near the point of being built.That is one point I would like to make if you are planning on ordering an RT...plan on a good long wait. Mine has been on order for three months and is still not built. It is a beautiful Mineral Gray with gorgeous leather seats. One of the best new cars I have ever purchased. Very solid feel good power and great handling. I felt right at home in this car from the first time I drove it.

• 

  My little Dakota R/T - 2000 Dodge Dakota
  By Paul Baldozier - July 13 - 12:13 pm

  This is a very fun little truck to have. It is a sport truck so the ride is a little stiff but that is to be expected from a performance model. This seems to be a well built truck, I havent had a single problem with it in the little over a year that I have owned it. At this point and time the only thing that I wish was better about the truck would be better gas mileage at highway speeds, in town seems to be consistent and in my opinion not to bad for a large 5.9L V8. If Dodge would of went with 3.73 or 3.55 gears the motor would be at a much happier RPM for high way speeds.

• 

  Dependable & handles deep snow well. - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By Pat Lytle - July 12 - 11:37 am

  I live in Alaska, outside of town with a long uphill driveway. My Intrepid has pushed through snow many times to get me to town. I have had 4WD pickups & SUVs that have not handled as well. I get about 25 MPG, and have not had any major repairs to contend with. The car now has over 150,000 miles on it and burns no oil or has any problems. My teenage daughter, who is a careful driver, is buying it from me for her first car. With dual airbags and how well it handles icy roads, I trust this car to keep her on the road, regardless of the contions. As for my next car, I think I need another Intrepid!

• 

  91000 miles no problem - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By naskefice - July 12 - 10:17 am

  20+ mpg. Mobil 1 oil change about every 5000 miles. Replaced tires and brakes. Same antifreeze, still clean. Same battery. All weather striping still good. The exhaust system still good. The car is still tight including the sunroof. My wife loves this car. Have never kept a car this long. Still looks and drives like new. The key is to keep it clean and gararge kept. It does now use about 1/2 quart of oil by time to change oil. None needs to be added.

• 

  The Journey Begins - 2016 Dodge Journey
  By Scott Lane - July 12 - 7:24 am

  There are a couple of different styles and I was shown the bells and whistles first. I had to settle for the one with less options and feel jilted.

• 

  All Good Here - 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By 61 kd - July 11 - 11:53 am

  Bought this model from dealer, first family truckster Ive owned. I think Ill own it forever. It just never quits. Did have a master cylinder issue early on but was under warranty. I also replaced the A/C but other than that nothing else. It rides like a dream, love the versitility of removing the 2nd row captain chairs, and it gets 23 on the highway. Engine and Tranny still going strong!

• 

  70,000 miles and loving it - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By John Hutchins - July 10 - 12:35 pm

  Have nearly 70,000 miles on my RT. As a former Toyota owner for 30 years it took a lot to bring me to buy a Dodge. This is one heck of a car! It captures the feeling of a 60s muscle car with great fuel economy, comfort, safety, and very high build quality. I went thru the factory in Brampton Ontario and was very impressed by what I saw. A clean super efficient factory where the workers work in teams, totally German influence from Mercedes. Some people may be put off by the rather stark interior, but it grows on you, think German influence. The Magnum is also a great workhorse, carries quite a bit with rear seats folded and a fine tow vehicle with the self-leveling suspension.No complaints!