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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  Love my Caravan Sport - 2000 Dodge Caravan
  By MisterNL - April 15 - 12:27 pm

  My short wheelbase caravan sport is a terrific car. Handles well, carries volumes of people and stuff, looks cool. Floor-thru is one of the best features. The floor is flat. You can put lumber all the way to the front console. Even the dog can ride between the two front seats. People deride the Caravan as for soccer moms. I say its ten times more macho and practical in real life than an SUV. And the feeling of spaciousness inside is just unbeatable. Its the little truck that could. Thank you Dodge.

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  GLH!! - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By Mike - April 15 - 4:25 am

  This car is by far the fastest, most responsive and most fun vehicle you can get for the price. Period. It will run with the bigger dogs, able to keep up with cars 10-15K dollars more that its price (perfect example: this will out run the most expensive, upgraded $32,000 version of the RX-8). It looks great (although I do have to admit that other than the dual exhaust and wicked huge spoiler, the back end looks a little plain) inside and out. And I cant say enough of how I love those seats! Spectacular support without sacrifice of comfort. The tires look great, and perform wonderfully no matter what the road conditions (I was amazed at the grip they had in the winter months). Awesome.

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  1997 Dodge Caravan is #1 - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Scott Lawson - April 14 - 10:00 am

  A very Trust Worthy Automobile.

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  The Greatest - 2006 Dodge Durango
  By Troy - April 13 - 8:11 pm

  Wow, where do I start? This is an awsome vehicle that has something for everyone. I recently purchesed the powerful 4.7 liter SLT that out distances its peers by far. The ride is comfortable, sterring is great and the outcome of the two is an awsome ride. And there are three rows so when we travel with family or friends there is no question on which vehicle we will go in. I choose this vehicle over the Expedition that dosent compare.

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  Love my Journey - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Soccer Momma - April 13 - 2:13 am

  Love this Car!!! I drive a lot of miles every weekend, comfortable and enough room for the dogs kids and grandmas!!!

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  The original leather seat Neon. - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By clonehawk - April 12 - 9:25 pm

  I cant understand why the Focus ever beat this car in Consumer Reports given the high number of recalls the Focus has had. Replaced the factory tires, battery and have had the half of the factory speakers quit working. Other than that it has been trouble free. Dodge seems to have figured out how to make a reliable inexpensive car.

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  Give it a chance - 2005 Dodge Stratus
  By Naomi - April 12 - 3:57 pm

  I just got this car and it is a very nice car, fun to drive and everyone I know really likes it. In fact 2 of my friends are getting one. It is under $20,000 unlike most cars with the same options. I feel it is a good car with lots of room in the back. My friend is 62 and fit in it w/o hitting his knees on my seat. Overall I give it a 10. My reason I got it is because a friend of mine has had theirs for 3 years and loves it and has been very reliable for her.

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  Happy driver - 2002 Dodge Stratus
  By deano - April 11 - 3:34 pm

  Has been a very good car, 65,000 so far. Will buy another one. Its fun, good fuel economy, reasonably fast, looks good, been reliable. Is holding its looks well. Has been much more fun with a set of Contis on it versus the OEM tires. Great in the MI snow.

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  Dodge Grand Caravan - 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By mary - April 11 - 3:10 am

  Currently have more than 176,000 miles on it, same muffler. Just had to have some big repairs, but not until 1 year ago. Ride could be a little smoother. Looking forward to hitting 200,00 miles on it. Will probably end up being my daughters first car and I will hopefully add another new one this year. I drive this vehicle everywhere, and drive daily, just starting to get a little rust. I truly love this vehicle.

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  X-Vette owner - 2004 Dodge Viper
  By soundman - April 10 - 9:25 pm

  I have owned a lot of fast cars, mostly Corvettes. Some were stock, but most were pretty highly modified. I found that no matter how much I did to the Vettes they were still just Corvettes and people did not react like they do now when I drive my Viper. Dont get me wrong I love Corvettes and I drove the new 2006 Z06 but the top didnt come off and it looked like a standard Corvette with a body kit. The Viper on the other hand was the car I wish the Corvette had become. It reminds me of a modern version of my 69 427 Stingray, raw power, purely American and in-your-face attitude. Some say the Z06 is faster, maybe it is, maybe it isnt? As for me, Ill be saving up my money for the next Dodge Viper