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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  Best value in America - 2012 Dodge Journey
  By mikeyinthed - August 14 - 6:26 pm

  I got a great deal on my 2012 Dodge Journey after the $4,500 in rebates currently offered. This is the best value in America. Great gas mileage for the size of the vehicle, good performace from the 3.6L engine, quiet, smooth, refined interior compared to Chrysler products from the past, exterior styling offers some spice to a bland category. There is nothing I would change about my Journey. The Safe & Sound package is a must on the SXT models. It adds the rear parking sensors, rear camera, and the 8.4" screen. The screen is amazing and the interface with Apple products is my favorite feature. The other options I added was the 19" wheels and the perferred package.

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  Great Ride and Good Economy - 2010 Dodge Journey
  By rotorbob - August 7 - 1:15 pm

  After delivering mail for 18 years, mostly out of Mopar minivans, I looked forward to driving a smaller, more efficient car with features I like most: economy, comfort and quality of build. I found all those in my Journey. The only things Ive found fault with are 1) the transmission is balky in either the select shift mode or the full automatic mode. It is slow to shift, but very smooth and 2) the ignition key is VERY VERY fragile. Whos idiotic idea was it to make such a cruddy key that costs over 200 to replace after only 29 months? They really need to re-think the ignition keys with all the needless bells and whistles. Just give me a simple metal key that starts the car!

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  World Class Muscle Car - But no Backup Camera Option - 2012 Dodge Challenger
  By hbtmd - August 6 - 1:20 pm

  I purchased this superb 470 hp Super car for my son as an early graduation gift. This car has incredible acceleration, braking and handling, far beyond anything I have ever driven at twice its price. This car in Metalic Blue Streak with Factory Silver-White stripes is beyond gorgeous and turns heads wherever it goes. I bought it fully loaded with Dodges highest end GPS. Strangely enough it does not have a backup camera and you can not purchase one form Dodge or Mopar even if you wanted to. I called Dodge to find out what the logic for this was. They could not explain the logic or lack thereof. Otherwise My Son Loves His SRT-8

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  Great truck for the buck! - 2008 Dodge Nitro
  By beach4321 - August 3 - 4:38 pm

  I have had my Nitro for going on four years now. I bought it with less than 10,000 miles on it and now going on 60,000. I love my Nitro! It has been a very dependable truck with little to no problems. Lots of room for traveling and hauling. I think it is the wisest choice in a vehicle when looking for something affordable and dependable. My friend just bought the same truck and she loves hers, as well.

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  Since 2002 - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By menifee3 - July 30 - 6:59 pm

  I have owned this car since 2002. It runs incredibly fantastic. No problems since ownership. I have nearly 90K miles on it and take it into L.A. every day. Runs smooth, 35 mpg Hwy (Higher than officially rated), and an unbelievable air conditioner which I can only run on low, even on hot days, because it gets so cold in the car. The AC is better than the one in my Mercedes! While far from being a chick magnet, this car is the most reliable car Ive ever owned. And Im keeping it!

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  Great car! - 2012 Dodge Charger
  By tgassett - July 27 - 9:48 pm

  I have been looking at the Charger for over a year. I looked at alot of cars but I kept coming back to the Charger. The way it drives, looks, handles, and the features you get for the money make it hard to beat. I have only had my R/T for 2 weeks so far so good. My Samsung phone is not compatible with UConnect but that isnt the cars fault. It is quiet, powerful, comfortable, gets relatively good mileage, and looks great. And boy does it get the looks. This is a keeper.

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  Comfortable Reliable Economical - 2001 Dodge Caravan
  By surflad - July 25 - 9:41 pm

  Bought my 01 Sport in 02 with 16,000 miles. $20K. It was my second Caravan. 3.3 liter got 24mpg at 2200rpm on the highway. Replaced the alternator at 25k. A/C at 150k. Transmission at 211K (never changed the fluid). Plugs once, brakes once, front window motors once. Regular synthetic oil changes. Got t-boned at an intersection by a red-light runner! Van had 231,000 miles. Up to that point my van ran great. Was hoping to go 300,000. But it was not to be. Will pick up another 01 Sport tomorrow. Nothing but good things to say about this Dodge.

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  2010 Nitro - 2010 Dodge Nitro
  By mcmann18 - July 19 - 7:39 pm

  this is my second nitro. First one pure stock nothing special. reason i had to get a second one wife was in a head on colison totaled the car and not her fault she was told if it had been another type vichel she would have been dead. vehicle has been up to 115 mph only thing when wet it spins weels, I have just about every extra you would want on a vehicle amd tywice it has had a tire temp light come on and said i had tire presure at 9 pounds alittle scare at 85 mph great vehicle guess the dont make them any more so will keep mine

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  Great buy, looks great - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By nitroftw - July 15 - 5:29 pm

  I fell in love with the dodge nitro the second I test drove it. I have since had zero problems for three years, aside from basic maintenance for brake pads and such. Great MPG for the price of the car and the quality of the construction of the vehicle. Feels very sturdy and it is. I think that this is the one car that I actually like from Dodge.

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  A Mercedes ML-350 for half the price! - 2012 Dodge Durango
  By dhagge02 - July 13 - 7:21 am

  I have driven a Mercedes ML-350 for the past two years and when I found out that the Durango is built on the same platform (a leftover from when Daimler owned Chrysler, splitting in mid-2008), I had to test drive it. It has the same exact quality, fit and finish, road feel, and many of the same features of the ML-350. Except the price tag! The vehicle looks great, is amazingly quiet, plushly appointed - and yet manly. The optional 3rd row seat with middle row captains chairs give the interior that convenient and huge mini-van feeling - yet youre not subjected to actually driving a mini-van. I have driven so many vehicles and this is, hands-down, my favorite ever.