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 for a family with small children! - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By Triplet Mama Plus 2 - May 8 - 4:04 pm

  Well first off the gas mileage is a joke, do not buy if you have any sort of commute to work or youll be averaging $70 every 4 days on gas, crazy! Second, I have 5 kids (6, 2, and 18 month old triplets) and getting them in and out of this vehicle is awful, such a pain. I cant even go anywhere because no stroller but an umbrella stroller would fit. The interior is falling apart without even harsh use. All in all if we didnt have but a couple kids and worked 5 minutes away then it would be manageable but we are getting rid of this Durango ASAP!

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  Love It! - 2002 Dodge Stratus
  By tnelly2001 - May 8 - 4:02 pm

  I bought my car in 4/03 had 24,000 miles on it at the time it has 99,000 miles now. Have had a good time. Only thing took it into the dealer under warranty at 56,000 for transmission issues. Sticky but since seems still New!! Thank goodness!!

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  Yeah, its got a Hemi! - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By Durango Girl - May 8 - 2:42 pm

  I just got my 2004 Durango Limited, but it was love at first sight. Just a great looking SUV with tons of extras. Not sure Ill be able to afford the gas for long, but until then, its all GO!!

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  Dodge is junk and service is a SCAM! - 2001 Dodge Durango
  By jbarmywife - May 8 - 2:20 pm

  The electrical system, brakes and engine are junk. This is my third Dodge and I have had problems with all of them. My 2005 Dodge Ram kept breaking down and every time wed take it in theyd charge us $100 and say theres nothing wrong with it. Same with my Durango, even with the check engine light on they say theres nothing wrong yet my car just stopped on he road. Its still not fixed and I cant sell it the way it is. Now my husband has a 99 pickup and you can clearly tell the cylinders are missing. It jerks you back every time you drive it and he took it in today. They charge him another $100 for nothing. It shows up on my friends diagnostics machine. SCAM!

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  Nice looking but thats about it - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By chad - May 8 - 4:23 am

  I love the way the charger looks on the outside other than that.The stereo system isnt good, sounds like if you turn it up at all youre going to blow a speaker. When i open the door to get out it always swings back shut on me. My kids always complain about the seat belt sticking. The plastic interior trim looks cheap. I got the 3.5L and Im not very impressed with the acceleration. Gas mileage is O.K. between 20 and 23 mpg. No cup holder in the back and the cup holders it has up front are small. Should have bought a Hybrid.

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  "THE INTREPID" - 2003 Dodge Intrepid
  By will intrepid - May 7 - 8:41 pm

  I bought my Dodge Intrepid just last year and its been a great car, matter of fact the best four-door sedan I have ever driven or bought even so it gives me some difficulties like I had to get the transmission rebuilt at 91,000 some odd miles but does get me from point A to point B when I need it to.

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  Nothing but problems - 1998 Dodge Dakota
  By Disappointed - May 7 - 4:07 pm

  Trucks look great, but lack performance and reliability. Bought the truck 1 1/2 years ago with only 48,000 miles on it, today I have around 66,000 and have had to replace the transmission twice, the radiator, brakes, ball joints, heat. I bought the truck with high expectations and have been nothing but let down ever since the day I drove it off the lot.

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  Stylin and Profilin - 1991 Dodge Stealth
  By R. Robinson - May 7 - 3:04 pm

  Let me start by stating that I am a "car guy" to the bone. My search criteria for a vehicle is simple two doors, manual, awd and a minimum of 300 hp! I bought the TT version of this car and have been on cloud 9 ever since. For a car that is 18 years old and has active exhaust, ECS and AWS for a price less than used Pontiac, you cant beat that! I have the pearl white version and even today people turn and give me the "thumbs- up". In a vehicle like this you dont have to speed, all you have to do is cruise. However, if it is speed you need, it is there for you. There has only been one failure with this car related to the ECU, which was replaced. In short this is the ride for me! Stay cool

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  In the shop - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By tinkerbell83 - May 7 - 11:20 am

  I have owned this car for less than 5 months. I would have to say that it is reliable for a now considering that I just drive to and from work. Recently, I had to take it in for the interior shaking and at 2500 rpms it sounds like it is going to blow. Poor blind spots. Very roomy though.

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  WOW - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By RLCURRY - May 7 - 2:16 am

  I get 25mph on the road and 20mph in town. This model will be a classic like a 57 Chevy. Styling makes car look smaller than it really is.