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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  Most Fun Car I have ever had - 1992 Dodge Stealth
  By Mike D - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Most fun car I have ever had. Always get looks from young and old. Speed is exhilerating yet always seems safe. JUst as much fun as a Porsche or Corvette.

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  Lovin my R/T - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By LAP - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Overall I have been very pleased with the purchase of my R/T. Its loaded including side impact air bags, key- less entry, traction control, pwr moonroof, CD changer, etc. and the price tag was still under $20,000. It also has good gas mileage, sporty looks, more spacious interior than I was expecting and can handle my aggressive driving habits. The only downfall....it doesnt hold its value!

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  my dark green van - 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Gerald Hubler - March 14 - 10:00 am

  The only trouble I have had with this van is a gromut was missing from the pasengers right sliding door & the door seal on the left sliding came loose. these items were fixed under warenty.

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  Love my car - 2004 Dodge Viper
  By RjB - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this vehicle for several months now and can only say that while its not the car for everyone (limited seating and space, not the most comfortable[very stiff but secure ride], not for off road or everyday travel, its got to be the best sport vehicle on the road for the price and features it offers. I have the srt-10 silver model.

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  Viper - 2004 Dodge Viper
  By marieshoward - March 14 - 2:00 am

  excellent machine, fun to drive, quick and exciting

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  Great car for the price, just not new! - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By flamingpinhead - March 14 - 2:00 am

  very fun to drive (5spd). not very fast on the straight but its great in the turns (autocrossed last year and loved every bit of it) the front seats are ok but get uncomfortable on long trips, they make my lower back ache after about an hour no matter how i position the seat. is at 75k miles and still gets over 30mpg consistently. looks stylish both inside and out. i keep it exceptionally clean inside and out. runs great after all those miles. had to have the tranny replace after 10k but the dealership was very good about getting it done quickly and giving me a loaner car automatic neon, once again reminding me why i got a 5spd.

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  Got what I expected - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By clintonfinance - March 14 - 2:00 am

  We all know the stories of gas mileage, but we knew that before we bought the Durango. Great vehicle, with plenty of power and fun to drive. Prefer it to the new 2004 by a mile!

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  The best mid-sized truck - 2004 Dodge Dakota
  By 2indy - March 13 - 2:00 am

  High off the ground with bulging tires, powerful V-6, smooth riding, great handling it feels like a 25K$-30K$ truck. SHHHH! I only payed 20,300$ (this includes tax tags and tite) and I was out the door for this truck. You couldnt beat that with a bat! Im happy

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  Love my "Trep" - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By SteveCollins - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought an Intrepid because I needed a car that would tow my 19 foot power boat, have room for my skiis, look great, and have an attitude on the road and in the twisties. The Intrepid, with front wheel drive and traction control can easily pull my 4000 boat up a slippery ramp with no problem. With leather seating and the optional wood inlayed dash, and the inferno red exterior, it is an exciting too look at in the driveway. I get compliments on it wherever I go.

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  Great Car - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By AMOLDEN124 - March 11 - 8:40 pm

  This is a great vehicle! Spacious interior is great for us parents, but the sporty outside is perfect for cruising. Cant beat the fuel economy, Im getting nearly 35 miles to the gallon (highway), and when youre on a tight budget, thats always a plus. It handles better than I would have suspected.