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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  Life with my 2000 Intrepid - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By Leahcim - November 27 - 2:10 pm

  My intrepid has 125000 miles and has been for the most part a reliable car. It still rides great and is the most comfortable car i have owned. Problems that I have had include the following. Both of the electric window motors went up at about 32000 miles which were covered under warranty. The rack and pinion went up in the car at 58000 miles $1200 to fix. The rubber door seals have shrunk so that they do not fit around the doors. The interior plastic trim around the doors has cracked and fallen apart.

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  2003 Neon - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By ufarab - November 26 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive. Mileage could be better (26.5 on highway). Add power windows to rear. Exterior road noise too load. Otherwise, I like the car.

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  I like it! - 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Hikezilla - November 26 - 10:00 am

  We needed a new van for upcoming vacation and I had been impressed with a friends Grand Caravan. We didnt want to invest in a new 2003 so we were looking for 2001 or 2002 models with less than 30K miles. This one fit the ticket and had a decent price point.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2008 Dodge Charger
  By romman - November 25 - 11:27 pm

  Bought this car over the weekend and love it! In fact I would say that this is the best car Ive owned. I have owned quite a few cars and trucks over the years including Mustangs, Thunderbirds, Trans- Am, Dodge RAM pickup and most recently a Durango. I have been very pleased on how the car handles and absolutely love the sunroof since I live in CA. The seats are comfortable and Dodge finally did something with the 07 cruise control handle problem. I rented an 07 charger for about 10 days and that lever drove me nuts! Sirius radio is a nice touch and the rear air is nice for the kids! Everything about the car feels solid and the handling is superb. I wanted the myGig system but maybe next time

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  Supercar performance, poor mans price! - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By iturbosrt4 - November 24 - 10:09 am

  If youre looking for something fast, rare and eye-catching for a cheap price, youre reading the review for the perfect car. Everytime I get into my car Im afraid Im going to get a speeding ticket. You dont even realize how fast youre going sometimes. Some say the interior is cheap but I say its perfect for me. If I wanted a luxury car, I wouldve brought one. The 6 CD stereo system is crystal clear, the bucket seats are comfortable and all the controls are placed in arms reach. Thats all I need!

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  100th Review - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By :yB - November 23 - 10:11 pm

  There is no option for a 2001 R/T for some reason but its essentially the same as a 2002. For the last 6 years my R/T has been completely reliable. I have had general maintenence repairs, tires, wipers, new battery, driving lights (headlights are still original) etc. but other than the gas cap failing to keep negative pressure in the tank, I have had no repairs. The only reason I am getting rid of my Durango is because the gas mileage is horrible (avg. 11.3) and its time to update. While trying to figure out what to sell my Durango for I noticed a lot of them have 100k+ up to 200,000 miles on them. The resale is not what I expected but definitely competetive with similar models.

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  Dont do it - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By JAY JONAH - November 22 - 5:30 pm

  This car will not make it to 100k. Electrical problems, battery will go dead for no reason. Terrible acceleration due to very poor CVT. Gas mileage suffers. Because of it you need to go deeper on the gas pedal to get up to speed. In shop for numerous repairs only has 30k miles on it. In shop now because a coolant leak from the engine not the radiator or hose but a main pipe that leads to the engine has to be checked out to see if new engine is needed. Terrible blind spots. Check plastic in trunk scratches and scuffs very easy. I wont be surprised at all if people that previously reviewed the car good need to come update it. Now I see why they need a bailout this being one of the reasons. I own 97 Camry with 200k miles less problems than this car at 30k

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  Been in the shop 4 times. - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By AMP - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car to drive back and forth from college and home which is a 400 mile trip. This car was fine for the first eight months of ownership. It has real hesitation starting sometimes, chugs and has been in the shop 4 times because the engine light comes on. I feel this car has faulty craftsmanship and low quality parts.

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  Solid Truck - 2002 Dodge Dakota
  By Dakota - November 21 - 8:43 am

  Overall a very reliable truck. Never had any problems w/ the drivetrain or any major mechanical issues. That said, the brakes are awful and the ball joints are junk - getting them replaced by Dodge, even with a recall, was a real hassle. Fuel economy averaged a disappointing 15mpg, and the 3.9 V6 just does not have enough power to get the heavier quad-cab moving or passing with enough authority. At highway speeds, the ride is smooth for a truck, but very noisy. Had to upgrade sound system just to hear the music. After 50k, it still runs great, but I shouldve opted for the V8 instead. This has been one of the most reliable vehicles I have owned, but more power is a must for a truck.

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  Me and my RT - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By WackyWayno - November 20 - 9:53 pm

  Got my blue RT with the road and track option almost a year ago. It has been a great car for me. Ive only had to take it back for oil changes. Im real picky and usually have to have the dealer fix a few little things on my new cars. Not this one. Glad I ordered mine with road and track option. The better seats are great and the other extras were worth it. Fun to drive. I car pool and after a couple of days not driving it I miss it. Just starting it is exciting. Ive always bought new cars, and this has been the best. Not happy with fuel economy. Ive owned V-8s before that did better. Ride and handling are very good for this size car. If you drive it, you will like it.