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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  2011 Dogde Avenger LUX - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By krs4 - May 19 - 3:37 pm

  Black Pearl Coat Leather Interior Fully Loaded I looked at the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord. If you want to stand out and have a car that is fun to drive. Buy the Dodge Avenger. I love this car! It looks so good compared to the above mentioned competitors. It is so fast with the 283 HP engine. Highway MPG is respectable and City is good too. The features this LUX version has are incredible. The UConnect system compares will with the Ford Sync system. It even does some things Sync cannot. The build in 30 GB HDD is so great. I have never written a review on-line before but I had to tell people to look at this car. It is my pride and joy! It is a little muscle car!

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  Read This IF YOU WANT A CHARGER - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By james1969 - May 18 - 5:58 pm

  The Charger is an absolutely fantastic car but it not worth getting if its not the R/T. People who say the charger is an unreliable car all purchased the models below the R/T which are absolute crap. The 5.6 v8 HEMI is a beast of an engine and it gets my car beast of a car moving faster then anyone can image. The exhaust doesnt make the sound you would want a charger to make when the car isnt movie but one you push on the gas it truly sounds like a muscle car. The Charger R/T has amazing room for taller folks in the front and bad even with the seats moved back all the way, a superb audio system, and a wonderfully designed interior, and it handles just like an E class mercedes.

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  No Issues... - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By jimbodean - May 17 - 10:54 am

  We traded in a 2005 Chevy Equinox with 53,000 miles for this Journey and have not looked back one time. The leather seats are comfy and clean. The DVD system and Satellite radio are great. I keep reading about brake issues but we have 21,000 miles and the rotors are original and in great shape, we are not seeing any of the steering wheel shaking at all. Lots of room, lots of storage, 3rd row seating is for kids only but convenient if needed. We will be taking this car on a 2500 mile round trip from Nebraska to South Carolina in July and I have no trepidations at this point on reliability or comfort. The wife loves the back up camera and all the other R/T amenities.

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  No better value - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By dodgefan7 - May 16 - 5:43 pm

  No other car has horse power in the ball park of this car for less than 28 grand. The V6 is awesome. Also, the interior is packed with stuff. No other car can beat the Avenger price wise.

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  Avenger HEAT V6 - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By sandyman1 - May 16 - 1:12 am

  I waited a couple of weeks to write a review on my Avenger Heat. Its so new, its not even listed in the models. Fully loaded. This car is awesome! Pentastar V6 3.6 liter monster. Smooth, and just a beast wen you get on it. Same motor going into the Challenger and Charger. The interior is sick! Everyone loves the red seat/door inserts and red stitching. The quality of the interior is way high this year, impressive. Media center 430 is awesome. Great sound, dvd movies, thunder bass and detail. Blue tooth, voice command. Black Berry Pearl paint, 18 inch alloys, multi-link suspension front and back, 6 speed auto/manual shift. Great sound from the dual exhaust. Test drive it now!!!

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  I LOVE THIS CAR - 1998 Dodge Intrepid
  By bsten - May 14 - 10:20 pm

  I love this car, correction.. I loved her. She was by far the hardest car I have to replace. She kept running way past 255,000 miles. But sadly, she was rear ended and considered totaled. Its been so hard to find a vehicle with all these options she had, such as the overhead console that told me my mpg and temp outside, I loved the leather seats and how big she was. The gas mileage was actually really great, the acceleration was nice and everything worked really well! I barely had any issues with her, maybe put $300 in her with the three years I had her (my parents owned her prior to me). The looks of this car was nice, sleek and clean. (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (:

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  Awesome Drive!!! - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By ea2011 - May 13 - 3:10 pm

  I love the drive on this car. It drives so smooth and its so spacious. I have test drove so many cars and when I drove the car I fell in love at first drive. I bought the car in 04/2011 and I have not had a problem with it. My son loves the car inside as well.

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  Nitro Glycerin - 2011 Dodge Nitro
  By sjs63 - May 6 - 7:27 pm

  Purchased March 2011, Put performance Chip and K&N filter and not only got much better Performance, but also a increase of over 5 MPG over 22-23 MPG on highway, was getting about 16 MPG. Handles great, tight suspension, can haul heavy payload with very little sway. I love it

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  My Second Charger - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By donr872 - May 2 - 11:17 am

  This in my second Charger R/T. I love wheat theyve done to this car. Essentially theyve gone back to the drawing board and a new car has evolved. This car turns heads everywhere I go. I have the R/T Rallye plus, fuel milage is excellent for a car that has nearly 400 hp. I get approx 20mpg in mixed driving. I really like the eco icon on the info cluster that allows you to know when youre in fuel savings mode.

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  2011 R/T AWD MAX = AWESOME - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By dleininger - May 2 - 5:44 am

  I was in the market for a fun performance oriented car with room in the back for a carseat or 2. This Charger has more than exceeded my expectations. I test drove and looked at others, and nothing in the market right now can compare or compete. Im blown away by all the features everytime I drive it. I would put this Dodge Charger up there against any M3, S63AMG, etc. The features are that good. Id HIGHLY recommend getting the R/T MAX bundle so you dont miss out on any goodies. I get the more expensive Red paint color (worth it) with the Red leather interior (get it). This is BY FAR the BEST car Ive ever had. My wife LOVES it, kids love it, and so does every guy on my street LOL.