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:

• 

  Great car - 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Susan - July 11 - 4:20 pm

  This has been a great minivan. We really like having vents that go all the way back (which is why we bought the Sport) and the built in kid seats - they make life so easy. The car runs great on the highway and handles really well. I just want better gas mileage - I cant wait until they start making hybrids or just improving the mileage.

• 

  Wish they still made them - 1993 Dodge Shadow
  By mrshadow - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 93 shadow new for $9200. I now have 141,000 miles and the only repairs have been a horn, one set of brakes (at 120,000) one set of plugs, 3 sets of tires. DODGE please stop making the piece of crap neon, and make this car again. I wish I could hop in my time machine a buy a few more of these new.

• 

  Awesome Car - 1994 Dodge Shadow
  By kyouto - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Fun, power, reliable, economic... everything and more. Has enough power to be fun, handels Extremely well, little maintance, and at 109k miles... the only problem was the a/c went out, due to incompentant service that the previous owner had taken too...

• 

  My experience with my Grand Caravan SE - 1997 Dodge Caravan
  By L. Daudelin - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Ive been very pleased with this vehicle. Never regretted. I have over 100,000 miles right now and didnt have any major problem. The only one I got was the AC compressor that had to be replaced recently.

• 

  Best small pickup on the market - 1992 Dodge Dakota
  By Buehlz - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 2 1992 Dodge Dakotas both sports and both short box. Regret loosing both of them. First one was a V-6 that I lost to a roll over accedent and the second was a V-8 that I traded in (Stupid!!!!) The V-6 was decent on gas and the V-8 what can I say. You dont buy a V-8 with worrys about MPG

• 

  Sporty yet economic - 2001 Dodge Stratus
  By Gable - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I have put over 20,000 miles on my Stratus in just 9 months. I love driving it and she seems to love getting out there everyday on the open road. Definately a smart buy!

• 

  1993 Stealh RT/AWD AWS Twin Turbo - 1993 Dodge Stealth
  By Robert Gillespie - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Oustanding Camaro SS buster! If you could the look on thier faces when they are smoked by a Dodge!

• 

  All in all great! - 2002 Dodge Neon
  By MichaelAstrid - July 8 - 2:00 am

  The car is a wonderful little fuel econmy vehicle. This is my second Neon and I really enjoy the improvements made for 2002.

• 

  I Love This R/T - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By DodgeMan - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I Just traded in my 98 SLT for the R/T. I can not believe the difference between the two. If i didnt know any better i would think I was driving a sports car. It seems that this bad boy soved all the problems of the old SLT. I no longer have the constant problems with my rear breaks. I dont squeal around corners or break the rear end loose on turns. Well done.!!

• 

  Great SUV - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By durango999 - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned four SUVs, and three trucks and by far this is the best.