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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  Excellent truck - 1998 Dodge Dakota
  By sgtbryan - August 11 - 9:01 am

  I bought this truck in 1998 with 14,000 miles on it. It now has 234,888 with the same engine and transmission. I took care of the truck by having the oil and transmissions fuel changed. This was the life of the truck. It has never left me on the road nor given me any problems.

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  04 Durango Limited 4.7L - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By Tony - August 10 - 5:01 pm

  Love the Durango. The 4.7L engine has enough power to get the truck around w/o guzzling . I get about 18 to 19 MPG when I take it easy on the gas. I have had no mechanical issues with the car and would definitely buy another one.

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  Drive to THE ROCK! - 2016 Dodge Journey
  By Vpalmer - August 10 - 4:39 pm

  I researched SUVs of all makes since Jan 16, (this is when my second vehicle went to car heaven ...it was 14 years old). Yes, Im very analytical, and when it comes to my cold hard earned cash... darn right Im going to do some homework! I went to a Hyundai dealership in Rockwall, (waste of time, as no one was willing to deal, their loss). I then went to dealership right next door... GREAT PEOPLE! They did all they could to get me into a Honda CRV.....(it was almost a sell, those cars are awesome, but without me doing research, and without knowing exactly what trim/ package I wanted I was not going to make a hasty decision! )Although their offers were FABULOUS, and were willing to earn my business with the extras... I just had my heart set on my Dodge Journey, and I was going to find it or go home and start researching the Honda CRV!! They even called me (although too late) to let me know they could get me what I wanted from one of their sister dealerships... NOW thats great customer SERVICE and customer follow up! I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned from ROCKWALL DODGE. Melvin my sales person was fabulous, he took our offers seriously and we made the deal. There was a miscommunication snafu regarding add-ons, but this company was quick, fast, and in a hurry to make any misconceptions on my part or sales persons part to make it RIGHT! ROCKWALL DODGE wanted to make me happy not only right then, but in the long years to come, not only with my vehicle... but with my entire experience! They have! Job well done ROCKWALL DODGE!! (The only thing is I am missing the key to my wheel locks!, I didnt check before driving home, Im sure this can too be resolved... these guys are great!!) The vehicle is immaculate inside and out; there is one "miniature" ding on the passenger rear door, and it took me a while to find it after I got home. My vehicle is a V-6 FWD however, not 4cyl AWD. I love the "beastly power" when I need it, I love knowing its there, though I try not to abuse it. (wink) My gas mileage from Rockwall to my drive way was just under 400 miles and I was still able to go to work my first week after coming home without having to fill the tank! (20-25 miles daily). The color is equivalent to a well tailored business mans power gray suit! (place wolf call here). The cargo space is AMAZING, with the third row, I simply keep it laid down for my ladder, and I still have plenty of room for vacation luggage, there are also lots and lots of secret embedded compartments for added storage. The only thing I will be adding to this new love in my life is a AMP step for both sides of the vehicle that will drop for me when I open the door. Im 50 nothing, and enjoy climbing on things normally, but Im at a point in life when I can afford to do things the easy way. So ladies... dont be afraid of this vehicle, it handles like a dream and if you have kids with lots of stuff, and they have friends with lots of stuff, youll still have plenty of room for your stuff.

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  My Dodge - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By Jim - August 10 - 4:31 pm

  I am very happy with my Intrepid ES. I bought it with 65,000 miles on it. {100,000 mile warranty} It was a program car that was well taken care of. Leather interior and the works. Beautiful riding highway cruiser. I have 140,000 and its ready for lots more. So far I have only had to put in a new starter & flywheel. I replaced the front struts and its back to the ride it was when I got it. The only problem I have with it is the weatherstripping around all four doors has shrunk about 1 inch from time and weather. Dodge wouldnt do anything about covering it under the warranty for replacement. The mileage could be better, but I am really happy with it

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  I love my Magnum - 2006 Dodge Magnum
  By Step Tyner - August 10 - 3:13 pm

  Aside from rather poor rear quarter visibility, that impossible-not-to- damage-while-parking lower front clip, and a seeming inability to "memorize" my garage door opener code, the car has been entirely trouble free. The concept is a superb one. Who says station wagons have to be snails? The interior cargo space includes handy grocery racks and a host of fascinating little compartments and such. And, while the interior decor is a bit Spartan, the seats are comfortable and all the controls are conveniently placed.

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  Nice ride - 2008 Dodge Avenger
  By JMM - August 9 - 9:06 pm

  Just bought this car and couldnt be happier. Did quite a bit of shopping and comparing before I purchaed it. Looked at the Caliber hard too since its the same platform. Handles great, very quick although slightly doggish when the air is blasting 0-40. The transaxle shifting is very nice and it looks great. Gas mileage on the first tank was around 25.

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  Joseph Kirane owner - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By joseph kirane - August 9 - 10:18 am

  This vehicle was a dealers when we purchased. We liked due to the room and durability of the seats. It has a smooth ride. Several months ago we were away from home when the car would not start due to something with the key. The vehicle would not start and had to be towed back to the dealership. Also the ABS light came on at 53,000 miles and needed to be replaced at $600 job by the dealer. Keys are $140 to replace and not dependable. The newer computer system they said is in the vehicle is a poor system and can cause these things to happen when there is actually nothing wrong. Too expensive to replace.

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  srt!!! - 2016 Dodge Charger
  By Gary Lightfoot - August 8 - 10:02 pm

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  Digging the Durango - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By Dodge Fan - August 8 - 4:04 pm

  Superb vehicle! Leaps and bounds ahead of the previous style Durango. Hemi has everything you could want in a motor, cant complain about the gas mileage. It was posted on the sticker and was well known when it was rolled out. You cant expect 335 hp in a big SUV to compare to a Ford Escape in terms of mileage. Ride is smooth, handling is precise. Extremely quiet even at highway speeds. Could be more leg room in the 2nd row. Leather seats are high quality and heated seats are quick to warm. The transmission is slow to engage going from reverse to drive. Bad visibility looking over you shoulder due to the pillar being in the way. Good fit and finish, though glove box is too small.

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  Im not really sold, though this was a big truck - 2016 Dodge Durango
  By stevefromtheburbs - August 8 - 2:37 pm

  I had this for a week, while my car was in the shop. I liked many aspects of this, and many I did not. Ill try to be fair about both sides. The goods are: The look is awesome, Dodge has it going on. From the retro squared boxy design, to the LED running lights, to the rear lights on the tailgate, to the height, it is all super good. The car is heavy, and feels like it is a tank, so you feel confident about driving and not feeling like you will get blown around in the wind. The leather seats are super sweet, but getting in and out of them requires patience, and some pain. The equipment level is good for the price. The price is $42K, but for what you get, in todays market, is about average, or slightly above average. The headlights and driving lights on together give you a great view. The bads are: This thing does not want to stop....it is a beast and will require some pedal effort to get it to stop. The getting in and out will hurt you as the large plastic pieces on the sides of the seat snag you and it hurts....it is too big to sit over or down into...so you have to climb in and as you do, you will get hurt. Gas mileage was in the 14-15 range. The 3rd row seats are for kids...but nice to have. The shifting at times is horrendous, banging around like it is hunting for a good gear.....and the auto start/stop thing is nothing but annoying for the little bit of gas you might have saved. The interior lights are not LED - which is crazy because on our Dodge Journey SXT plus, they were all LEDs inside. For $42K, you have to have at least what the Journey is offering, right? Not in this case. The front bumper rides very low to the ground and wants to scrape all the curbs as you pull into a parking spot. It was a great ride, but I was happy to turn it back in at the end of a week. I had put about 500 miles on it and I was not feeling like I wanted to go buy one. You should rent for a week before buying to see that it is worth the steep price for what you get. I loved the storage on this thing, but you might realize you dont need anything this big and expensive.