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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  My rt - 2017 Dodge Charger
  By Luis - June 21 - 9:08 pm

  Pure fun to drive need to drive more

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  Love this car! - 2006 Dodge Magnum
  By John - June 19 - 10:56 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive and gets comments from young an old alike. Sure it looks a bit strange, but that is part of its appeal. It is very comfortable on the road and extremely quiet

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  A little noisy - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By SALESMAN - June 18 - 11:06 pm

  Love the car very easy to get in and out of. I get window sticker mileage 26-30 mpg. A little noisy at high speeds. Sits nice and high for a small car.

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  Great inexpensive car - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By jcompos - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car for 3 weeks, but Im already in love with it. Its a great, sporty little car. When the Neons first came out, I thought they were ugly and didnt have any pep to them. Well, Im wrong. They have changed the look of the car and they have more power than expected.

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  Red Charger - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By LowLou - June 12 - 5:53 am

  I use this in my job as a road car and very happy to report that after the first month it is a better ride than the 300M I was driving. The body design is very aggressive with everyone commenting on how good it looks. The Inferno Red is a great color. The seats sit very comfortably even after many hours on the road. I have the leather seats with the heated seats that really helps the lower back. The dash is very clean and functional. The interior is a two tone leather that is very nice looking. The car handles very well in all kinds of traffic. The trunk is large enough to carry luggage and my golf bag. Change the cruise control location and add compass in mirror. Great Car.

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  Best Passenger Van Out There - 1995 Dodge Ram Wagon
  By ssbndad - June 12 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I purchesed a full sized Dodge Van in 1995. I cant tell you how happy we are with that purchess. We have driven over 115000 mi without so much as a hiccup. We cahnge the oil regurally and get most of the required serviceings There is not so much as a flake of rust and the engine and drive train still look brand new. I firmly believe this vechical will be running long after I go to meet my maker. Thanks Dodge.

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  this car is nice - 2004 Dodge Stratus
  By 4G64LOVER - June 12 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS A GREAT CAR. THE HANDLE IS VERY SMOOTH. THE RIDE NOISE IS QUEIT. IT ALSO HAS GOOD ACCELARATION. THIS CAR IS NICE. A VERY SLEPT ON CAR.

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  Hats off to Dodge for the 05 Durango - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By GeneF - June 11 - 5:03 am

  After driving a 2003 Explorer for the past two years, the Durango is a dream vehicle. There is no comparison in the engine power, the Hemi is unsurpassed, and the quality and comfort of the interior is absolutly superior to Explorer. Im averaging 17.4 mi per gallon which is the same as the lesser engine in the Explorer. I took a real hit on the trade for the Explorer, but it was well worth it. You must test drive the 05 Durango with 5.7L Hemi.

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  Love at first sight - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By Catherine - June 10 - 4:26 am

  I was shopping for a replacement for my 92 Trooper and thought I would have to settle for a so-so small size SUV to get something affordable. I chanced on the Magnum and that was all she wrote. This car has head turning styling and is great fun to drive. The 3.5L engine has plenty of oomph for me and it handles as nimbly as a sportscar. The ride feels like a European touring car. It looks a lot more expensive than it is and Ive gotten lots of compliments. Even my teenager thinks its way cool. My first American car ever - I just love it.

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  Survived major crash - 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Amy - June 9 - 3:10 am

  My family and I were in a very severe crash right before Christmas. We were lucky to have walked away with few injuries. The van held up immensley without flipping (when no one could believe it didnt). There was little frame damage due to the strength of the frame. The engine area recieved most of the damage and overall the vehicle held up well and is back to driving like new after a crash. I feel lucky to have been in this van.