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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  Great Little SUV - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By clarcher - May 24 - 4:50 am

  I love this little car (SUV) I have only owned it for about a month, but the gas mileage is great for this size car, I am getting 30 mpg and that is country/city driving, it should ever be better on the interstate, plenty of room for 4 grown adults or 2 adults and 3 children. I love the color it is gold it does not show dirt. I have the SE so the music system is not that great, and I do love to listen to the radio, maybe I can get it changed soon. It is a very stylish little car, it looks like a little SUV. Do not know how it handles in the snow, but it handles in the rain well. Has a few blind spots I will have to get use too. All in All I LOVE IT.

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  Unreliable long-term - 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By The Whites - May 23 - 8:03 pm

  Looking to buy a minivan (Not Dodge!!!!) Kept current Caravan in excellent condition & purchased ext. warranty. Transmission blew @ 76,000 miles (- $2600); A/C compressor & evaporator went at 102,000 miles (-$2700) of course after attaining full "paid off" ownership. Seemed like a "timed" bomb. Total cost of 7-yr old van after initial investment = $27,000. Not reliable for long-term ownership. Dodge servicing in South FL. (used several) was not satisfactory as well.

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  1997 Dodge Gr. Caravan - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By thehurd - May 23 - 10:00 am

  We have driven Dodge/Plymouth vans like this for years, and this was our third, used with 78,000 mi when we got it. Though older models had transmission troubles, we had none. Now I am selling as family is downsizing with 2 college students. Carried cargo, kids and mixes of both.

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  Long distance driving only - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By ArtNickel - May 22 - 5:09 pm

  This is the second Intrepid weve had and will buy another in the future unless Dodge comes up with a more comfortable, better driving car with better performance. We use the car for long distance trips (over 2 hours) because I have ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spinal and large joint arthritis. It has been driven in the Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee mountains and in Florida with equal ease and enjoyment.

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  Fun car - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By joan thompkins - May 22 - 8:30 am

  I love this car. It is easy to drive has excellent road handling. I spend about $30 every 2 weeks to fill it up and I drive about 700 miles a month. The bigger tires make it easy to drive in the rain and the brakes dont sqeak like the Neon I had before did. It has a great stereo system in it and the cooler in the glove box is the only thing I think is a gimmick. The cans or bottles have to be ice cold to put in there and in the winter it will not work because you have to have the A/C on to use it. I am really pleased with this car and would recommend anyone to buy one.

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  Durango, Go, Go... - 2006 Dodge Durango
  By Tony Diaz - May 22 - 7:04 am

  I just changed my 2002 Mercedes C32 AMG (349 HP) for a 2006 Durango Limited with the HEMI Magnum engine. To be honest, I feel better now than before. Performance or comfort are just as good, except when cornering. The Alpine sound system in then Durango sounds better, to me than the BOSE system in the MB. The controls on the steering wheel are better than in the MB. The seats are just as nice, but the Hemi, WOW! I could not imagine its power until now. Jumping on the gas pedal, although fatal to your budget, is beneficial to the heart--feeling those 325 horse exploding out through them rear tires, just makes your heart pump all that fat out of your arteries.

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  Classy Ride - 2006 Dodge Stratus
  By Carolyn - May 21 - 4:06 am

  My Dodge Stratus is a very classy looking car. I like the body style and the way it handles. Im very happy with it.

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  Its Used - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Casie - May 20 - 12:31 pm

  This car seems to be lacking serious horsepower. Or at least mine is. I have the worst gas mileage in the history of 4 cylinders (5spd to boot) Approx 16 mpg. Also it has a major problem with the window sealing. I have a major leakage. Anytime it rains it leaks. If I am driving I hear a lot of air leaking through. But what can I say, its used.

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  The Right Truck - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By Jake - May 20 - 9:40 am

  This is a great truck. It is the right size and power level. The interior is well thought out and is welcoming without detracting from the "truck- ness." The 2005s have a better warranty and are identical mechanically and almost identical visually. I have only had this truck for 1600 miles (about 2 1/2 months) and aside from a catalytic convertor problem that was promptly addressed it has been a strong runner. I was wanting a full-size but the gas on those is horrible and for all practical purposes, this truck can tow and haul the same as them (unless you have a massive boat or something at which point you would probably get a deisel) and isnt underpowered like the other midsize trucks.

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  Fun to Drive - even in the desert! - 1992 Dodge Stealth
  By Meghan - May 20 - 7:50 am

  I bought my RT used in Kuwait - where a good cooling system is imperative. Has proven to be excellent. The car is the only Stealth turbo in the country and still going strong after all these years. People dont know what it is! The dealership never brought the Stealth to Kuwait, so parts are a nightmare here.