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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  The Dodge Caliber - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By The Man - February 2 - 8:16 pm

  It is such a fun car. I love being in it with my Sirius satellite radio just listening to some old school rap. I have $100,000-200,000 dollar vehicles turning their heads and trying to figure out what the heck I am driving, and in my city no one really turns their head for a Mercedes or BMW because they are everywhere. A $23,000 dollar car can get them to turn if it is hooked up right.

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  Ram On!!!! - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By jim - February 2 - 6:46 pm

  Have owned 25 trucks in past 20 years...Dodge has done it...Best truck Ive ever owned...Get one Today.

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  Freeway Cruise - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By sugareasy6 - January 27 - 9:50 am

  I drive many new cars. Dodge was reliable in that there was always wind noise, excessive road noise, steering wobble and generally less control that one would want. The Magnum RT HEMI is an entire different machine. The undesireable noises have been handled to a large degree. The winner is the front suspension, wheel/tire size and the star is the Hemi Engines performance. The vehicle response is almost to much. Acceleration is great and the RWD makes good use of all the power. Sudden power spurts at freeway speeds for lane change ie passing, on off ramp performance and emergency deceleration are all outstanding. Ists hard to find a dealership that has one in stock and most dealers

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  Great price, quality ratio - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By Tom - January 26 - 3:13 pm

  Traded a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. My wife and I could not be happier at this point. The car has a lot to offer for the price. It handles well and gets 25 to 26 honest mpg. at 78 to 80 mph (checked 3 times). At 70 it gets 30 plus mpg. Around town it gets 25 mpg. It needs more pick up from 0 to 40 but it can cruise along at 90. I suggest a 2.4 that gets 185 horses - but still gets good milleage. This is the first 4 cylinder I have ever had. Im impressed. Sunroof and other options are really enjoyable. Inside is "plasticy," but the price is right. It handles better in high winds and over rail road tracks at higher speeds than my friends 4cyl camry.

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  Like this Ride - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By EzRider - January 26 - 2:00 am

  This is not my 1st SUV. This vehicle has a very responsive V8 and is a rear wheel drive that is made and designed to pull a trailer, haul passengers, and carry cargo. This SUV does what it was designed to do very competently with a very solid feel. I have pulled a 3200lb trailer with this SUV and was very pleased with the way it handled. This is NOT a small SUV, but a mid-size that competes very well with its larger rivals.

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  99 SE Sport - 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By 270win - January 25 - 4:06 pm

  We skeptically purchased this van with 60K on it after years of being strictly Mercedes/Honda drivers. Im shocked at just how good the experience has been. It seems from the other reviews that you can also get bad ones too but ours has been trouble free for 30K+. We are planning to sell it and are looking at another Dodge Grand Caravan. Ours is still rattle free and drives exactly like a new van. I drove two others, an 04/05 this week with 25K and 37K and they drove just like ours. We have looked at Odysseys but have found them to be more pricey and more noisy with rattles. If you find a good one they are hard to beat!

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  Remember When - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By Freddymc - January 24 - 6:03 pm

  I was a young family man during the orginal charger days & it just wasnt what I could afford and more so it didnt fit my family needs, however if it was a 4 dr. things may have been different. Now Im 60 & still like my cars thats why I have the Daytona Charger in Go Man Go. It does what the original era did to the kids & young family men of today as well as those that were their douring those great days of the muscle car. What a great car and it has for sure the looks & the power. I suggest to everyone that is shopping for the ultimate car to test drive the Charger before you decide to buy any other car. If you choose the Charger enjoy the ride & muscle as I do every day.

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  New Hemi driver & lovin it! - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By New Hemi driver - January 20 - 2:26 pm

  I was in the market for a new car. I had my sights set on a Corvette or Lexus.I test drove the Dodge Charger and immediately fell head over heels in love with it, I purchased it the next day. It has definitely put some more pizzaz into my life. I will always have fun driving it, and it is respected on the road. Lovin the Hemi..

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  I love this car - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By daytonalover - January 16 - 12:20 am

  I just bought number 480 of 4000 top banana. I love this car. Had a Firebird that someone was kind enough to rear end and total. Best replacemant I could have gotten. The car is quick, comfortable, and a head turner. If I had the decision to make again, Id pick the same car.

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  SRT-4 - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Ryan Chorzempa - January 8 - 8:33 pm

  The raw amount of power this vehicle has in its small package is simply awesome. Never have I seen a stock torque curve in a car for around $20,000 like this one, and the upgrade options for the SRT-4 are also amazing. Consumers will love the fact that Mopar (Daimler-Chrysler parts division) produces factory upgrade kits for the vehicle. And in regards to the ever important fuel economy, you cannot beat a turbo I-4: Keep the vehicle out of boost when you are trying to conserve fuel and mash the throttle when you want to roast your tires. Simply put, this is the best car for its price.