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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  I love it, but... - 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Quinn - September 9 - 10:06 am

  This is the first vehicle Ive purchased. I waited a long time for it! All was beautiful until the drivers side sliding door opened while I was driving at 40 mph! I think it may have been a factory defect. Then later the door would NOT open when I was parked! Smooth ride, Squeaky brakes, but a smooth ride! Extremely comfortable!

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  Not just a neon - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By kayc - September 8 - 10:00 am

  If your are in the market for a perfomance car you dont wanna miss the srt4.Most power youll find for 20k.Ive had mine for four months and I love it.

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  Excellent SUV - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By Swimbuddy - September 8 - 10:00 am

  After lots of research, just bought LTD w/Hemi engine. Great styling, the ride is better than I expected (even my wife is impressed)and I do catch people looking at it. We traded an Exped. and considered an Explorer, but the Durango is definitely the better choice. I think the resale will be good once it becomes established in the market.

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  Good for speed - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By Colon - September 7 - 11:40 pm

  Nice to drive, gas is trucks best friend, your enemy. Roomy with lots of cargo space.

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  Excellent vehicle - 2005 Dodge Durango
  By krd - September 7 - 3:33 pm

  I had owned a 2000 Durango and liked it very much. The only thing that I felt it needed was a smoother ride. Well all I needed to do was drive a new Durango and I was sold. What a sweet ride this truck has...more like a car then a truck. Great handling and it feels very nimble and quick. Didn’t get the hemi engine but am very satisfied with the 4.7... it is a mighty fine engine! Plenty of get up and go for me and since I don’t tow it is all the engine I need. Yes, like my other Durango the gas mileage could be better but I knew that buying an SUV. The interior is comfortable with excellent instrumentation. Love the way the gauges light at night; easy on the eyes! Wonderful vehicle!

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  Better every year - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By Dave - September 7 - 3:31 pm

  This is my 3rd Neon. Previously owned was a 95 sedan and 97 coupe. My excellent owners experience with them in the past prompted me to buy this 03 SXT and Im glad I did. For 38,000+ miles its been near flawless. The only problems were the result of a minor accident and the subsequent improper repairs by the body shop which have since been corrected. The only option my car does not have is the engine block heater...seriously. The only option I required was ABS as its a VAST improvement over the standard non-ABS brakes. I wish it had a 5 speed for a little better performance but the new 4 speed auto is decent and much improved over the old 3 speed. Overall, best car Ive ever owned.

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  We love it! - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By Ted Brown - September 6 - 12:44 pm

  Have owned 3 Dodge diesel pickups and was initially aprehensive about downsizing. I should not have been! This truck is as smooth and quiet on the Forest Service gravel as it was when driving it home. We spent its first weekend driving around the Ouachita Mountains in spite of the $3.00 per gal gas prices. Its that much fun! We will be towing our 17 travel trailer so we purchased the 4.7 L V-8 with 5 speed automatic and 3.55 rear axle. Although I want to put a few more miles on the truck before towing, there is no question that it will do a great job. Can recommend without hesitation. I am a recently retired mechanical and structural engineer and am pretty "picky". We love it!

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  Piece of Junk - 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By nick7 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  We have 114000 miles in our 98 Dodge Grand Caravan SE. First of all the 3.0 V6 is very slow. When I drive it, I have trouble keeping up with the flow of traffic. Around the 110000 mile mark we started having all these problems. First of all, we noticed that theres a putt-putt sound when you first start accelerating (acceleration hesitates) after you start the van up. The 4 speed auto shifts were taking forever. We were up at 4000 rpms hitting the gas normally before it shifted. Then the brakes started sweaking. We got some of these problems fixed at the dealer but the putt-putt and longer shifting(slightly improved)were still there.

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  Good, but not great - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By Derden - September 6 - 1:55 am

  If I had to buy a vehicle over again, this would not be the one, even if gas prices were not so high. It was a good vehicle, but only for the first couple of weeks I had it. I spend an averge of $600 dollars a month on a vehicle that I dont care about.

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  Durango, Fuelish Fun - 2006 Dodge Durango
  By Mel Green - September 6 - 1:49 am

  I love this vehicle, fun to drive,handles and drives like no other truck, tight and responsive, and the ride is oh so smooth. Lets not forget that Hemi it,s a gotta have, The interior a little plain could use more eh..style? but its nicely put together and very functional. Exterior nice all around, you learn to love the pinched snout (thats where the Hemi is) 2007 will bring a new nose. Now its Achilles heel. Gas mileage window sticker 13 city 18 hwy. My avg 12.2 cty 21 hwy now i gotta say the right foot is a little Hemi happy. In these $3.00 bucks plus fuel days I sometimes yearn for a car again. But, it is a truck, and it sucks fuel like one. would I recommend it ? Yes