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:

• 

  I wish it were better built - 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By tebyerly - May 20 - 10:00 am

  We have a 5 year-old Dodge Grand Caravan SE. I like the size, design and perfomance of the vehicle. I wish it were built better and more reliable. Since the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty expired, we have paid for approximately $4,000 of repair bills. And that doesnt include the transmission which I am sure will go any day. Weve had to fix a very costly engine gasket oil leak, have the oil pan replaced, replaced the air conditioner evaporator coil and condenser, the belt tensioner, 2 batteries, front brakes and various other electrical and mechanical items. We are now doing what we should have done years ago. We are buying a Honda Odessey.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By Lela - May 20 - 10:00 am

  My Dodge Neon is my first new car. I must say, I love it. The sound system is great, ask for the chromed tires!! As a teenager, I fully enjoy this car, its so much fun to drive, and its affordable! Way to go Dodge!

• 

  AN AQUIRED TASTE - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By DOUGNOSSER - May 20 - 10:00 am

  After driving the car now for a month, It still surprises me with its power and roadhandling capability. Turbo lag is non-existant and the car never stops pulling.

• 

  Simply Grand Caravan - 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By marycc6 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I love the Dodge Grand Caravan. It is easy to handle, very comfortable and I can easily get five loud eight year olds or just one squirmy two year old into it. The ride is smooth, the pick up is great, and the interior is sleek and convenient.

• 

  Very comfortable cruiser - 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By homerkc - May 20 - 8:01 am

  Weve had the SXT van for a month, incl. one 2000 mi. trip, and it is great! We saw 28mpg on the highway (both by the dash display and by calculation at fill-up), 18-20 in town. For a van with the comfort and flexible space it offers, the mileage is terrific. Its also nice to drive; not too floaty over bumps, good steering feel. And the power from the pentastar engine is strong. All in all, Id buy another without question.

• 

  Simply Awesome - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By JB - May 19 - 8:26 pm

  After driving SUVs for years. I checked out some cars. I needed a larger car with a good backseat. Ruled out the Mustang GT. The 1 I kept looking at was the new Charger RT. Only thing I didnt care for was the standard leather interior. But, I didnt want the stripes on the Daytona. Once I saw an RT with the Road & Track Pkg, I knew that was the car I wanted. Love the interior & all the features of the new Charger. Great styling, power & handling. It is a solid built car. Doesnt have the cheap plastic interior like a lot of vehicles. After added few accessories I couldnt be happier. Interested in this size car, you NEED to check it out!

• 

  Why I like my Stratus - 2004 Dodge Stratus
  By KAL246 - May 19 - 2:45 pm

  It is better then my old truck. I bought it because my truck was costing me an arm and leg. I am happy with it thus far. I like the way it drives. Its very comfortable and easy to drive. I could get in my car and drive for hours and still be comfortable in it.

• 

  SRT4 = Bang for your Buck!! - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By ATCDUDE - May 18 - 11:39 pm

  I was sceptical at first, being a previous Subaru owner. But, I purchased this car upon first release in Florida April 2003. This is by far the best "Bang for your Buck" of any car I can think of in terms of what you get in performance. I only have 9,200 miles in two years of ownership and smile everytime I step into the cockpit of this little rocket. Gas mileage is impecable considering the level of performance in this class. When easy commutting or long distance traveling, I ger 23 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Of course with a heavy foot, these numbers decrease significantly. I highly recommend the SRT4 to anyone looking for sports car performance package on a budget.

• 

  Good Value - 2005 Dodge Stratus
  By Ken - May 18 - 8:56 pm

  Overall, its a really good value. I always wanted something sporty, but also practical. It has plenty space at the back seats and trunk. Handling is amazing. I do not feel the speed at all and its very confident at high speeds.

• 

  Good little reliable car - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Elisa - May 18 - 5:52 am

  I bought my Neon in 12/2000 and it has always been a great little car for the money. It does have its problems but what car doesnt? Some notable ones were: the head gasket blew at 43,000 miles. The air conditioner worked great until 60,000. The transmission needed replacement at 115,000. Cosmetically, the paint seems to be a big problem with Neons, as it starts to peel and chip around 80,000 miles. It has always been very reliable for me- always starts when you need it to. The ride is a little noisy as the windows sometimes dont seal properly. The seats are relatively comfortable. The only complaint I have is cruise control is not standard. I would recommend the Neon for a 1st car or single person/couple.