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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  Solar Yellow to my Eyes - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By sportster97 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Purchased 2003, 11 miles, Solar Yellow SXT 5spd at invoice and revieved what I wanted on trade-in. I just cant keep my eyes of the Solar Yellow paint. Interstate driving was smooth and enjoyable at 75mph. Stock stereo decent. Slate interior attractive. I found seats to be comfortable, and plenty of places to store items. Easy access in & out of the back seats. Plenty of trunk space. Keyless entry nice bonus. Will use Royal Purple synthetic oil @ 3000 miles to add years to engines life. Two thumbs up from me. :)

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  whine in drive train - 2002 Dodge Stratus
  By janjohn - September 15 - 2:00 am

  has a disturbing high pitched drive train whine between 60 -70 mph. Have to turn on radio or open window to drown it out. Took it to dealer and they said all the 4sp od do it. Not satisfied with that and am going to pursue it.

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  Solid Car, but will it last? - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By Otis Chance - September 14 - 5:23 am

  This is my first Dodge, and I am still a bit nervous if this car will last. So far, so good. Just call me paranoid. This car has a lot of room and a very smooth ride. Already had to take it in for Airbag light and now have a slight pop in the dash. No biggie, just annoying. The "trunk" area is kinda cheap, but my last car was a 323 Wagon, so I am getting used to driving an American car again. Overall, very happy as long as it last four years.

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  even some great cars have flaws - 1997 Dodge Stratus
  By dodgeguy - September 14 - 2:00 am

  My 1997 Dodge Stratus with a 2.4L engine with DOHC runs pretty well. The problems were it idles too high and the head gasket that everyone has a problem with. The interior is the most comfortable than any car leather or not. The sound system is the best out of the dealership. Acceleration is not bad considering that it is a 4 cylinder. The body durabilty is amazing and safe. I recently hit a deer going about 55 mph and hit it on the front left corner. Looking at the aftermath the car I was shocked to see that all that was wrong was a broken headlight and the fender and hood were bent a little bit.

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  Electrical! - 2000 Dodge Caravan
  By cjc - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Multiple problems with electrical systems, which adds up to a large amount of money. Constantly had transmission problems. I would not recommend this vehicle. They do not hold their value at all, and with my experience with Dodge products, they are not reliable. I will never buy another Dodge or Chrysler product. In my case, three times is not a charm.

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  hustlers review - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By hustler - September 14 - 2:00 am

  i was a devoted pontiac man but after looking and then test driving i had to have more. so i bought it and i believe it was the best decision i have made in a while. i love me car.

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  CARAVAN RATING - 2003 Dodge Caravan
  By MICHELE STASKEL - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I OWN THE CARAVAN FOR ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 MONTHS. SO FAR SO GOOD. WE ORIGINALLY WERE TO PURCHASE AN SUV, BUT REALIZED IT WOULD NOT FIT OUR NEEDS HAVING TWO KIDS AND TAKING FRIENDS WOULD NOT BE AS EASY. WE FEEL IT IS FUN TO DRIVE AND THE EXTRA SPACE OVER A CAR IS GREAT. VERY HAPPY WITH OUR PURCHASE.

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  Still Favorite - 2001 Dodge Durango
  By LarsTalon - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Have owned 4WD trucks and SUVs since 1956 and this is my favorite stock one. The 2003 (last) New England Winter didnt slow it down, neither did my two-way trip across the US on I-90 in January. Its tough enough to handle medium intensity offroading, unaided. And it handles remarkably well on the highway, stable even at extreme speeds. Its a good ride.

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  2003 Black Durango - 2003 Dodge Durango
  By jevener - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I have just bought my Durango a few weeks ago. I have had nothing but fun driving it. The very next day after buying the Durango, I drove from New Jersey to Ohio. Which is not an easy drive. Going up and down through the mountains. The V-8 just purred and kept chugging up the road. The only thing bad was the chugging chugged down a lot of fuel. But all and all it is a very nice and enjoyable ride.

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  Land Yatch - 1996 Dodge Ram Wagon
  By D. I. Waring - September 13 - 5:30 am

  Dodge Vans have always had very powerful, very dependable engines; so the passing power in my 360 equipped version while impressive (6000 Lb van) is not surprising; handles very well too! What is surprising is the interior arrangements and use of space. someone finally got it right. ususally I had to choose between large center console convenience (Ford) or ample foot space/ leg room (all others). Now Dodge has them both! and i just love the table top that flips out with an extension between drivier and passenger; plus cup holders that will easily hold a super gulp or 1 liter bottle, wow!! the outward visibility is excellent through very large windows, yet deep tinting allows for privacy.