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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  Poorly designed. - 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By wstraube - February 22 - 12:22 pm

  After having a 2000 Grand Caravan Sport this 07 SXT was a big let down. I would have thought since Daimler-Benz AG merged with Chrysler in 1998 they would have produced a higher quality vehicle. Instead they cut corners everywhere they could and made in my opinion a cheeper vehicle. Where do I start? The only reason I had to get rid of my 2000 is that the shock towers were starting to rust. A problem Chrysler knew they had but didnÂ’t do anything about. It was a safety issue. But I almost got 200,000 miles out of it. I had a little rust to fix around the drivers side wheel well. Other than that it was pretty reliable. The 07 with a little over 100,000 miles started

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  Dont Buy - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Bigguy - February 14 - 11:20 am

  Had wiring harness done. Noise when turning left. Paint blistering and peeling. And Chrysler Canada would do nothing

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  Poor service - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By rose - February 4 - 7:13 am

  We bought this car because of the size and as a winter driver thought it would be safer than the PT Cruiser I had previously. After having the car a month I had to have the front end worked on. At 24,000 miles I have been told I have to replace all 4 tires as the make is not a "good tire for the car." 18 inch tires are $200 each. Also I purchased the extended service for oil changes for the life time of the car and the dealer has gone out of service. Dodge will not honor the contract. My review is: the car is a waste of good money and as a Dodge product I find it sadly lacking in comfort, gas mileage and most of all service through the Dodge dealers. SAD CAR!

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  Frustrated - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Frustrated - February 1 - 5:06 am

  We bought our first car the day before Mothers Day. The next day, while driving, the car started smoking and the inside filled up with smoke. The car was leaking something from below which was actually dripping in little fire balls. The car went back the next day. They said it was a bad axle seal and that the company wants them to replace the part not just the seal b/c something may not be right with the whole part. Long story short, some hot words from my husband the manager found us a new car. Picked it up on Tues, brought it back Wed. There is a short somewhere preventing the controls on the steering wheel, horn, interior lights from working. So two cars in a week, both returned.

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  From Hell - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By AHHHHHHHHHH - January 26 - 12:56 am

  Ive leased a Grand Caravan a Pacifica a Durango a Town and Country and now this and by far the last 5 years have been great but this car is from HELL The AWD coolant case broke and spilled all over my driveway leaking toxic fluid everywere My MYGIG on top of the dash came apart and short circuted causing a minor fire! After backing into a pole in Spokane [my MYGIG is broken] it caused $7000.00 and the dealer is stupid and saying my backup camera is working and I TORE THE WHOLE ______ UNIT APART!!!! Cant through Chrysler without getting a automated message saying Get Lost! THIS IS MY LAST CHRYSLER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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  Dodge the dart! - 2016 Dodge Dart
  By Jason Driver - January 21 - 12:06 pm

  This must be the most uncomfortable rental I have ever been handed the keys to! Had to have the wife drive couldnt get comfortable, bad back. Tried a pillow didnt help. Junk materials, headrest constantly pushes your head forward, isnt adjustable. Removed it and tossed it in the trunk. No wonder these POSs are just 16K. Gas millage is decent but it lacks any kind of wow. Youd be better off with a used make from a Japanese brand, which is killer to say because Im a Ford kind of guy! Haha, I wouldnt keep this if they gave it to me Id trade it in right away. If your renting and are over 55 150 pounds youll feel squashed ! Ask for another car or an upgrade because only short people would feel at home.