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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  WOW!!!! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By JAR731 - April 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the coolest car that I have ever owned (29 at last count). This car turns heads everywhere I go and people come up to me where ever I stop to tell me how much they like it.

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  Fun, fun, fun - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By Big Daddy O - April 20 - 10:00 am

  Short of a big block hotrod, nothing is more fun to drive than the Magnum RT. Its fast & corners well. But the main thing is it looks cool going anywhere, even to fill it up with groceries. I have never owned or even seen a car that everyone, from 17 year old guys to 60 year old ladies, love. I bought it for my wife, but I cant stop driving it.

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  Girls like torque too! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By Hemi Girl - April 20 - 10:00 am

  My previous experience with a V-8 4 door was my husbands Impala SS. We both agree the Magnum is superior across the board. The HEMI rocks, and the suspension handles that power like a dream. I cant believe the acceleration of this car. Its quite comfortable, the stereo is good, and I love the nav system. Styling is outstanding. Every where I go, people stop me and ask me about the car. The few cars that catch me on the highway, slow down to check it out as they go by. Leg room is great in both seats and I still have ample room for cargo in the back. I love blowing the doors off my neighbors BMW 325I. European performance at American prices.

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  O HEMI..........! - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By O Hemi - April 20 - 10:00 am

  Test drove the RT in May... I was consumed. Read the brochure cover to cover and memorized everything. Factory ordered in June... due to the 300C, Magnums were backed up. Our dealer traded with a dealer out of Oregon so we could get it in time for our road trip to California! We traded a Ford Windstar for this and the Magnum RT is 10 times more comfortable than it was! My wife is 55" & I am 62" and we are both are at ease behind the wheel! Merge is no longer a word in our vocabulary!

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  Disappointed with quality problems - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By richard primton - April 20 - 10:00 am

  It happened again at 831 miles, there was a strange chirriping sound coming from the transmission, and one of the power door locks (rear left) doesnt unlock. Ive taken it back to the dealer, theyve claimed the problems been fixed, but the chirriping sound is still there. At 1,208 miles, Im hearing three rattles, one from inside my door panel, another from the dashboard, and another from the back near the left tailgate.

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  Screwed? - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By Norris Leach - April 20 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very good to drive.Handles well in traffic and seems to have power enough for city driving.Very comfortable and handles six passengers with ease.Visibility is good with pick-up style rear view mirrors.The one thing I do not like is the Mitsubishi 4 cyl.Quiet on the road,but at low speed I can hear rumbles of bearings it seems.

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  too many problems - 1999 Dodge Durango
  By ke - April 20 - 2:00 am

  Ive had many problems. Knocking/horrible pinging first 18,000 miles until manufacturer came up with a fix, needed ball joints at 35,000 mi., new heater core at 50,000. Transmission leak since before warranty was up-- had it in for repair three times but they can find it, yet my oil changing store sure can! The car is beginning to have squeaks and rattles at 50,000. It is slow and lumbering and gets very poor gas mileage (10 mpg)

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  Owner - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Patricia Fleischhaue - April 18 - 7:50 am

  I love driving my Journey. I like the idea that you have the feeling of a larger vehicle in a crossover. The interior is very convenient in many ways. My only complaint is that for a 6 cyl I do not get good gas mileage. I am getting only 10.4 to 11.1mpg on local traveling. I get the same mileage as on my 8 cyl Tahoe which is a much bigger vehicle. After reading all the other reviews I do not understand why I am getting so low mileage. On a longer trip I only get 14mpg. I truly hope this improves because I would highly recommend this vehicle to others if it was not for that one complaint.

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  IRON HORSE - 1993 Dodge Dakota
  By MOE PAR - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck NEW in 1993 and have owned it ever since. This Dakota is powerful, fun to drive and comfortable. The drivers seat is without a doubt the most comfortable seat(or chair) I own. I once drove this truck virtually non-stop from Taos New Mexico to my home in north Texas and I was pain-free & comfortable all the way (I have back problems). The Dakota has a deep throaty sound and has always had all the POWER I ever needed. About a year and a half into ownership, the rear end went out. The dealership replaced the rear end and U-joints---no charge. This is a GREAT TRUCK!

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  Grand Caravan overall review - 1997 Dodge Ram Van
  By Phil Balyeat - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Just got new Michelein tires and paid $277 to stop a couple of little oil drips under van.Otherwise this has been a very reliable vehicle to drive.