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:

• 

  piece of crap - 2003 Dodge Viper
  By billlotida - October 5 - 2:00 am

  In the beginning I thought buying the viper is such a nice car, I felt so special driving it. That is until I was on date with my girlfriend when it stalled. We were stuck in the middle of nowhere for hours. The 24 roadside assistance they promised us was of no help the mechanic they sent us did not know anything.

• 

  no power and bad gas milage - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By eric doukas - October 5 - 2:00 am

  not very happy with this truck wish i never bought it

• 

  A GREAT CAR - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By 2000RT1 - October 4 - 7:56 am

  The 2006 Dodge Charger R/T is a powerfull car with a muscular look. It looks a lot better in person than in photographs. It has an adequate trunk and sits 4 adults very comfortably. A smooth ride and more than enough power for anyone.

• 

  Not what I expected - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By Barb - October 4 - 5:43 am

  Love the way it looks, but it stops there. Since I bought this SUV it has been in the shop 13 times and Im taking it back again. ABS lights have been on forever they cant seem to fix it. All sensors have been replaced, and modules and bearings and rear axle a new electrical harness, radio and I caould go on and on. This is a nightmare. The lemon law is gonna work for me on this one. Dont buy it. Theres no pick up and go and no room for feet in floor board. Also bad blind spot. Noisy and engine tics and runs rough. Also 2 new brains, Im sure Im forgetting something.

• 

  Bought a minivan for my puppy dogs - 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By MIchelle Crist - October 3 - 8:16 am

  People think Im crazy for purchasing a minivan to tote my dogs around, but it was the best of all options. Low enough that they can get in and out as they grow older. Room enough that my German Shepherd is not slouching, or crammed in the back set. its perfect. I put the 2nd row of Stow & Go seating down, dog beds on the floor, and we are ready to go.

• 

  This car is SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 1994 Dodge Shadow
  By alice - October 3 - 2:00 am

  This is so much beter than the Dodge Neon, the Dodge Omni glh, but the Ford thunderbird is also sweet.

• 

  Rebuild in progress... - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By Billl - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Off to a bad start with transmission replacments. We love the car. 30mpg on hwy. 207,000 currently. We now have this car dealer serviced. Its paid forhas good trans. now, new steering rack.Headlight design dreadful-replaced with newly designed ($$$). Maintain this car like you should any car and you WILL get 250000+ miles out of it.NOTE: Mopar parts are best for this car. Go the cheap route and youll regret it - but there is nothing wrong with that. Dealer knows the car intimately (gave us some free svc at 200K.

• 

  Sleek, stylish, big can be cool, too - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By emurray - October 3 - 2:00 am

  After bringing it home, discovered auto tranny leak from hose fitting. Repaired under warranty at selling dealer - bad experience. Am now having fun driving to work, hauling the family around and on road trips. The factory stereo in the ES is pretty close to all youll ever need. Not happy with the stingy amount of leather - trimmed seats. Trunk space is unparalleled for a full-size. Replace air filter and muffler/resonator and youll have loads of HP!

• 

  Viper SRT - 2003 Dodge Viper
  By ViperSRT - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle not built yet. Opinions based on drive eval of a test vehicle. Currently own a 1995 RT/10 and the SRT- 10 is a major improvement for everything except exterior performance (impossible to improve on the original).

• 

  Buy an SUV skip the mini van - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By Brynn - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought the van because of the very low price, and room. Its quite comfortable, I needed a car to get me to and from work that is comfy and roomy, and thats what I got. I have had problems w/ dodge cars in the past though, so I am still leary about the van, My alternator went out on my dodge stratus at 40,000 miles and it costed 900 buck to fix, what a rip off, plus a lot of dodge engine parts, you can only buy at dodge, so you are basically stuck w/ buying them from the dealer at outrageous prices. Im kicking myself for not buying an SUV instead, I am actually trading the van in for a durango in a few weeks, much more useable for living in Washington state.