Dodge road test reports and car reviews

Dodge Avenger 2.0 SXT diesel 2009

Like many others I was a bit put off by the many negative reviews by the press, but after looking at the alternatives I decided to bite the bullet and buy a year old Avenger. After now driving it for a year I totally love it. I get around 49mpg, which is amazing for the size of the car and the drive is very comfortable. As others have said it is a bit plasticy inside but everything is well positioned and it has so many gadgets. I got the MYGIG entertainment system and satnav which I couldn’t live without. It also has the added attraction of its looks, it stands out from the crowd and most people have to look twice at it to find out what it is. I would definitely recomend this car to others.

Responses to this review

Hi, I have problems starting the engine. Can you help? I have a 2009 Avenger SXT diesel CRD. viras55@hotmail.com Thanks - Pachier Virasami from England

Dodge Nitro SXT 3.7 V6 2008

I have been drooling over these for years and I have now taken the plunge in buying a second one to replace my Daihatsu Terios which has now reached the goodbye mileage. I went for the petrol version not because of the engine capcaity, but as it was the ONLY petrol version available and I intend to convert to LPG, as I did with my Terios. I got a stonking deal from a Citroen Dealer who took it on a part ex, one owner and very low miles. After being initially worried about the gas guzzling potential, after a drive from Bristol to Birmingham and back 192 miles I was quite surprised. The trip computer gave me an average mpg of 20.6 outbound (grrr). On return I decided to calm down and pooter back at an average 55-60 mph, the trip computer returned 33.8 mpg for the return. This shows the dramatic difference in mpg for the type of driving. The Daihatsu by comparison was very heavy on fuel for only a little 1500cc returning only around 32 mpg. Mentally I find the vehicle weird, driving it it gives a mindset of ’big truck’, yet it physically isn’t that big to look at. It sits pretty high off the ground, which may also add to this feeling. The snow plough front end also gives an appearance of bigger than it actually is. As for the ride the heated leather seats are really comfy, but over pothole smitten country lanes the suspension is pretty hard so you tend to get thrown about a bit, mind you the Daihatsu was just the same. For an auto the gear changing is like silk, no lurching or jerking at all. Road noise and wind noise are pretty much non instrusive up to about 55 mph, increasing more over this speed but definitely well below most cars I’ve driven. The steering wheel is larger than the 15" I’m used to so one handed driving doesn’t really work on roads with lots of roundabouts as the rack is not as quick ratio’d as others. On balance an effortless drive and pleasant experience...Now off to get the LPG work done before my local petrol station thinks I’ve moved in.

Dodge Caliber sxt cdi 2007

Bought new for £15,500. After one year the clutch pedal was sticking so took it to the dealer who said they couldn’t find a problem. I took it back two weeks later and  they then said they knew what the problem was and replaced a component. Three years on the passenger floor well filled up with an inch of water. I took it to the dealer who said it was due to the factory putting too much foam insulation in to car, which was blocking internal drain shoots and that’s why the rain was coming into the car. They fixed the problem only to return eight weeks later to fix it again. I had yet more problems; I took the car to the local garage and they showed me that the right hand wheel was going to come off due to a large strut /bracket broken. For the required part Dodge quoted £260. I got one from a car breakers for £60.00. When I went to collect the car they had also found the radiator was leaking and a steering rod needed replacing. In the end I got rid of the car after 55 thousand miles, I got a bad trade-in deal, but was just glad to get rid of it. My Dodge was a heap of junk. I wouldn’t buy another one. This is an honest report beware buyer!

Dodge Journey SXT Auto 2010

I bought this car new last year and have nothing but praise for it having done 14000 miles with no issues. It’s been loaded with 4 bikes, roof box, camping gear and 2 kids and toured all over the UK no problem. We all love our Dodge. Love them or hate them I suppose (marmite). Odd that only people who don’t have one seem to slag them off! I’m really gutted that I will have to trade in and buy a Jeep next time at the dealer.

Dodge Avenger CRD SXT 2008

 

I’ve had mine for 6 months now, and all I can say is, I don’t know what car the motoring press have been driving! The diesel lump pulls like a train. It handles well (there is a front strut brace available from Dodge for £30 for the 2011 Avenger that sorts the ride out). There is loads of room inside, the boot is 440 litres. I drive this car for work and do 100-200 miles a day, and always feel fresh as daisy. I have just done Austria in a day, a total of 840 miles with just one stop for diesel and a coffee and it didn’t even miss a beat! At Autobahn speeds (100+) the road noise is not intrusive. It’s not a Mondeo, and that’s the whole point, the highest spec Avenger is cheaper than the very base model Mondeo. The Interior isn’t that bad, I’ve seen worse in Nissans and the new BMW 1 series. If you want a reasonable, reliable family saloon that’s different and you don’t want to play the badge game, you could do a lot worse.

 

Dodge Journey R/T CRD 2010

Bought a 2010 RT CRD fully loaded in Deep Sea Blue with all the bells and whistles after trying every people carrier on the market in the UK, the Passat 2 Litre Diesel goes like the clappers. 2 days after we bought it we drove overland to Romania from London with most of our house stowed on board and on the roof, the ride was smooth, powerful comfortable, the DVD movie system kept our daughter occupied and my wife slept most of the way in comfort, It really is an amazing car for the money, fuel economy has to be amongst best in class with 40mpg easily achievable on a run at a steady 70mpg, although comfortable cruising at 100mph will bring that down to about 28 mpg which is still respectable. The looks are sensational, it turns heads everywhere we go, even Audi Q7 drivers give it the once over ! buy one while you still can, this car has "cult" written all over it, now that Dodge have pulled out of the UK they will be rarer than hens teeth as owners will be reluctant to part with what is undeniably the bargain automobile of the century.

Dodge Ram 3 2011

It is a very cool truck this is. I love it I think it is worth the money.

Dodge Caliber Sxt 2011

I wait for the moment to drive this everyday cause it’s a great feeling to sit behind the wheel and drive this great car.

Dodge Caliber sxt 2010

I bought this a month ago and we, I mean me and my family, love the car. Everything is very comfortable and great, the auto cruise control, the heated mirror, safety, everything is great, but I wish Dodge could make the feeling of driving, by this I mean the feel of steering between the driver and the road, much better because sometimes you feel the car is lost. Only because of this have I reduced its evaluation by one star. I love my Caliber. Thanks.

Dodge Ram Dodge Ram 1500 2010

My Dodge Ram is so great so far and really powerful. Even when towing the trailer, I feel still so powerful. I love it.

Dodge Caliber 2.0l SXT Auto 2011

We looked at the Calibers, looked again, and came to the conclusion, that you couldn’t get as much car for the same money anywere else,(do you realy want a Focus?) It’s one of those cars you either love or hate its looks. People stop me and ask ...."WHAT IS IT??" Followed by "ohh".. didn’t know they were about? It’s got a semi auto gearbox, comfortable, good ride, good load height, electric mirrors, best car stereo (Boston) I have ever heard all 438 watts of it, easy to drive, brilliant dipping rear mirror, tyre pressure monitors, fridge, loads of stuff.... even the Mrs loves it. So whats the down side? Simple really Chrysyler Dodge Jeep, have stopped importing them into the UK, as a result dealers have dried up and parts and servicing have become a bit expensive. Bit heavy on petrol and in the Good ol’ US of A and they have revamped the interior and brought things up to date and added new colours. Have a look, they’re very nice. I would buy another one, if they were about, and the really bad part? Fiat have bought CDJ, so thats not going to help things..

Dodge Ram 2010

Very strong truck, durable and good looking.

Dodge Avenger 2.0 sxt 2008

I have had mine a year now and these will only get rarer as not many for sale and Fiat/Dodge aren’t selling anymore models. The comfort is really good with supportive seats and heated leather. So many extras and if you can live with a bit of plastic here and there (this is the same for all the Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler US market) then you will have a good bargain 2nd hand. I have the 2.0 world petrol vvt engine which is actually a Mitsubishi/Hyundai development so totally reliable and strong torque in 2/3/4th gear. I get an average of 32mpg and 38-40mpg on dual carriageways. Car tax is 185g.km (£200 year) which is good for a car this size! It is a beast at nearly 5m long and nearly a foot bigger than a 3 series but is actually easy to swing about and gets in smaller spaces than you might think. I’m most impressed with the handling and ride comfort over the months as like everyone else I thought reading bad reviews it would be like riding on wooden wheels (years of Clarkson and co slating US cars), but I would say this is a nice cruising car and very easy to drive. The mygig sat nav 20gb music media dvd system is amazing with the upgraded boston audio amp and 6 large speakers the sound of bass and clarity is superb. This is all done via the touch screen (and has bass/mid/tre) hands free built in and blutooth/u connect voice control system worth getting one if you can as I know they were £1500+ extra new. Overall I was a bit cautious about buying a car no one has heard of and the bad reviews by everyone (only AA and yahoo seem to give it what it deserves), but for value for money and extras and the beast like US looks so glad I went for it. Don’t follow the sheep and be different.

Dodge Avenger CRD SXT 2008

Postives: Absolutely cracking car. Has everything, including the looks. Fantastic performance, despite being very economical. Hasn’t missed a beat since new, even in rain and snow with temepratures down to minus 18c. Appears to outperform VW’s and Audis with the same engine, which is weird. Negatives: Parking this beast can be tricky. Advice: Upload your mp3s, put some drinks in the cooler, stick the heated seats on, turn on the sat nav, hit the motoway, stick it in cruise and relax.

Dodge Caliber CRD SE 2003

I brought my Doge Caliber in September 2010 for £4,775 and to me it was worth every penny. Since I’ve had the car the only thing I’ve had to have done was a new Starter Motor, which was done under guarantee, and when you think the has done over 70,000 miles I can’t complain. And as far as Performance goes I can not knock it on long runs I am getting an average of 45 miles to the gallon, and around town 35.5 miles, which for the weight of the car is very good. When I want to put my foot down to pass other cars I have no problem with the response of the engine. To me it’s a car that wants to be driven and my wife and I have said what a nice comfortable ride it is. I can also get the three Grandchildren the back comfortably. The only niggle is I think the Engine could be a bit quieter, but that I can live with. So all in all I am very happy with the car and would buy a newer one if finance would allow.

Responses to this review

I’m thinking of getting a Dodge Caliber. Does anyone have any comments to make on how they handle the winter conditions (snow)? I currently have a rear wheel drive car and its shameful!!! Marcus Torta from England

Dodge Nitro sxt 2009

I bought my Nitro Dec 09 and although yes I think it looks great and is a head turner, it truly is the most shocking car I have ever driven. Very lazy 2.8 engine, drinks the go-go juice like it is dehydrated, and the dealership has had my car more than I have!!! Truly the most unreliable car I have EVER had. My dealership won’t allow me to reject under the sale of goods act. Fault: Radio has been replaced 3 times (one on order again), smokey engine (been replaced already), I am on my third set of alloy wheels (I think they are made butter- another set on order!) The car has been recovered 7 times already, now I find out the transmission box and 4 wheel drive box is gone which is another cost. Thankfully all this is covered, but I will NEVER buy American again.... at least with Hyundai/Kia and Honda I can work through any issues without incident. Truly awful car, so please buyer beware. The only good thing about it is the sound system and dvd, which is great when you are stuck at the side of the motorway waiting on recovery!

Responses to this review

Bought a new Nitro in January 2010 and have now covered 7,000 miles. Save for the alloy wheels, which were replaced without quibble because of edge pitting, the car has been very good. Roomy, plenty of extras and with lots of style, I have been very happy with the vehicle. The consumption is not too bad either when driving at at around 50/55 mph in 6th gear. At this speed the vehicle can return 38 - 41 mpg. Town work however is around 26 to 31 mph. This is my second Dodge with the first being a Caliber. Something different and very good value for money - W Hutchison from Lanarkshire

Dodge Caliber 2.0 Diesel Manual 2008

Bought this car brand new. Has done everything right from day one. Excellent visability, ride, torque, and fuel economy. (Down to 6.4L/100K’s) cruising at 100k’s on open road. Too many options to mention. Real head turner in silver sitting on 18’’ factory mags. Would recommend as offers value for money.

Dodge Caliber sxt crd 2009

I have always liked this car until I bought one, now I love them. Around town my wife and I get 39mpg and on the Motorway 45 to 46 mpg. I have had this car for 9 months now and would not change it for the world. I have discoverd that if you turn the esp off at the lights you can power away a bit quicker, handy at busy junctions to join the traffic. We both like the fact that unlike European cars that all look the same i.e. VW Scirroco and the new Renault Megane, this one is very different and always turns heads and gets a second look. At work I have caught people giving it an admiring glance. Would definately buy another one.

Dodge Caliber SXT CVT 2L 2008

This is my second Caliber for which I paid £7995. It has 20,000 on the clock now and the car is still going strong. BUT I must be the unluckiest person in the world, when it comes to the Caliber I have had countless issues with my second one. Although I am very glad to say it is under warranty (thank god). In no particular order: week after I bought it I noticed "vibrations" coming from dashboard above radio. I took it to the dealers and discovered that the engine mounts were worn? SHOCK... this was caused at the factory so they fixed that.. . the car came back and went like a rocket... loads of power! Next, the fuel light would stay on AFTER I had filled up... into the dealers it went, one software flash later... fixed... no problems now. Next, the controls on the steering wheel broke... into dealers again ... fixed... also issues with brake noise at very low speed ... I went into the dealers AGAIN! They discovered that the chassis had problems so I think my car triggered a recall for this ... anyway it’s fixed ... and here I sit broken hearted and just praying NOTHING else crops up ... I love my Caliber; I have a read out of approx 37.8MPG around town (NO LIE!). I use REDEX fuel injector cleaner all the time, and it makes such a difference. All in all I do NOT want to change my car. I could not drive any other car. I have owned Neon’s, Voyagers, PT Cruisers and now the Caliber. I am however looking at the option of changing to a DODGE MAGNUM: ie a Chrysler 300c ... maybe ... I have no complaints with the Dodge/Chrysler/Jepp brands as I resided in North America for many years and am familiar with the brand. I don’t want the same car as everyone else so for now the Caliber shall stay. For equipment, fuel economy and everyday use the Caliber is certainly more than enough. It had plenty of pull for overtaking, which is never an issue. I’m sure my Caliber will last a long time, fingers crossed.

Dodge Avenger SXT 2009

Yes fantastic. Many options and driveS well, but the alloy wheels are too soft and easy bend.

Dodge Nitro 2008

My car is the s**t! I like it, it’s good on gas, the engine purr doesn’t seem to bother me, I just really can’t say nothing bad about it. I’m from colorado and it does great in the snow, mud, rain. Whatever I put this baby up to she pulls through for me, the only thing I would say is that I wish it came in a v-8. The car is sexy especially with tinted windows 22 inch rims and an exhaust system, damn my baby is sick haahahahaha.

Dodge Nitro 2008

Well, I have been back and forth through Europe many times in many different cars but the Dodge is great, 22000 miles this year already and the (monster Truck) just eats them. I’ve never been more relaxed after a 16 hour drive.

Dodge Avenger 2.0 CRD SXT 2008

What can I say.. .as I suspected Clarkson was wrong.... he’s probably never been near a Dodge Avenger..... It’s fantastic! The 2.0 CRD SXT has everything, and I mean everything: ABS, EPS, remote CL, climate control, heated leather seats, heated/ chilled cup holder, chiller cabinet, electric adjustable seat, steering wheel stereo controls, cruise, tyre pressure and MPG monitoring, compass, temperature sensors, front/side/curtain airbags, etc. Think a fat demanding American, this car meets his every need, and goes further. It even has a glow in the dark boot release handle in case you get car jacked and stuffed in the boot. Equipped with the MyGig the 20 gig hard drive stores masses of MP3s and photos, DVD player, Eurpoean SatNav, amazing radio, voice activated controls, uConnect telephone system.. The CRD engine is VW and very efficient. Does have a strange burble sound at low revs. On the motorway it wants to shoot past the legal limit, bags of power. The handling is great. The ride is soft, but doesn’t lean. The styling is striking. Brute like looks, the envy of boy racers. Better equipped and £5k less than a basic 2.0 (140BHP) TDi VW Passat. It’s not rocket science.

Dodge Journey SXT CRD 2008

I love the Journey! Much better interior then in the other Dodge cars (Avenger and Caliber). It’s roomy and flexible. It’s probably the best bang for buck family car on the market!

Dodge Journey SXT 2008

The Journey has been a very good vehicle and has done over 10,000 trouble-free miles. The MPG is decent as long as you do not regularly get stuck in traffic. I have two dogs and this Dodge can accommodate them both in comfort. There is plenty of load-space; a great alternative to the S-Max.

Dodge Nitro SXT 3.7 V6 2008

I’m leasing my Nitro over 2 years. For &pound120 a month I couldn’t go wrong. I never tire of its looks, which are truly aggressive with a typical massive front flat grille that all Dodges have. I have the SXT 3.7 V6 in black with the 20" low profile rims. Not had any of the roll issues that others report, so I think the bigger wheels must help. The V6 is FAR superior to the rattly Italian diesel that the CRD models use. It’s smooth, very torquey, and quite powerful at 210bhp. Average MPG is 23, which given its size puts it ahead of a Merc ML370 V6, or a Santa Fe V6. Leather seats are kinda cheap and hard. But I found that several coats of Liquid Leather helped. The trip computer and digital compass are cool as is the digital tire pressure gauge telling you the pressure of all 4 wheels. The 9 speaker Infinity sound system with Subwoofer is out of this world. Far superior to the Harmon Kardon system in the new Range Rover Sport I have compared them side by side, and the Dodge’s system is way better. Incredible bass. Neat little tricks like the bar graph above the rear window so you can see your parking distance at the same time as looking in the rear view mirror is really neat. Overall, given its price, and the package you are getting I think it’s a very good buy if this is the type of vehicle you are looking for.

Responses to this review

Hi Paul, I have never leased a car before and am looking into the possibility of leasing a Nitro. Where did you find such an incredible price for a leasing plan? Many thanks, mail me - richardjcswain [at] gmail [dot] com - Ricky Swank from Hampshire

Hi Paul, just wanted to know how you’re getting on with the Nitro? I am considering to buy one very soon but I have not heard any positive reports on it? Did you have any problems or are you happy with it? - Nick Shah from Leicestershire

Dodge Caliber 2008

I have this car on lease for two years. It is very smooth on the motorway and has a very comfortable driving position. The engine lacks pull; certainly for a two litre and the auto change can be unpredictable when pushed. Otherwise a competent car that really is great value for money.

Dodge Nitro SXT CRD Auto 2007

Wow factor for sure! I have a Black SXT diesel auto - have to say that I am still enjoying it, it still gets looks where ever it goes. If your bored with the average 4 x 4, the Nitro has been fun, mpg - average @ 27 mpg.

Dodge Caliber 2006

What a slug! A Lada would see it off. Fuel consumption poor, I’ve never yet achieved 30mpg. I’ve had to convert to LPG to be able to afford to run it. If this is the best America can produce then my advice to them is not to bother. Ps - I forgot to mention the noise.

Dodge Caliber 2.0 sxt auto 2007

I’ve just bought my wife this car from a dealer in Bury (absolutely fantastic service), I can’t believe what value for money you get in this model, leather, auto, heated seats.... the list goes on and on, so smooth to drive and brilliant driving height, could not recommend this vehicle enough. I am so impressed looking at either the Nitro or new Journey for myself.

Dodge Caliber sxt cvt 2008

Having owned a 2001 Chrysler Neon auto for 6 years, and needing another car...a 2008 Caliber SXT CVT (Auto) fitted the bill for interior quality..... leather, heated seats,cruise control, etc...etc. The engine performs even better than the Neon, and is much quieter I cannot fault the Caliber at all.........oh yes.....they omitted the drivers left foot rest on the auto! Excellent value for money.....and more room than a Ford or Vauxhall!

Dodge SRT-10 2006

I own this junk, paid £66.000 and nothing but problems from day one,I am in litigation with chrysler uk. All i want is my money back.Its standing in my drive not functioning since october 2007 and chrysler don,t know the problem. DON,T EVER INVEST YOUR MONEY IN ANY CHRYSLER CARS......

Dodge SRT-10 8.3 V10 2007

I drove one of these in the states. Super cool, scarily fast and the most fun on four wheels you can have.

Dodge SRT-10 V10 Viper 4dr 2005

A real beast. It’s very poweful but there’s no getting away from it’s size and it is a big car. Great fun to drive and certainly turns heads whereever it goes but a nightmare to park. Still love it though.

Dodge Avenger Saloon 2.0 SE 4dr

I recently test drove this car as I was looking for something a little different than the usual run of the mill saloon cars on offer. First impressions were good, it’s definately an impressive looking car and I really wanted to love it but after a very bouncy ride and a closer look at the interior, which looks a bit cheap, I realised that there are better saloons out there for the money.

Dodge Caliber 2.0 CRD

If you want something "different" then this car is a good value, spacious family hatchback that does offer value for money.

Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD SXT

I bought this Dodge mainly because of the looks and the reviews seemed pretty positive. Apart from the fair economy of the vehicle I am disappointed with most of what the Nitro offers. Also, if I’d realised how badly it was going to depreciate in value I would have looked elsewhere. Distinctly average.

Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD SE 5dr

I’ve had this now for 6 months and fell for the wow factor of this 4x4. It’s a really impressive looking car and I’ve been stopped loads of times at petrol stations and in car parks by people wanting to have a closer look but, and unfortunately there is one, the roll on this can sometimes make you feel queasy and whilst initially I felt the engine noise was reassuringly rugged, it’s now just irritating. It’s definately a solid car and very reasonably priced but it’s thirsty, noisy and I’ve fallen out of love with it very quickly. Will probably have to take a hefty hit on my wallet too when I eventually get rid - you live and learn!