The classic “Ford vs. Dodge” is a debate car-lovers seem to never get tired of talking about. Even for people who don’t care that much about the automotive world: the names “Mustang” or “Challenger” definitely ring a bell. Ford and Dodge will always be loved and talked about for as long as they keep producing great cars.
With the consistent appearance of these vehicles in hit Hollywood car-centric films, these two titans of the car industry remain important in brand name recognition alone. In films like the Fast and Furious franchise, these cars are sometimes seen sharing the same frame. In movies like Drive, however, the quiet character channels his inner Steve McQueen and drives a Mustang at one point when taking on a job that requires a bit more speed than his usual car.
Whatever your brand of choice is, it is always fun revisiting the list and comparing the two renowned car companies. When most people discuss “Ford vs. Dodge,” the conversation inevitably leads to the age-old Mustang vs Challenger argument. This list will cover those famous muscle cars of course, but it will also delve into the long history of both companies. If you are a fan of these giant car companies, you will enjoy going down the rabbit hole of some of the most successful vehicles in their lineup. And no, there will not be a definitive “winner” given: the choice is yours (that is the whole fun of having these debates)! For some people, Dodge will always be the winner because they were founded slightly earlier (1900). For others, Ford is the better company because despite being founded after Dodge, they have shown innovation several times over the years.
20 Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is the most beloved and coveted muscle car from Ford’s lineup. This car and its many iterations over the years holds such a special place in American history, full documentaries have been made about the car. The 2015 film “A Faster Horse” was produced to celebrate the car’s 50th year milestone anniversary and legacy. In one scene someone comments that purchasing a Mustang for a lot of people is not an intellectual decision, but an emotional one. It is more than just a car for a lot of people; for some it is a lifelong dream, and it represents so much more than just something to get around in.
Ever since the release of Bullitt in 1965, the Mustang has upheld the reputation as one of the coolest cars available. The company is also not slowing down at all: next year, Ford is releasing the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt edition.
It’s customizable and valued at approximately $50,000.
19 Dodge Challenger
The Challenger is known by many as Dodge’s initial attempt to compete with Ford’s successful pony car. The Challenger gets criticism from car enthusiasts from time to time because the Mustang was unveiled first (Ford’s first Mustang was released in 1962, while the Challenger arrived on the scene a full eight years later). While Ford definitely gets points for originality, there is no denying that the engineers at Dodge have come a long way since the Vanishing Point days.
The Challenger is like the Mustang in the sense that it is just as important in muscle car culture. Dodge continues to work on the car; the Demon has been reported as being one of the fastest vehicles ever (even more so than the Mustang Shelby GT350).
18 Ford F-150
The F-150 is one of Ford’s most successful trucks on the market, and it has been a mainstay in their lineup since the late 1940s. With just over 70 years of history behind it, the F-150 is a vehicle has a great reputation for being one of the best pickups in the automotive industry. To this day it remains one of the highest selling vehicles in North America.
What is particularly amazing about how well the F-150 has performed over the years is its seeming resilience to economic pressures: even in times of uncertainty for consumers, the F-150’s sales have only receded slightly, only to bounce back tremendously well.
Just last year, Ford sold almost 900,000 units of the F-150 in America (and over 150,000 in Canada).
17 Dodge Ram
For Dodge, the Ram is another instance where they followed in the footsteps of Ford’s success. However, that does not undermine the success of this vehicle at all. The name “Ram” was used by Dodge as early as the 1930s, but the Ram as we know it only came into popularity in the early 1980s.
Since that time it has made a lot of progress with several iterations over the years. Most notably: the SRT 10 was one of the most powerful pickups, with a V10 8.3-litre engine. The Dodge Ram has even been used to compete in motorsports (it won awards two years in a row at NASCAR).
16 Ford Focus
The Focus was not another instance of forward thinking from Ford because it was released in 1998 (whereas its competitor, the Dodge Dart, was used by name as early as 1960).
However, the Focus remains a worthy addition to the Ford family. As of this year, it has officially been in production for two full decades now and is not stopping.
The Ford Focus is a great family car with a bit of a twist: it’s got some pep. Is that any surprise from the same company behind the Mustang? The Focus has actually raced and earned awards. Not only is this vehicle popular in North America; it continues to perform well globally.
15 Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is another great compact vehicle that is comparable to the Focus because its looks may deceive you, but it is still quite the reliable little car. The Dart is a car that really shows Dodge’s willingness to adapt and change over time; this model has experienced several changes over the years.
The most recent and final (at least for now) iteration of the Dart was in 2013. Although it only lasted three years in total, the last Dart in Dodge’s lineup was powerful enough to earn the moniker “the GT Sport.” This vehicle may not have been as successful as the Ford Focus, but the fact that it earned comparisons says a lot.
14 Ford Taurus
This vehicle has clearly been another heavy-hitter for Ford, and a great decision overall. It was first introduced in the 1980s, and it has remained a fundamental offering in the company’s lineup. The Taurus is now in its sixth generation: the vehicle is valued at approximately $26,000 and can cost as high as $38,000. The Ford Taurus is a great car because, like the Ford Focus, it has a reputation for being a family vehicle you can depend on. However, it also offers the driver a bit more power, with a 3.5-litre V6 engine.
While the Taurus remains a solid car for Ford, it has unfortunately not performed as well as other vehicles in its class (being outsold by similar cars manufactured by Dodge). Reviewers of the Taurus have even gone as far as calling the Honda Accord a superior driving experience.
13 Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is one of the most famous cars in pop culture thanks to the General Lee in The Dukes of Hazzard. However, moving beyond its 1969 introduction, the vehicle has really developed a name for itself as one of the coolest sedans you can get.
What sets the Charger apart from other vehicles in its class: despite the fact that it is a four-door vehicle, it can still be considered a muscle car.
Additionally, aside from The General Lee, The Charger also continues to have an excellent place in pop culture, with appearances over the years in films like Death Proof (and of course Bullitt). When compared to the Taurus, Ford’s vehicle may have a few features that the Charger may not have, but the Charger is way more iconic.
12 Ford Expedition
The Expedition, Ford’s follow-up to the now infamous Ford Bronco, has been a crucial part of the company’s lineup for just over two decades now. It is also another clear example of Ford setting the example in the automotive industry: it came before other competitors came along like the Dodge Durango, the Nissan Armada, and the Toyota Sequoia.
The Ford Expedition is a heavy-duty beast that can be purchased with either a 4.6-litre V8 engine or a 5.4-litre V8. Regardless of your choice, the numbers don’t lie: this vehicle is still selling quite well, and is considered one of the best SUVs on the market overall.
11 Dodge Durango
The Durango is Dodge’s answer to the Ford Expedition, and it has proven to be a worthy competitor. Like the Ford Expedition, this vehicle is offered with a powerful engine. However, the Durango is a bit more intense: Dodge has given drivers the option of a 5.9-litre V8 engine if they want even more power.
Dodge has sold over a million Durangos since its introduction in 1997, and it has been compared to SUVs built by Mercedes-Benz, as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
It’s also another great example of something that can function as a family vehicle but is also capable of a lot more than it lets on.
10 Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is an incredible sports car that is arguably on par with other high-performance vehicles. That may sound ridiculous when we have become so used to hearing about cars like the Lamborghini Aventador, and the Porsche 911.
However, the Viper was another fine vehicle from Dodge: it’s a coupe that’s got an 8.4-litre V10 engine.
It’s clear that this is an automobile brought to you by the same people that introduced the world to the Challenger, except this car is a lot sportier looking. For an American car, it looks like Dodge took its cues less from Ford, and more from the Europeans.
9 Ford GT
The Ford GT has had a shorter run than the Dodge Viper (so far it has only been in production for four years), as well as a less impressive engine (compared to the Viper it has a 5.4-litre V8 engine). However, that doesn’t mean the Ford GT is an inferior car by any means necessary.
The GT has actually competed in Le Mans, the holy grail of car races. The Viper has been used to participate in races as well; including Le Mans. Although, Ford gets points for exclusivity with the GT: the company has announced they will only make 250 of the cars yearly.
8 Dodge Colt
The Colt was a decently popular vehicle for Dodge that lasted a full 23 years in their lineup, and spanning a whopping seven generations. It was first introduced in 1970 as an answer to similar vehicles from the era like the Gremlin, and even the Ford Pinto. Although the vehicle was backed heavily by Dodge, its engineering was by Mitsubishi.
The Japanese connection to the vehicle gave it a different edge from other vehicles of the period. By the time the vehicle finally reached its seventh edition, its design had changed drastically from a compact to a subcompact car (although what was under the hood remained generally the same).
7 Ford Fiesta
The Fiesta has been a staple in Ford’s lineup since 1976! Not many car companies can boast just over four decades of success with only one vehicle. This addition to Ford’s already successful brand is especially noteworthy because it is another vehicle that is not only a big favorite among North Americans, it is also a loved car globally.
You don’t think of the Ford Fiesta as an overachieving vehicle like the Mustang is, but it has actually been a major Ford bestseller for a long time.
Like every great Ford car, they have also enjoyed experimenting with this one over the years.
6 Dodge Dakota
This is another great heavy-duty vehicle that has earned an important reputation over the years. It was a groundbreaking vehicle for Dodge because it was one of the first times in automotive history a pickup truck on the market used a V8 engine.
Although the vehicle was officially discontinued in 2011, it sold so many units in its 13-year run that you can still see it being driven around today in its various iterations that were released over the years (including a convertible edition).
There are rumors that Dodge may be bringing the Dakota back at some point.
5 Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is a renowned vehicle that shares a few similarities with the Dodge Dakota. When you look at two photos of the vehicles side by side you can clearly see the resemblance. In addition, the Ford Ranger is another vehicle that was discontinued that will very likely make a comeback.
Although they are very similar vehicles, the Ranger had a longer production run than the Dakota, and it just may be one of the most influential vehicles of all time. Ford is great at making vehicles that people tend to rely on: police officers are fond of the Charger, and the Ranger was a popular choice for a courier van.
4 Dodge Caravan
Who could forget about the Dodge Caravan? It’s one of the most memorable vehicles ever made by an automobile company: chances are you’ve probably seen one recently. It has been the vehicle of choice for many families worldwide since the 1980s.
The Dodge Caravan has been sold over 11 million times in its 35-year history so far. It will go down in history as a consistently reliable vehicle.
The model is now in its fifth generation, and it is currently valued at approximately $21,000. Although it is not a spectacular piece of design to look at, the V6 engine it has gives the bulky vehicle a surprising boost.
3 Ford Flex
The Flex is yet another hit for Ford; introduced in 2009, the vehicle was very quickly accepted by Ford fans everywhere. It is a fantastic mid-size SUV to get if you have a family or a large group of people to transport (this model is usually quite popular with car rental companies) due to its ability to seat up to seven passengers.
The Flex has also been compared to other vehicles we have explored by Ford, including the Explorer, and the Taurus. Although closely related, the Ford Flex is more of a vehicle for people who don’t care how unstylish the SUV looks.
2 Dodge Polara
For this pair of Dodge vs. Ford vehicles, let’s take it way back to the earlier days: the Polara was a classic car that had a run from 1959 to 1973.
Chances are, even if you don’t remember how it looks you may have seen this vehicle depicted in pop culture as a great vintage ride.
Not only was this one of Dodge’s first major examples of their ability to design a stylish vehicle, it was also a car with a decent amount of power. The car was available to consumers with a V8 engine by its third generation, and it was a fairly cool car at the time of its release.
1 Ford Galaxie
The Galaxie is once again another example of Ford’s long-standing competition with Dodge: both vehicles were available to the public around roughly the same times. The Galaxie had a 16 year run in North America, and it had a number of models Ford tested out.
The Galaxie is also a car still appreciated to this day due to lowrider culture; it was initially intended to be an alternative to the Chevy Impala (another classic car loved by lowrider car lovers). It is currently considered a collector’s item, and it has even been sold for as high as a brand-new vehicle: $32,000.
Sources: caranddriver.com, daytonadodgechrysler.net