Overview & Reviews

Value is a concept that conquers the affections of car buyers every time. Dodge knew this all too well, and made value a cornerstone of its strategy for the Dodge Intrepid, turning out an affordably priced car that offered a lot for less. It proved to be an astute move for the automaker. Introduced in 1993 and retired in 2004, the Intrepid distinguished itself as the division's best-selling car in many of its years on the market.

The word "intrepid" means fearless, and this Dodge proved to be just that when it came to its styling cues. Stodginess and full-size sedans go together like Seattle and pouring rain, but Dodge's designers set out to create an alternative that broke free of this mold. An innovative, "cabin-forward" layout resulted in a steeply raked windshield and short front and rear overhangs. The Intrepid's sculpted look (which became even more striking in second-generation models) didn't necessarily light everyone's fire, but it was, undeniably, a bold standout in a notoriously bland segment.

Practicality came via the Dodge Intrepid's spacious amenities. The Intrepid's cab-forward design and front-wheel-drive layout freed up considerable interior space, and the sedan could seat five adults in comfort as well as haul much of their luggage. Nimble handling was another of the car's assets; the Intrepid had the portly size of an operatic tenor, but you'd never know it from its impressive composure and agility. And Intrepid buyers enjoyed the car's power. Its athletic engines gave the car somewhat of a split personality, enabling it to cross the line from family sedan to value-priced sport sedan with ease.

Buyers had to make a few compromises. Materials quality and fit and finish within the cabin weren't up to snuff. Rearward visibility fell somewhat short, and its engines could get raucous when challenged. Still, a late-model Dodge Intrepid shines as a great pick in many respects for buyers seeking a used car that delivers when it comes to competent handling and capacious passenger and cargo room.

Most Recent Dodge Intrepid

The most recent Intrepid generation spanned model years 1998 through 2004. This car continued on the cabin-forward theme of its predecessor, but offered styling that was sleeker and almost coupelike. It also got an engine upgrade, with two new V6s beneath its hood.

This generation's early Dodge Intrepids were offered in two trims: base and ES. Base models featured air-conditioning, heated mirrors and cruise control. ES models added amenities like keyless entry and a power-adjustable driver seat. In 2000, a new trim, the R/T, joined the lineup. R/Ts catered to performance-oriented buyers, offering a sport-tuned suspension and traction control. The base trim became the SE trim in 2001, and the following year, a midlevel trim, the SXT, made its debut. SXT buyers got the same engine as that of the pricier R/T, without many of the performance features. That changed in 2003 when the R/T model was dropped; the SXT was given a performance upgrade that gave it many of the capabilities of the departed R/T.

Base Intrepids were powered by a 2.7-liter V6 good for 200 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. ES models were available with either the base model's 2.7-liter or a 3.2-liter V6 capable of 225 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. Intrepid R/Ts got their mojo from a 3.5-liter V6 producing 242 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. In 2002, Dodge dropped the 3.2-liter engine; replacing it was a 234-hp version of the 3.5-liter V6. All Intrepid models came with a four-speed automatic transmission, and Dodge's "AutoStick" manual-shift feature came standard on the R/T.

A few tweaks were made to the car's appearance and feature content over the years. Chrome badging was added in 1999, along with improved floor carpeting. In 2000, base models got new seat fabric, child-seat anchors were also added, and an in-dash CD changer joined the options list on ES models. The following year, side airbags became available, as well as steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a four-disc in-dash CD changer. In 2003, the four-disc unit was replaced with a six-CD changer.

At the time, our editors were charmed by the Dodge Intrepid -- so much so that in 2000, it scored an Editors' Most Wanted award in the Large Sedan category. We liked the sedan's huge interior, gigantic trunk, communicative steering and pleasing balance of ride quality and handling ability. Cons included a propensity for wind and road noise, low-quality interior materials, disappointing fit and finish and poor outward visibility.

Past Dodge Intrepids

The first-generation Dodge Intrepid was built from 1993 to 1997. Two trims -- base and ES -- were offered. Initially, both were powered by a 3.3-liter V6 good for 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque; the engine saw power increases over the years, though, and by the time this generation drew to a close, it offered 161 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission sent power to the car's front wheels. A more advanced 3.5-liter V6, producing 214 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, was optional.

ABS was made standard in ES models in 1995, and traction control was added to the options list. Intrepids got upgrades to improve noise, vibration and harshness in 1996; the following year, the car benefited from an improved audio system and a refined transmission. At the time, this Intrepid scored good marks for its roomy interior and power from the optional 3.5-liter V6. Downsides included dubious build quality and weak headlight performance.

User Reviews:

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  best car i ever had! - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By Charlee - August 16 - 2:00 am

  this car, i named, "Hunter" not for the color but for his performance. i have had 2 major accidents, and "Hunter" has saved my life. He, is the Best car i have ever owned.

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  Love my Intrepid - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By Tyran - August 14 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Handles and corners beautifully. 3.5 6 cylinder delivers great acceleration and performance. Mine has a spoiler which I think further enhances the body design. If I were able to change one thing it would be the inferior interior, should have more color options except the dull grey. Im not a leather fan.

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  Great Car For Us!! - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By airportdave - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our fully loaded ES for over 5 years and we love it- roomy and comfortable and reliable. To date, the only major probelm has been the transmission control module, replaced under warranty at 20,000m. Replacing the OEM struts and upgrading to 235/55/17 tires/wheels made it handle even better.

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  Let down - 2003 Dodge Intrepid
  By mammadee - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car used. The car design is pretty, but beauty isnt what one needs to get back and forth to work. The car has been reliable, however it has no get up and go. It is sad when a piece of junk can get up to speed before you can. I must admit I am growing really tired of people honking for me to move faster. This car doesnt hold value either. I am so upside down that I cant get out of the car. The fuel usage is poor compared to my past experiences with other vehicles. I personally believe that all Dodge Intrepids are over priced. I wish that I had done my homework before making the purchase. Lesson learned.

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  impossible !!!!! - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By patrickpatrick - August 9 - 2:00 am

  nothing else to say but how does a engine lock up at 11,564 miles!!!!? this car is a piece of trash!! dodge should be fully responsible for fixing thse 2.7litre engines,they know about them but do nothing! dealers know too but still resales these cars anyway.stay away from any used or new dodge intrepid!!!!!!!i paid $13,000 for it now dealer wont even give $2,000!!!!!

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  disapointment and frustration !!!!! - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By john bergendahl - August 7 - 2:00 am

  i purchased it with 29,000 miles on it.got rid of it at 34,000 miles.the whole time of ownership i had a check engine light that stayed on more then the radio! a/c didnt work either.i changed the oil every two months regardless of miles.the sludge build up wont stop no matter how much the oil is changd i recomend any one with a intrepid to get rid of it NOW!!!!!!!!!

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  Terrible - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By olive5 - August 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought this leased vehicle from my company (who obtained it new) and I know it had good perodic maintenance because I saw the records but it had catastrophic failure of the engine and transmission with less than 74,000 miles on it. Daimler-Chrysler should be ashamed of this 2.7L engine.

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  Will MISS the Intrepids - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By SHAW - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I love my Intrepid. I was going to buy another one in 2004, but now I find out they are not going to make them anymore. HOW VERY SAD. There is NOTHING on the market with this much space and larger mid-size cars are getting harder to find. WHY is this? Not everyone wants an SUV or truck. Now all the cars look like a square box instead of the pretty sleek design of the Intrepid.

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  Engine issues - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By Shonda - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car when I first got it. Its so comfortable and drives really nice. I had a couple of minor issues, which you can always expect when you own a car. The problem came when the oil light started coming on a few months ago. My oil didnt need changed so I didnt undertand the problem. The repair shop told me this is an issue w/ Dodge engines. The oil cannot circulate because of narrow passages and therefore cooks the oil, causing a sludge buildup. After researching I found that this really is a common problem among this car. Just do a search on "oil sludge Intrepid". Now my car has 51,000 miles and will die soon.

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  Stay Away - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By jmadel - July 19 - 2:00 am

  The engine had a tapping noise, couldnt repair it, Had to have the engine rebuilt by a third party company. Dodge will not acknowledge the poor design of the engine. I had a 94 Intrepid it was a much better car, better suspension, better everything, except transmission, my 94 tranny went at 69,000, and again at 117,000, so far the 2001 has 99,000 and tranny is still good, but starting to slip. If they put a 3.3L(like the 94) or even a 3.0L engine in it I would buy another. But I will never buy a car with a 2.7L Engine.