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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  Nice style - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By brushwood - June 26 - 2:00 am

  Car is a Model Year 2000 company car, great styling and interior layout. Not fancy inside but has all the necessities. HUGE trunk with inside access - find me a bigger one on a mid- size car. And the interior is very spacious both front and back - more than my fathers Buick LeSabre.Fuel economy isnt great (20-24) but this one has the bigger engine. The Auto Stick is fun to play with but doesnt get used very often. A/C works great. It takes a while to get used to the sloping front end and very high rear when parking - usually leave too much distance. Thanks Dodge for a solid car.

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  OVERALL 10 - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By DFREE - June 22 - 2:00 am

  I work for a dealership and drive a 2004 Dodge Intrepid as a demo. I also have a wife and two children who go everywhere with me on the weekends. There is just as much room, if not more in the Intrepid as our 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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  Excellent Used Car - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By Niquinuk - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Traction control and autostick features on this vehicle make it an excellent choice for a used purchase. Krause Dodge,Lehigh Valley, PA was the dealer we bought the car from, had exceptional customer service & knowledge. They accepted my trade-in (1994 Intrepid) for NADA amount I expected. Another dealer(Keystone Dodge, Allentown, PA) tried to give us only one third of that amount as if it were to go for auction when it was in clean condition, under 100K original miles! Thank you Krause & Dodge- Chrysler Corp.

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  Intrepid - not so - 1993 Dodge Intrepid
  By Rusty_Rails - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought this lemon new in 1993. Since that time it has been a continuous repair case. Computer has been replaced multiple times, fuel rail split and Dodge said that was unique to my car (I got the recall notice about three weeks later for the same thing), both power window guide on front windows have failed and needed replaced, needed valve job very early, seat fabric wore out quickly, motor / transmission mounts failed early and needed replaced, and the list goes on. I will NEVER buy any Dodge or Chrysler product again.

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  Hunk of Junk - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By Gary123 - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Do not buy this car. I owned it for three years and had nothing but trouble. I replaced everything at least once. Finally, I gave up and bought a small economy car...better idea.

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  great family car - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By hi 44567 - June 15 - 2:00 am

  greaat car good for my family large husband fits great lots of trunk space too

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  Great so far - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By eddiej - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Dodge. So far Im not disappointed. It rides great, handles great, and has plenty of power when you need it. You wouldnt think its as large as it is. Ive had it less then a week, so reliability remains to be seen. But if this Intrepid holds up as well as my 98 Avenger and 89 Daytona did, I wont regret this vehicle purchase for a minute.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By Intrepid Lover - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Intrepid for over a year now and purchased at 39,000. I have had only one problem, the check engine light goes on and off but when checked shows no problems. Other than that, the performance of this car is great. I have 2 kids and they are very comfortable in the roomy back seats. The truck is HUGE and enough room to put lots of toys, car supplies and groceries in all at the same time. I have even hooked up a TV/DVD player and new CD player and had no problems. Just keep up the engine maintanence on the car and you are good to go.

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  Great Car - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By Numbersman - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Having owned a 1995 Intrepid for four years, I decided to buy a 2004. This car is great. Plenty of room, great design, good gas mileage and plenty of options. Good, fun car to drive.

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  Not the greatest car out there - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By chemsal - June 2 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 is a cheaper version of the 2002,2003. Dodge has cut some real corners on this car. The seats are shorter and not as wide as the past models. There are many other areas that have been cheapened from previous year models. This is a company car, so I do not purchase this vehicle. Free is a good price to pay for a vehicle. If it cost one penny more I would not drive an Intrepid