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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  excellent vehicle - 1998 Dodge Intrepid
  By hdtinman33 - August 26 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car brand new in early 1998. it has performed above my expectations. it is solidly built, comfortable, and reliable and has had no repairs to any of its major components. all i ever do is change the oil and filter every 3,000 mi and do all other normal maintenance as needed (tires, fluids, etc)

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  Roomy car with pep. - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By Tall Guy, tall kids - August 24 - 2:00 am

  Smooth riding, with lots of pep. Very roomy in front, back, & trunk. Great visibility. Very reliable. No disappointments. The only thing to fail in 7 years is an ABS sensor on a rear wheel, although the radio buttons have become erratic while still being useful.

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  GOOFY - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By Lou Costello - August 21 - 2:00 am

  Roomy, fun to drive and reliable.

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  Roomy, good looks and pep - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By Skyflyin - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car about 9 months now and enjoy it very much. It is very roomy with a extremely large trunk, drives well and gets good gas milage (I have averaged 26 mpg). The car tends to overstear a bit and the road noise is quite loud on rougher roads, but the excellent handling and peppy engine make this a fun car to drive. I agree that the low front end makes it harder to judge distance while parking, but I have not had a problem getting in and out of the car (Im 61") as some others have said. Overall this is a good car and the price is reasonable. I would not hesitate to get another one.

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  intrepid - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By walter w smyth - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Good Car--drives well---looks nice

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  intrepid es sxt - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By geagle36 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  previous vehicle was a 2000 intrepid es.this car seems to have better build quality asthe doors fit better,the air is more efficient and the overall comfort is better

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  Engine & Sensor PROBLEMS - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By Brenp - August 14 - 2:00 am

  I was very happy with my car UNTIL I had to start replacing sensors and now my engine is gone. It seems that Ive taken to this car to have something repaired way to often! I have 85,000 on the car and have been told by several mechanics that they have heard of many problems with this engine and was suprised that my engine hadnt gone before now.

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  Her Car by kevin - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By kv - August 14 - 2:00 am

  We purchased an ES model with 24,000 miles 10 months ago. It now has 55,000 on it and not once back to the dealership. We just love the car. We bought it for the roominess as we need to fit 3 car seats. I would not have bought a car this size without the larger engine. We traded in a Stratus so we were use to the blocked rear view and the low nose. I also think the value is there. The blue book even with our extra mileage deduction, is still around what we paid. Maybe used is a better value than new. I am also impressed with the quality or this wouldnt be our 3rd Dodge. Im glad my wife chose the Intrepid.

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  looks cool....needs improvement - 2000 Dodge Intrepid
  By Intrepid mama - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Have had many problems with my Intrepid, including replacing all factory seals around doors at <10000 miles, the ENTIRE rack & pinion steering system and another component I cant remember replaced at ~30000 (thank goodness for warranties!!) Then a pesky burning oil smell that turned out to be a blown rear seal near the cam shaft....several trips to the dealers to figure this out. Im ready to get out of the car, but now I find out Im hopelessly upside down despite 0% financing!!! Love the performance, looks and style, but am scared to death for the lack of realiability. I think I got a bad car....dont you?

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  Looks great, but... - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By JT - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because I had read good reviews about it, and for the price I paid, I got a lot of car. It is very fun to drive, with the 3.5L engine, there is plenty of juice in the pedal. The car is very roomy, and the styling is great. But once that novelty wore off, I found a car riddled with expensive issues such as porr tranny, front end issues, a/c evap coils that cost almost $1g to fix... the list goes on and on. Now I know that I got WAY more than I bargained for. The car is a ticking bomb.