Introduction

Dodge Intrepid offers abundant power and decent fuel efficiency. It handles rough roads very well and delivers a comfortable ride. Handing is sharp and precise. There's plenty of room for five passengers (or six with the available front bench seat). In spite of its age, the Intrepid's sleek styling looks handsome and contemporary. The Intrepid SXT offers a strong value. The SXT is essentially a value-priced version of the top ES model that includes a high-output engine, chrome wheels, and a spoiler. It's a good package, boasting quicker acceleration performance, top-model features, and a lower price than the ES.

Walkaround

Dodge Intrepid has been competitive in NASCAR Winston Cup since it began racing in 2001. It's an indication of the Intrepid's slippery design, though the stock car modifies the production design. The Intrepid is a great example of Chrysler's cab-forward design, which it's now moving away from. The sloping cowl sweeps into a steeply raked windshield, over the curvaceous roof and down to a short deck lid. The shape is reminiscent of fastbacks of the past. There is great nuance to the sheet metal, which rolls and undulates like a work of art. Intrepid boasts an aggressive, integrated bumper/grille borrowed from the racy Dodge Viper; and sleek, wrap-around cats-eye headlight lenses that flow into the sweeping hood line. While the Intrepid shares its chassis and drive train with Chrysler's Concorde and 300M, these cars do not share sheet metal. Where the slightly longer Concorde accentuates elegance, and the trim 300M oozes Continental sophistication, the Intrepid reflects the golden days of American muscle.

Interior Features

The Dodge Intrepid is a roomy, comfortable car. The optional leather seats in the ES are especially comfortable, and the cloth seats in the new SXT model are supportive and comfortable. The standard bucket seats provide good back and lateral support, and the detailing of the fabric is world-class. The steering wheel and shifter are big and beefy. Reversed, black-on-white gauges add to the sporty atmosphere. The quality of the interior materials is generally good. Colors match well, and gaps between body panels are minimal. There's good fitment in the space where the doors and dashboard come together, for example. The interior is roomy for average-size drivers, though tall drivers may run short on headroom and may be looking through the top part of the steeply raked windshield. Front and rear visibility isn't quite as good as it is in some of the more traditionally styled vehicles in this class. Big HVAC knobs make it easy to operate the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The radio is on top of the heater controls, a position that makes sense, since most of us fiddle with the stereo more than the heater. The buttons are small, though, which makes them difficult to operate with gloves on. I found myself frequently taking my eyes off the road to change stations, and you have to hit a separate Set button to pre-set stations instead of just holding the station button down. The good news is that Dodge now offers an in-dash, six-disc CD changer. You just shove the discs in, with no need to go to the trunk and mess around with CD magazines. The trunk is cavernous, at 18 cubic feet, and the hinges fold cleanly out of the way instead of crushing cargo when the trunk is stuffed. The opening to the trunk is relatively small, however, partly as a result of the above-mentioned hinges, and lift-over height is high, so you have to lift groceries and other cargo high over the rear bumper to load them in.