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Dodge police cars, 2000-2005
Intrepid Police Package
The big news for 2000 was the Intrepid police package (see our first-drive review), though it became known more for the flaming brakes debacle than for its merits. For the year 2000, the Intrepid had just a 4% market share, with only about 2,800 sold, though part of the problem was getting it into the hands of departments with whom Chrysler had no fleet relationships.
2000 Michigan State Police Tests
For the 2001 model year tests, GM fielded the Hummer H1, Camaro, Impala, and Tahoe, while Ford put up its Crown Victoria, Excursion, Expedition, and Explorer. Chrysler contributed a pair of Jeep Cherokees with 4x4 and rear wheel drive setups.
The two wheel drive Cherokee was about half a second slower to 60 miles per hour than the Ford Police Interceptor, but faster than any of the Ford trucks, the Tahoe, and the Impala. (0-60 in 9.18 seconds). The top speed, 111 mph, was better than the Ford and Chevy trucks, but not up to the cars. The Camaros swept the floor with all the other squads in acceleration, braking, and handling. The big Ford trucks and Hummer had terrible stopping distances, while the Cherokee was similar to the Tahoe and a few feet worse than the Ford cars.
On the ergonomics test, the Cherokee only beat the Camaro and Hummer. The fuel economy test went to the Impala, with 20 mpg city and 29 highway. The two wheel drive Cherokee was even with the automatic transmission Camaro and similar to the Ford Police Interceptor. Worst were the Ford trucks and the Hummer. Overall, the Cherokee was a middle of the pack vehicle.
Dodge Stratus, Dodge Ram squads, Dodge Caravans, PT Cruiser
We have received reports of Stratus and Ram squads, as well as the Jeep Cherokee. The PT Cruiser is often used as a "teenager awareness" car for anti-alcohol and anti-drug educational activities, but isn't actually used as a cruiser.
Jeffrey Brindisi wrote: "I have made several trip to Maine from Massachusettes, and over the past 2-3 years noticed that the State Police were using two wheel drive blue Dodge Ram pick-ups." Jeff McDonald replied: "These are commercial vehicle enforcement trucks. Presumably in the bed are portable scales for 18-wheelers. They don't pay too much attention to ordinary traffic but truckers should cringe at the sight of these big blue Rams!"
Lio wrote: "The police department in Sherbrooke, Quebec has been using only (Chrysler) Intrepids - and a few Cherokees - since several years (not before 1998 though, it started with 2th gen Intrepids). Until lately you could still see some Crown Vics but now the fleet is 100% mopar... But since last year, they're using Dodge Caravans as their main police vehicle! I think they're in the process of replacing many, if not all, of the Intrepids with Caravans. Is that unusual? (I haven't read anything about the Caravan on the Squad page).
I believe there may be, at least here, a new trend of using minivans as squad cars... the Montreal police replaced almost all of its cars with Chevy Ventures, a while ago. Let me know if squad Caravans are rare, I might be able to get a pic if you want... I'm pretty proud of my city for using Mopars!