Dodge police cars, 2000-2012
Dodge Intrepid and Jeep Cherokee police pursuit packages
Until 2002, the only official police package from Chrysler was the Jeep Cherokee. It was a credible choice even when compared with cars: in 2001 Michigan State Police tests, the two wheel drive Cherokee was about half a second slower to 60 miles per hour than the Ford Police Interceptor, and it was faster than any of the Ford trucks, the Tahoe, and the Impala (0-60 in 9.18 seconds). The top speed, 111 mph, beat the Ford and Chevy trucks, though not the cars. The big Ford trucks and Hummer H1 had very long stopping distances, while the Cherokee was similar to the Tahoe and only a few feet longer than the Ford cars.
While the Impala clearly won the gas-mileage race, the two wheel drive Cherokee was similar to the Ford Police Interceptor. Overall, the Cherokee was a middle of the pack vehicle, tested as a pursuit; and a strong vehicle, tested as a special service package, easily beating all of the Fords. [Details and tables, 1996-2001]
Though it was not to arrive until the 2002 model year, the Intrepid police package (see our review) was unveiled in late 2000. Front wheel drive and the lack of fleet relationships combined to eliminate its chances: in its first model year, the Intrepid had just a 4% market share, with 2,800 sold. Chrysler’s last major police car had been the Gran Fury / Diplomat, which ended in 1989, and before that, there had been quality debacles which had turned off some departments. Those who stuck with Chrysler tended to be satisfied, and, indeed, New York City kept their Diplomats and Gran Furys far longer than one would expect, before turning to Chevrolets — which they kept as long as they could, before moving on to the Fords, the last players in the rear-drive squad car game.
Dodge Neon, Stratus, Ram, and Caravan, and Chrysler PT Cruiser police cars
Mexico City bought 751 Dodge Neons for its police department in 2005, and 409 Dodge Stratus patrol cars in 2006. The Federal police in Mexico bought 816 Dodge Chargers in 2006. James Hale wrote, “In the 1970s they had the Mexican Super Bees, which were two-door fastback Plymouth Dusters with a 4-bbl 318 V8 coupled to a four-speed manual tranny. In 1977 they had the Mexican version of the Aspen/Volare, namely, Dart and Valiant, with the 360 V8. During the 1980s they had E-cars with turbo engines which were really fast too.”
Jeffrey Brindisi that some of the state police departments in the Northeast used two wheel drive blue Dodge Ram pickups; Jeff McDonald pointed out that these were commercial truck enforcement trucks, presumably carrying portable scales for 18-wheelers in their beds.
The official packages from Chrysler were the Intrepid and Jeep Cherokee, but other cars were used by police departments. The PT Cruiser was often a "teenager awareness" car for anti-alcohol and anti-drug educational activities, in its early days, but wasn't used as a cruiser as far as we know.
In 2006, the Dodge Magnum was launched, replacing the Intrepid as a pursuit package; when the sedan version, the Dodge Charger, appeared in police trim, Chrysler started to regain its police sales in earnest. By 2009, the Charger was almost ubiquitous in police fleets, often in small numbers as a “test car” or for special pursuit duty.
2006-2010 police car testing • 2011 Dodge Charger • 2010 and newer Mopar squads
