Former ugly duckling morphs into a beauty
Performance enhanced to match new looks
Overview Stylish, affordable family sedan
Pros Powertrain, fuel economy, road manners
Cons Paddle shifters, small trunk pass-through, awkward rear seat ingress
Value for money Good
What would I change? Ditch the base four-cylinder engine and make the sweet V6 standard across the entire range.
The previous Chrysler 200 was not only poorly conceived it was a stodgy stylistic blob.
Neither trait was good for sales. Its replacement addresses both of these problems very effectively. This time around the lines are crisp, the lighting is jewel-like and the roofline is windswept. The good news is the 200 Limited tested had the mechanical wherewithal to back up its smart new looks.
The 200 Limited arrives with an advanced powertrain. True, the 2.4-litre Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder is a little anemic making just 184 horsepower — it also sounds as though it is labouring when worked. However, option up to the 3.6L Pentastar V6 ($2,000) and the 200 Limited becomes a legitimate speedster. It not only packs a hefty 295 hp punch and, more importantly, twists out 262 pound-feet of torque, it is smooth and refined even when worked at the top end of the rev range. In this regard it is one of the better V6 engines around.
Marry the engine’s willing work ethic with a nine-speed manumatic transmission and you have a speedy ride. The Limited cantered to 100 kilometres an hour in 6.6 seconds and accomplished the 80 to 120 km/h move in 4.7 seconds, which is very good.
In somewhat of a twist, the nine-speed transmission proved to be remarkably well sorted — there’s a litany of headaches with variants of this ZF transmission. In the case of the Jeep Cherokee, the transmission hardly ever sees eighth gear never mind sliding into ninth! I was expecting the same sort of performance in the 200.
Remarkably, it was the model of civility regardless of whether loafing along or enjoying the fruits of the V6 engine. The other upside of having so many speeds was the average fuel economy — at 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres, I enjoyed better fuel economy than I do from my car and its 2.0L four-cylinder engine!
The oddity with the transmission proved to be the paddle shifters — they are half the length of regular paddles and they sit immediately above the audio controls on the reverse of the steering wheel. This meant that rather than bumping up or down a cog there was a better than 50/50 chance I changed radio stations!
No complaints with the ride and handling. It has been well thought through. The front struts and multi-link rear suspension proved to be comfortable when cruising the highway, yet it hunkered down when I dropped the hammer and put the boots to it through a series of lefts and rights. There was minimal body roll and understeer only surfaced as the limit neared — credit the optional P235/45R18 tires and the lateral grip they afford. It was not what I was expecting of a family sedan. Likewise, the electrically-assisted power steering, unlike so many similar systems, has some real feel and decent feedback. It all came together to provide an unexpectedly sporty feel.
The interior takes a leaf out of the exterior’s bold book and tempers it with a degree of luxury. The seating is comfortable, the sightlines are uncluttered and the features are as expected. The luxury aspect comes in three definitive forms. First, the materials are nowhere near as cheesy as before and the fit and finish is now up to market demands. Second is the seven-inch “Command Centre” instrumentation. It’s not only reconfigurable; the format is stylish beyond its station in life. The blue aura, as seen at night, is classy to look, it’s easy to pick off the required information and, most importantly, it’s easy on the eyes, which reduces fatigue.
Th ird is Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system. The optional 8.4A system (named for its 8.4-inch screen) is, in my book, the best infotainment system available. You name it and it is accomplished with an ease that is so sorely lacking with many other systems. Heck, the phone all but pairs itself!
Finally, I was impressed by how sensibly the options are priced. The comfort group (a must) includes dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, backup camera and remote starter, among other things, for $795. Likewise, the upgrade from Uconnect 5.0 to the infinitely better navigation-ready 8.4A will set a potential buyer back just $800. Want smarter 18-inch wheels and larger tires? Try $295!
The rest of the car is just as well envisioned, if a little lacking in some areas. The back seat is comfortable and wide enough for three riders, although the central tunnel and the rear of the centre console do get in the way. Likewise, the fast nature of the roofline as it sweeps over the rear doors does hinder entry to the back seat somewhat, but in this case I’ll take form over function. Aft of that is a 453-litre trunk.
Once the poor relation in the affordable family car brigade, the 200 has been reworked to great effect. It has undeniable style and it now has the substance to live up to its snappy looks.