2015 Chrysler 200 Review

Transformation: The state of being transformed; A change in form, appearance, character or nature.

2015 Chrysler 200 S in Bright White Clearcoat

          This is the Dictionary.com definition of the word transformation. Now if there ever was a need for a visual representation of the word, the 2015 Chrysler 200 might be the prime candidate. All-new for the 2015 model year and marketed as “America’s Import”, the 200 comes with the intention to steal shares of the ever-competitive midsized car market away from the segment champions, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Does it have what it takes to stand out in today’s marketplace? Let’s take an in-depth look today, on Adam’s Autos!

For 2015, the Chrysler 200 sheds its very ho-hum previous design for all new sheet metal that makes it one of the most stylish vehicles currently in the Fiat-Chrysler portfolio. And that’s a GOOD thing. I mean, take a look at the old and new models side-by-side. I doubt anyone will miss the past model. However, its platform twin, the Dodge Avenger, was not lucky enough to receive a complete overhaul and was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Something tells me it won’t be terribly missed either…

The 200 comes in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, and four trim levels: base LX, Limited, S, and C. Only the S and C models can be had with AWD. I recently had the opportunity to drive the Limited model with Chrysler’s 2.4 liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine, and the sportier S model with its 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine. Both were front wheel drive vehicles. You can opt to get the 4 or 6-cylinder engine on higher trims, but only the V6 comes with AWD.

My test drives took place at Garber Chrysler in Saginaw, Michigan, where Mrs. Kelly French was simply MAGNIFICENT in helping me understand just about all aspects of the vehicle. Her passion is second to none, and I STRONGLY recommend you visit her and this dealership if you have any desire to learn more about Chrysler’s latest products! Tell them Adam from Adam's Autos at www.adamsautos.org sent you! From my own family’s buying experiences, Garber automotive group is second-to-none when it comes to getting the customer the best value.

         My initial impressions of the new 200 have mostly been positive, and media reviews have been relatively positive as well. Many modern features such as smart key access, remote start, heated seats, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring are available. While behind the wheel, I noticed that the 3.6 V6 engine always feels strong and seems to have plenty of power from almost any situation. It also sounds refined, yet sporty in everyday driving. That being said, the 2.4 4-cylinder engine should satisfy most everyday drivers, but it is notably less refined and down on power compared to its 6-cylinder counterpart. With 184 horsepower on tap, this is to be expected. Both engines feature modern technological touches, such as variable valve timing and direct-injection, and are mated to ZF’s new 9-speed automatic transmission for passenger cars. Yep, you read that right: 9-speeds. That’s quite unique, and it shows its practicality in the amount of interior storage that has been freed up due to the compact size of its design, its fancy rotary shifter knob, along with the fuel economy ratings for both engines. I did notice that the way the transmission is programmed in the 4-cylinder car made it feel almost like a 4-speed automatic transmission at times. In other words, shifts points were very long. Having so many extra gears may feel odd to some that are not used to it while driving, so keep that in mind. The S model felt sportier than the 2.4 Limited due to its suspension tuning and added engine power, but still doesn’t feel as sharp as one might expect. But then again, if you’re buying a car in this midsized category, you’re probably not looking for full-on sports car attributes (unless you’re considering a Mazda 6). The brakes feel strong on all models.

           In terms of other driving dynamics and vehicle impressions, the 200’s overall interior was pretty high quality and quiet in both models I tested. Tire noise is evident at times, but not objective, and as mentioned, the 2.4 4-cylinder’s sounds intrude more than the V6 engine sounds do. Ride quality is comfortable in all models, although it can feel more firm with the larger tire sizes. The base 6 speaker sound system will likely be loud enough for most, but in the case it isn’t, Chrysler offers an uplevel 506-watt 9-speaker Alpine sound system in the 200, complete with a subwoofer and navigation, all fed through Chrysler’s excellent UConnect infotainment system. This system is easily one of the most intuitive in the business, and combines practicality with functionality well. Smaller 5.0 touchscreens are standard on most trims (except the LX), but you can option up to the gigantic 8.4-inch touchscreen, and even to an even more beautiful gauge cluster. The overall effect is quite upscale, and soft-touch and leather stitched interior materials add even further to the ambience. I liked the black and blue leather and dashboard trim in my white S tester. Top-end C models even get real wood trim on the dashboard! The only major downside to the interior is that while the seats and headrests are comfortable, the headrests are quite large, and I had difficult time seeing over them and over the high rear decklid. Rear seat space can also feel confining if the front seats are pushed too far back. Trunk space is on-par with the midsized class, and interior storage is ahead of the game, again, due to the compact space-saving design of the 9-speed automatic in the 200.

2015 Chrysler 200 Limited in Vivid Blue Pearlcoat

            Pricing for the new 200 starts at $21,995 for the base LX model, and can reach the upper $30,000 range for a fully loaded C model with the Navigation and Sound package and panoramic sunroof option. These prices are on par with the competition these days, as all entrants are becoming more luxurious and higher in quality.

So is the new Chrysler 200 worth all of the hype? In many ways, yes. And in a few spots, it may still need some improvement. But this always holds true for many models across all automakers, and I believe that the Chrysler 200 is definitely light-years ahead of the older model it replaces. And that’s saying A LOT about the future of this model, and the future Chrysler in general.

That wraps it up for this review! So until next time: ROLL ON!

Grading

Engine Power/Economy: A-, 9 points (3.6 V6), B, 7 points (2.4 4-cylinder)

Quietness: A-, 9 points (3.6), B+, 8 points (2.4)

Interior Quality & Comfort: B+, 8 points

Driving Dynamics: B, 7 points (3.6), B-, 6 points (2.4)

Cargo Capacity: A, 10 points

Overall: 43/50 (B, 3.6 V6), 39/50 (C+, 2.4 4-cylinder)

On the Adam’s Autos “Should You Buy It?” scale of Drool, Cool, Meh, or Bleh: It’s “Cool”

Other Specs

Engines Available: 2.4 liter Tigershark 4-cylinder (184 HP), 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 (295 HP)

Fuel Economy Ratings: 23 city/36 highway (2.4), 18 city/32 highway (3.6)

Transmissions Available: 9-speed automatic

Model Pricing: $21,995 (LX) - $30,195 (C w/All-Wheel Drive)

Trim Levels: LX, Limited, S, C

Available Safety Systems: Blind Spot Monitoring, Active Forward-Collision Warning/w Automatic Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear-View Camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning w/Lane Keep Assist, All Airbags (Front, Side, Curtain, Knees), Advanced Brake Assist, Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, Rain-Sensing Wipers

Crash Test Results: IIHS 2015 Top Safety Pick+

IIHS Offset: Good

IIHS Small Overlap: Good

IIHS Side: Good

Roof Strength: Good

Head Restraints & Seats: Good

Star Ratings: Frontal Driver- 5 Stars  Frontal Passenger- 5 Stars  Front Side Crash- 5 Stars  Rear Side Crash- 5 Stars  Rollover- 4 Stars

Key Competitors: All vehicles in the midsized car segment, which includes the: Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Volkswagen Passat, Subaru Legacy, & Nissan Altima

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