2012 Chrysler 200 Review and Road Test

By David Louis Johnson
For years Chrysler has struggled in the mid-size sedan segment with their un-loved Sebring. Their replacement the 200 is aiming to change that. Re-named to fall into the line-up below the 300, the 200 has many modern features such as bluetooth, heated seats and LED light strips in the headlights. Some DNA is carried over from the Sebring, but Chrysler promises that this is a new car. On first sight this is hard for some to believe as it shares common styling with the Sebring. Over all Chrysler has made a decent effort to modernize the look of the car.

Inside the cabin is an improvement over the Sebring with better materials and some nice touches like an analogue clock in the middle of the dash. Put your hand on the dash and the material is soft to the touch, not the hard plastic you might expect. Strategically placed chrome trim also helps liven up the inside. No doubt this is light years ahead of the Sebring. Then is it a nice interior? Don't be so sure, while it is better than those that came before it there is still an intangible cheap feeling. Interior noise levels are higher than on many of its competitors such as the Chevrolet Malibu. The dome lights give off a very harsh bright white light that is enough to make you feel like you're in Guantanamo Bay.

On the road the 200 has a decently comfortable ride. The suspension is firm but not overly so and the handling is good. Steering feel is numb and unresponsive like many other midsize cars. Going over bumps the car feels solid enough. Under acceleration the 2.4L 173 horsepower 4 cylinder engine feels lacking. Overall the driving experience to under-whelming and forgettable. Driving it you can't escape the feeling that Chrysler is the last American car company holding onto their age old formula: build it cheap and market it well. The Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu have managed to cast off that reputation but it won't be so easy for the 200.

Most people will want to opt for the 6-speed transmission for best performance and fuel economy. Our test car was equipped with the 2.4L 4 cylinder, while the optional 283 horsepower 3.6L Pentastar V6 promises to deliver class leading performance.

Bottom line: Not a bad mid-size car, but a tough sell against better and well priced competitors like the Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima.

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