Chrysler 200 convertible: Look out summer, here we come!

A few weeks ago in San Diego, California, Chrysler unveiled the convertible version of its new 200. Kudos to Chrysler for knowing that it would have been a bad idea to test drive a convertible in Canada in February!

You guessed it, the 200 convertible is closely related to the sedan, which is closely related to the old Sebring. But don’t kid yourself: the new 200 is, in fact, a revised and corrected version of the Sebring. You can’t be mad at Chrysler though, as their revisions and corrections are a success!

It’s all in the roof

No college diploma needed to understand that it’s the top that sets the 200 convertible apart from the sedan, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that a motorized roof costs a fortune to develop. Since the 200 is an improved Sebring, Chrysler’s engineers used its ancestor’s machinery almost down to the last bolt. And as with the Sebring, the 200 has a canvas top and an optional hard top offered on the more posh model, the Limited. Whatever you choose to protect you from the rain and cold, the space required to tuck it away in the trunk remains the same, which is a little strange when you consider that the canvas top takes up less space...

Stylewise, the 200 features themes already seen on the brand’s other 2011 creations and goes well with the new 300 while holding on to its individuality. In the passenger compartment, the focus is clearly on material quality and assembly. Sure, it’s still no Audi, but there’s a marked improvement compared to the late Sebring. At the presentation of the vehicle, the designer made a big deal about the new look of the clock, but the new steering wheel and set of gauges are the more attractive features. What’s most impressive is the 6.5-inch screen that sits in the middle of the dashboard and contains a Garmin navigation system, a 30 Go hard disc, satellite radio, and then some.

So, why the four-cylinder?

The most significant improvements are not visible at first glance. The 200 still has the 2.4-litre 173-hp four-cylinder engine, a dubious choice that, fortunately, most buyers will avoid. This engine only exists because Chrysler wants to offer a base price of less than $30,000... However, Chrysler’s engineers must be congratulated for replacing the antiquated 3.5-litre V6 with the brand new 3.6 Pentastar featuring 283 horses and 260 lbs-ft of torque. The power is delivered to the front wheels by way of a six-speed automatic transmission and, even better, this engine consumes only slightly more than the four-cylinder and is much easier to live with.

Since the model was undergoing a makeover anyway, Chrysler took the opportunity to firm up the suspension and steering to make it feel a little less like a rental car and the standard tires are now a little larger. Basically, the budget didn’t allow the engineers to go crazy but that didn’t stop them from making several improvements. But is it noticeable on the road?

YES! From the moment you start driving a 200 convertible V6 (there was no four-cylinder during the launch), you feel the power of the V6… along with some torque steer effect! The suspensions are clearly softer than those of the 300 test driven the same day but are clearly more firm than that of the old Sebring. The lateral stability is better than before but it’s still a long way from that of a sports car. A short sprint at 160 km/h (in a safe place, don’t worry) demonstrated a somewhat unstable front end. The 200 convertible is made for the wide boulevards of California and Florida rather than the circuit at Mont-Tremblant!

No complaints about the six-speed transmission, with its fast and timely shifting, and it helps the V6 rev at only 1,600 rpm at 100 km/hr, which ensures reduced fuel consumption and keeps the noise down at cruising speed. On the other hand, its manual mode was unimpressive. When accelerating, the V6 makes a wonderful sound, just like the audio system!
Top down = guaranteed fun

Even with the top down, you can have a normal conversation at 100 km/hr. A windscreen can be installed, thus amputating the two back seats but ensuring less turbulence for the people in the front seats. Obviously, the 200 is prettiest when the top is down. Once the hardtop is up, say goodbye to the pleasant lines. Not that it’s hideous, at least not in this author’s opinion, but the soundproofing isn’t as meticulous as with other vehicles equipped with a hard top. However, the 200 convertible is among the least expensive convertibles on the market, so its little quirks are easily forgiven.

The Chrysler 200 convertible represents a marked improvement compared to the Sebring. Its chassis is more rigid, the steering and suspension are a little sportier and its V6 does its duty with gusto. What’s more, its lines prove very pleasant, and for a convertible, it doesn’t get much less expensive than this! Oh, sure, maybe the Mitsubishi Eclipse is cheaper, but even if they were giving it away, it would still be too expensive... In fact, the competition in this intermediate convertible segment is very thin. Besides the outdated Eclipse, there’s the Mustang sports car, the new and equally sporty Camaro and the excellent but expensive Volkswagen Eos. The price for the 200 convertible ranges from $29,995 for an LX to $38,495 for the Limited. Dealerships will start to receive units of the 200 this spring.