2015 Chrysler 200: Spend More, Get More

The 2015 Chrysler 200 is a colossal do-over for the domestic-by-way-of-Italy brand, a new mid-size sedan that rides on an Alfa Romeo platform and wears entirely new duds in an effort to wipe away the memories of the competent, but never spectacular 200 of old.  Family sedans might not be the biggest business in Canada, but Chrysler has enjoyed some success in that area and is looking to solidify its power play for first place with the fresh 200.

It's hoping to do that in two ways: style and value.  The 2015 Chrysler 200 aims to out-package its rivals from Ford, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, while at the same time creating a much more pleasing visual environment inside the car that is in better keeping with Chrysler's positioning as a semi-premium product.

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Competing on value is a time-honoured tactic in the automotive industry that is fraught with a very specific peril: it can sometimes stretch out the gap between the entry-level version and top-tier edition of a car so wide that driving both back-to-back almost feels like moving between two totally different models.  Such was the case with the 2015 Chrysler 200.

Don't Fear The Tigershark

Chrysler has taken to giving several of its new engines entertaining names, such as the 2.4-liter, four-cylinder 'Tigershark' found under the hood of the base (and several other) editions of the 2015 Chrysler 200.  The unit itself isn't all bad, as it delivers 184 horses and 173 lb-ft of torque with the requisite gusto to get the sedan moving off of the line.  The nine-speed automatic transmission that the four-banger is yoked too, however, isn't quite as polished.  Designed to eke out as much fuel efficiency as possible, the gearbox regularly assaulted the senses with hard shifts, particularly when moving from first to second at part-throttle.  Requesting a down-shift with my foot to the floor also seemed to induce a hunt through three possible cogs before selecting the best option, which can be interpreted as lag by a driver attempting to complete a passing manoeuvre as quickly as possible.

Pentastar Dreaming

Fortunately the 2015 Chrysler 200 can also be had with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, and the additional torque produced by this mill more than makes up for the notchy nature of the  automatic.  This was no surprise to me, having previously sampled the smaller Pentastar available with the Jeep Cherokee (which also comes with the new nine-speed) with similar results.  The six-cylinder pushes out 295 horses and 262 lb-ft of twist and unlike the smaller engine is available with the choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive.  The difference in character between the 200's optional drivetrains is marked, as the V6 transforms the soft and bland base model into a more appealing driver.

A Warm And Cozy Place

In addition to body work that now flows and ebbs with more grace than ever before the 2015 Chrysler 200 has seen substantial work done to ensure that its passenger compartment is near the top of the class in terms of fit and finish.  The effort is for the most part a success, with a new rotary shift knob freeing up enough space in the center console to create a massive pass-through storage area as well as a deep pocket underneath the cup holders.  The layout of the dashboard is also an improvement, with a small climate control pod nestled underneath either a small five-inch LCD touchscreen on Limited models or the full-on 8.4-inch Uconnect screen on higher trim levels.  Uconnect is the best in the business when it comes to vehicle interfaces, and the Chrysler 200 complements its presence with an available LCD screen in the gauge pod that can be configured by the driver.

Passenger space front and rear is good for the mid-size Chrysler 200, but there's a big asterisk that must be appended to that particular judgment.  Given that the 200 rides on a stretched version of the same platform that underpins the Dodge Dart compact sedan, and considering its sloped rear roofline, I had to contort myself into a pretzel-like shape in order to fit through the too-small door opening at the back of the car.  I am not a tall man - if I were, I imagine that entry might have been impossible.  Chrysler has sacrificed a lot of practicality for style points in this area, and I have to question the wisdom of this particular design.

A 200 For Every Budget - But The Action Is At The Top

The 2015 Chrysler 200 starts at $22,485, but moving up through the various trim levels (including the 200 Limited, S, and C) can eventually see you paying just under $40,000 for a fully-equipped model.  This is a broad spread, and one that actually slightly crests rivals like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord once comparable options are factored in.

That's important, because you are going to want to spec a V6 as well as the Uconnect system in order to get the most out of this sedan: the entry-level version of the 200 simply isn't as appealing as it needs to be to take on dominant models like the Ford Fusion.  Ultimately, it's by flexing its premium muscles that Chrysler is able to push the 200 into the family car conversation - not by appealing to the cost-conscious shoppers working on a budget of $25,000 or less.  No matter how much you pay, however, you're going to have trouble getting into that back seat.