The 2015 Chrysler 200 offers up a beautified interior, improved cockpit technology and an upgraded power plant to make it a player in the midsize, affordable sedan market.
Before the Chrysler 200 met its curious public at NYIAS 2014, its creators invited journalists to Louisville and the home of its famous Sluggers to take a swing at driving the new car through the Kentucky hills.
Starting at just around $21,700, the 200 features a new design language for Chrysler, featuring a more aerodynamic body line and a sleeker front grill facia.
But, the real steps forward for Chrysler are tucked inside the 200’s skin. The car is the first mid-size sedan that comes standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission controlled by an electronic shifting rotary dial. That transmission can tie the 3.6 liter Pentastar V-6 engine (295 horsepower) or the standard 2.4 liter MultiAir2 Tigershark I-4 (184 horsepower).
The new 200 design banks on appealing to midsize buyers with fuel economy of up to 36 mpg, depending on the engine selection. Chrysler reports that a 5 mpg improvement over the outgoing model it’s replacing.
Trim selection vary between the LX, Limited, S and C. Advanced selected features include an all-wheel drive system with a fully disconnecting rear axle that saves fuel by switching to front-wheel drive when all-wheel drive is not needed The all-wheel-drive system includes a one-speed Power Transfer Unit that disconnects and reconnects the rear axle as needed and at any speed.
All that is a fancy way of saying the car uses what it needs to use under different driving conditions in an effort to save gas as often as possible.
The driving experience is smooth, if not distinct. Acceleration is consistent and handling grounded. No one will mistake it for a performance car, and they shouldn‘t. This is a car designed for comfortable, reliable and affordable transportation.
The Chrysler 200 will compete in a difficult class, to say the least. Mid-size sedans include the VW Jetta, Ford Fusion, Car of the Year contender Mazda 6 and Toyota Camry (the top selling car in the world). But, it’ll make a hearty run at some of the market share with its upgraded tech and improved MPG.
