2013 Chrysler 200

TAUT SUSPENSION
The old Sebring drove like a softly-sprung rental car, but the 2013 Chrysler 200's revamped suspension and steering place it at the top of its category. It's an unexpected but welcome pleasure.

GARMIN NAVIGATION RADIO
Chrysler's newest audio units feature mapping by industry-leader Garmin. Not only is the system intuitively simple to operate, the large 6.5-inch screen makes it easy for older eyes to navigate the on-screen commands.

Goodbye, sow's ear; hello, silk purse. Deep blacks, rich browns and warm tans replace the old Chrysler interior palate of hard plastic finishes and dowdy colors. Sweeping, richly-textured, soft-touch surfaces display fewer seams but more chrome and metallic trim, elevating the 2013 Chrysler 200's cabin to Business Class if not First. Layered trim replaces unsightly gaps, and instrumentation combines modern function with classic style. Both cloth and leather seats are well-tailored, but rear legroom is tight if the front seats are adjusted for six-footers. A driver's lumbar adjuster and split-folding rear seatbacks are standard on every model. Noise insulation is admirable, which is great for Bluetooth users.

The 2013 Chrysler 200, as its name implies, looks more like a Chrysler 300 in training than an entry-level mid-size sedan. LED-accented headlights flank the new corporate grille. Chrome details are generous but tasteful, and 17- and 18-inch wheels add to its premium presence. The 200 sits lower than the Sebring, for a more aggressive stance, and Chrysler even took pains to conceal the more unsightly underpinnings visible on the old Sebring. The overall effect is a car that went to finishing school rather than being rushed to market.

Chrysler's 2.4-liter 4-cylinder is not the most refined engine in its class but, with 173 horsepower on tap, it's not the weakest either. When paired with the 6-speed transmission, this engine can move the 2013 Chrysler 200 briskly and promises fuel economy near the top of its class. For an extra $1,750, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is the engine to have. Smooth, potent and nearly as efficient, it turns the 200 from a sleeper to a keeper.

2.4-liter inline-4
173 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
166 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg (4-speed automatic), 20/31 mpg (6-speed automatic), 18/27 mpg (convertible)

3.6-liter
283 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/29 mpg

The 2013 Chrysler 200 LX carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just under $20,000. The 200 Touring bumps the price to just over $22,500, while the convertible starts around $28,000 and tops out near $36,000 fully loaded and with the retractable hard top. Compare the base Volkswagen Jetta at just over $18,000 or the roomier Honda Accord LX at about $22,000 (both with automatic transmission) and Chrysler's 200 now seems in line. To make your best deal on a 2013 Chrysler 200, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price and see what others in your area are paying. As for resale, we think the Chrysler 200 will do a little better than its Sebring predecessor, meaning its 5-year resale values will likely remain on the lower end of the category, lower than the Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata, and much lower than the Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

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