Chrysler 200 Des Moines

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After a complete overhaul last year and a new name (it used to be the Sebring), the Chrysler 200 heads into 2012 with no significant changes.  The Chrysler 200 comes standard with a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter double-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing that gives it more flexibility in delivering low-rpm torque (160 foot-pounds) and high-rpm horsepower while delivering good fuel economy, and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine is optional generating 283 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque, with two automatic transmission choices.  The 2012 Chyrlser 200 has a nice, composed ride and its handling is excellent. 

Interior Features of the '12 Chrysler 200

The Chrysler 200 instrument panel, seat trim, door panels and door pockets have all been redesigned for more comfort and utility.  Safety equipment on the Chrysler 200 includes front, side and roof curtain air bags, and ABS disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, traction control, and electronic stability control, in addition to the mandated tire-pressure monitor.  The instrument panel contains the usual three-round-gauge package, and is much more pleasing to the eye after the 2011 redesign, with gray-on-gray graphics and white accent lighting that is brilliantly legible at night when the display remains gray on gray. The center portion of the instrument panel has also been modernized and treated to just enough chrome accents.

Exterior Features of the '12 Chrysler 200

At the rear, there's a cross-car chrome bar between the new LED taillamps and another chrome bar down between the exhaust outlets that serve to widen the look of the car. AllChrysler models will have a new wing logo in brushed metal and blue paint to replace the old traditional wing logo.  The roof and doors of the Chrysler 200 came from the Sebring, but the entire nose, decklid, rear fascia, interior and chassis have been replaced with better and more modern stuff, the new car has very large, fully integrated halogen headlamp units that flow around the front corner into the fender, creating a line that goes up over the heavily bulging front fender like other Chryslers and then all the way to the rear of the car through the centerline of the body.

Model Lineup

The 2012 Chrysler 200 is available in midsize sedan and convertible body styles. The sedan comes in an entry-level LX trim, while both can be had in Touring, Limited and S trims.

The LX sedan comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, full power accessories, heated mirrors, cruise control, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel controls. An eight-way power driver seat and heated front seats are optional.

The Touring adds to or supplants the LX's amenities with 17-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded transmission, automatic headlamps, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio. The convertible features a power cloth top and six-way power front seats. The Cold Weather package adds heated front seats and remote ignition. Optional on both the LX and the Touring is the UConnect Voice Command package that contains Bluetooth, an iPod/USB audio interface and an auto-dimming mirror. A touchscreen audio interface that includes DVD audio playback and digital music storage is optional.

The Limited adds to or supplants the Touring's amenities with 18-inch wheels, foglamps and leather upholstery. Options include a navigation system with real-time traffic and a six-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system. The Limited convertible can be equipped with a retractable hardtop.

The 200 S differs from the otherwise identically equipped Limited with a standard V6 engine, dark exterior trim, a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel and the Boston Acoustics sound system. A sunroof is optional on all sedans but the LX.

Options include a sunroof, a cold weather group consisting of heated front seats and remote starting, two different sound system upgrades, one including CD/DVD/MP3 and HDD music storage, and one that adds Garmin navigation (Touring only), something the Sebring did not offer. There's a six-speaker Boston Acoustics upgrade, the UConnect voice-operated phone system, remote starting, a block heater for cold climates, and a smoker's package.

Conclusions

The Chrysler 200 is pretty, the interior is modern and the materials  luxurious, the cabin is quiet, the engine performance in the V6 is excellent, and the crisp, sharp handling is the biggest and most pleasant surprise of all.  If you are in the market for a new car look at the 2012 Chrysler 200.

Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive.com