Jeff Rundles //January 8, 2015//
2015 CHRYSLER 200S AWD
I grew up in Michigan, and I really root for the classic American car companies. I want them to succeed, but I have to tell the truth, which is why I’ve rarely given American cars positive reviews in the last few decades.
So it heartens me that I can finally say something nice about an American car, the 2015 Chrysler 200S AWD. I recommend it for at least a test drive for people looking for a mid-size sedan. But I fear that most of the people I know would rather choose a Honda Accord, VW Passat, Toyota Camry or BMW 3 series. Many Coloradans have a noticeable preference for import cars, and in spite of an effort by Chrysler to create an import aura, the Chrysler 200 is a decidedly classic American car.
It just drives differently – like a big American car. This is not the Chrysler 300 – a VERY big American car that I reviewed unfavorably – but it still harkens back more to a 1983 Chrysler Sebring than to a 2014 Toyota. The quality is up there with Toyota, but if you are someone who likes the feel of a real import, the Chrysler 200 is not for you.
Having said that, I think this Chrysler 200 is a great car for Colorado. It is, for one major thing, one of the only mid-size sedans – and the cheapest on the market – with All Wheel Drive (AWD), arguably the best safety feature of all.
The 200’s AWD kicks in only when you need it, and it dials down the extra grip to save on fuel when conditions are dry and smooth. Then it also sends power to the wheel wear the grip is needed in slippery conditions. It’s just exactly what you’d want for Colorado’s fickle conditions: the ability to have some gas mileage on the dry days and the safety of AWD when it rains or snows.
Here are some of the other features, with my comments:
The Chrysler 200S is a very, very quiet car, also very comfortable, and it features a nice, large back seat that is quiet roomy for three passengers. There is also a large trunk – golf clubs fit sideways (a plus) and this car will carry a foursome.
But – there’s always a but – the Chrysler 200 drives like a big car, not a sporty import. It drives nicely but lumbers a bit.
You can get this car (a 200) with a 184 hp, 2.4-liter I4 engine, rated at 23/36 mpg, with a base price of about $21,700; pretty good all around. This S model features a 295 hp V-6 rated 18/29 in AWD. The base price is $28,695 for this S AWD, and that includes a lot of nice standards. My test-drive model carried some extras, including nearly a $1000 destination charge, and the bottom line was $34,065.
That’s a competitive price on a very nice car. But, as I said, anyone looking for an “import” won’t find much solace here.
RATING: 3 ¾ WHEELS (OUT OF FOUR)