Chrysler restyles open-air motoring with the new 200 Convertible.
Convertibles are back in style at Chrysler Group. The maker that helped spur the revival of open-top motoring, back in the ‘80s, has updated its Sebring into a much more stylish and desirable offering that means it won’t just land with a thud in the daily rental fleets but actually appeal to retail customers.
The new Chrysler 200 Convertible has been given a complete makeover for 2011 as part of the company’s far reaching effort to rebuild its product line and the effort has paid off handsomely, bringing new life into what had been a neglected part of the company’s product line.
The welcome exterior changes first seen on the Chrysler 200 Coupe have been carried over – and include a new, well-integrated fascia as well as a new hood that gives the vehicle a remarkably improved appearance. The changes to the front continue with the new, more elegant rear fascia as well as the new, redesigned Chrysler badges, which seem to fit nicely into the car.
The newly redesigned Chrysler 200 Convertible is no longer destined to be dumped into daily rental fleets.
In addition, the various 200 models have been dropped closer to the pavement by 12 millimeters in the front to give the car a sleeker appearance and make the new 200 “slipperier” as part of the Chrysler strategy to reduce fuel consumption on all of its vehicles.
Notably the 200 convertible’s exterior design retains the basic shape and appearance of the coupe – and that’s true whichever of the two tops you opt for. No, that’s not a mistake. Chrysler 200 is the only car on the market offered with a choice of either a cloth top or, for a premium of $1,995, you can order the upgraded folding hard top.
You're actually able to use the Chrysler 200 Convertible's back seat.
The latter package, though more costly, has a number of advantages, including safety and security. When up, it makes it difficult for thieves to break into the car, for example. The hard top also is notably quieter. There are some disadvantages, however, including quite a bit more weight.
New 18-spoke wheels are also part of the package.
The real changes to the Chrysler 200 convertible, when compared to the old Sebring, can be found in the interior of the car, which comes complete with a new, one-piece instrument panel and more comfortable seats that change the character of the car substantially, making it more luxurious. Gone, forever, according to the company’s engineers and designers, are the cheap plastic parts that seemed to mire Chrysler vehicles in dreck during the company’s last years under the ownership of Daimler and then Cerberus.
A new 1-piece dash, with its big navi display, underscores the changes to the new Chrysler 200.
With the new convertible, the designers got to mix and match the interior pieces, elevating the appearance so it can hold its own against the competition. It also comes with a usable back seat, a relative rarity in the convertible segment.
The Chrysler 200 also has received some very impressive upgrades in chassis and suspension, which have been completely overhauled by the company’s engineers. The ride and handling improvements are quickly noticeable and most welcome. The car rides better on all kinds of pavement, its steering feel is better and its suspension can handle tight turns with reasonable aplomb.
Even with a number of new features, the Chrysler 200 Convertible is significantly less expensive the old Sebring ragtop - about $1400 for the base car.
The Chrysler 200 is a much more planted car, in general, than the only Sebring, though there is definitely a difference between the coupe and convertible models. You definitely feel the added weight, whether cloth or folding hard top, when you try to weave your way through the winding mountain passes we experienced on our test drive to the east of San Diego.
Chrysler is offering two engine options, including the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, which produces 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, it delivers mileage of 19 mpg in the city, and a very respectable 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The V6 accelerates quickly and smoothly and is great for passing maneuvers .
Two engines options, a V6 and a more fuel-efficient I4, are offered on the Chrysler 200 Convertible.
The less expensive option, the 2.4-liter inline-four, produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque, which is only a trifle slower off the mark , but is still quite a bit of fun to drive and yields an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
The 200 convertible’s standard safety features include advanced multi-stage front passenger airbags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, electronic stability control (ESC) with brake assist and traction control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, brake Override, active front-seat head restraints, lower anchors and tethers for the child seat anchor system, remote keyless illuminated entry, Sentrykey engine immobilizer and security alarm and more.
I also liked the fact the seat belt was integrated into the seat which make is easier to use and gives the seat layout a sportier feel.
The Chrysler 200 Convertible, with its starting price of $27,195, also offers a long list of comfort and entertainment features, including Chrysler’s U-connect hands-free phone system, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls for audio, an analog clock on the instrument panel, air conditioning, sliding sun visors, 12-volt power outlet and an electronic vehicle information system and satellite radio connection and a compass – the latter a feature I wish other automakers would make standard.
Incidentally, the old base ragtop, which was largely used to fill rental lots. But the upgraded CX model still comes in $1,400 cheaper — and that despite a significantly upgraded content list. The Chrysler 200 Convertible Limited sees a $1,500 reduction, at a starting price of $31,990. (Prices shown here including destination charges.)
All in all, in what has become an increasingly dreary age, the Chrysler 200 Convertible has reminded us why convertibles, with their open-air, wind-in-the-face allure are irresistible. When you offer four-seat functionality, what more can you ask from a car company?