Chrysler introduced the 200 to the competitive midsize-sedan segment for the 2011 model year. It’s offered as a five-seat sedan and a four-seat convertible and is available with four-cylinder or V-6 power. Competitors include the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
New for 2012 There are no significant changes for 2012.
Exterior The 200’s predecessor, the Sebring, wasn’t what you’d call a gracefully styled sedan, but Chrysler designers updated the 200’s exterior to make it a little more like one. The design is sleeker, and it introduced a new Chrysler wing badge that’s more abstract than before. The 200’s headlights resemble those from the 200C concept car, and they incorporate LED light pipes that give the headlights a high-tech look at night.
There’s still the stubby trunk lid at the rear, along with the familiar arcing C-pillars, but the 200’s revised tail lost much of the older Sebring’s chunkiness, thanks to new taillights and trim pieces. Exterior features include:
Standard 17-inch steel wheels with covers; 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheels optional
Standard power heated side mirrors
Standard remote keyless entry
Standard variable intermittent windshield wipers
Optional power sunroof
Power cloth soft-top or power-retractable hardtop (convertible)
Interior The 200’s interior has a dashboard that uses nice materials and exhibits Chrysler’s greater attention to detail in things like the air vents and door trim inserts. The end result is cabin quality that should be reasonably competitive for a few years. Interior features include:
Standard cloth seats; leather upholstery optional
Standard manual air conditioning; automatic air conditioning optional
Standard CD stereo with MP3 jack
Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls
Standard 60/40-split folding backseat (sedan)
Optional heated front seats
Optional touch-screen stereo with 28 gigabytes of music storage
Optional navigation system
Under the Hood The 200’s base engine is a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Depending on the trim level, it teams with either a four- or six-speed automatic transmission. Chrysler’s 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 is optional, and it works with a six-speed automatic. Mechanical features include:
