The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Let’s face it. At heart, this is a nation that loves big cars.

But this makes sense. Way back when in European cities, all sorts of conveyances were pulled at only a couple miles per hour through the streets by horses, oxen or people. And now, with the ancient roadways plus incredibly high gas prices, it’s little wonder they prefer cars about as big as Osama Bin Laden’s heart.

But here in the good ol’ land of the free and home of the brave, we have lotsa room — it is, after all, a big country. So there’s something oh-so-right about Chrysler’s latest broad-shouldered sedan, the LHS.

This car was engineered alongside the Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler Concorde and 300M, so it’s no surprise that they all share basic engineering and, to a broad degree, handling feel. But the LHS is the largest of Chrysler’s large-sedan line. It’s 207.7 inches long, with a truly mammoth 113-inch wheelbase. Cargo volume is an impressive 18.7 cubic feet, with a cargo net mounted mid-trunk, not only to hold objects, but to divide this large space. So in size, this 3,579-pound sedan is a typical large American car.

But this elephant can samba.

Since it’s derived from the Intrepid/Concorde/300M trio, it has most of the same manners. Take it into a corner and the LHS turns sharply. Push it really hard and the car’s luxury demeanor is betrayed by modest tire-squealing, but it still hangs in there. Rippled road surfaces proved little bother — the car showed remarkable composure. Certainly, it was superior to some of its domestic competition.

Acceleration is the best of the bunch, with an all-aluminum 3.5-liter V-6 putting out 253 horsepower — exclusive to the LHS and 300M only. The single overhead-cam engine furnishes good response. The four-speed downshifts readily, although it occasionally jerks into gear. Response from the anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes was good, although pedal feel was spongy. Steering was light, so it can take a bit of cranking the wheel to move this car around.

Although not as quiet as some cars of this station, tire noise and road noise are a bit more intrusive than they should be. But the car has an opulent feel nonetheless. Thank the designers for this one.

From the back, the car is almost identical to the Concorde, but the LHS’s added length and the presence of Chrysler’s winged badge give it away. The inspiration for the exterior design came from Chrysler’s 1996 LHX concept car as well as Chrysler’s mid-’50s period look. The strength and simplicity have been translated into the modern idiom, with compact projector beam headlamps nestled beside a large egg-crate grille with chrome trim lifted from Chrysler’s own mid-’50s Chrysler/Ghia show cars. The C-pillar of the greenhouse is rounded rather than the more formal upright look of its predecessor, giving the car a sportier air.

The LHS’s interior has an equally interesting look that’s visually stunning. White-faced gauges with chrome-trimmed bezels combine w ith Art Deco graphics to give the instrumentation a classic retro look. The analog clock in the center of the instrument panel, nestled in an art-deco winged motif, echoes the gauges.

Under the clock is the automatic climate control, which worked well. The fan can be a bit noisy when first cooling down the cabin.

The premium Infinity AM/FM/ cassette/CD audio system delivered great sound, but the CD player skipped a little too easily over bumps. The LHS is a five-passenger car, with plenty of storage in the center console, along with the requisite cup holders.

Further enhancing this car’s luxury feel was the perforated leather on the heated seats, doors and steering wheel. The seats felt wonderful, and provided excellent comfort and support.

The rear seat is positively limo-like, with plenty of leg room. Head room can be tight because of the sloping roofline. This makes the seat bottom a little low, but not so bad as some GM cars.

Other little lu xuries include an an eight-way power driver’s seat, memory system for the driver’s seat, mirrors and radio setting, and a security system, among other features. The test car had a computer console that kept track of mileage, distance to empty and direction. The rear-view mirror was auto-dimming, a real convenience at night. Automatic on/off headlamps and automatic door locks, two features first seen on GM cars, also are standard. All nice touches.

Assembly quality was quite good, better than previous Chryslers. Some plastics felt a little hard for the price, but this is an all-too-common malady these days.

The big car is quite popular around here, and it’s easy to see why. With plenty of room, power and distinctive styling, this modern iteration of the large American car speaks with an athleticism that suggests this segment is reinvigorated and ready to roar.

1999 Chrysler LHS

Engine: Single overhead-cam, 24-valve V-6

Rating: 253 horsepower

Transmission: four-speed automatic

Tires: P225/55R17 Touring

Standard features: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, intermittent speed-sensitive wipers, height adjustable shoulder belts, automatic climate control, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt steering wheel, memory driver’s seat/mirrors/radio presets, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry, security alarm, AM/ FM/cassette/equalizer seven-speaker stereo, heated front seats, automatic headlamps, fog lamps, heated outside mirrors, power trunk lid, aluminum wheels.

Major options: Moon roof, chrome wheels, smoker’s group

Base price: $28,400

As tested: $30,410

EPA rating: 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway