Now I must confess, from day one I have never really liked the retro-design of the PT Cruiser, but just the same I credit
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| The retro-feeling primary gauges are smallish in size and set within three separate circular openings directly ahead of the driver. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Chrysler for having the gumption to have thought it up and then make it so successful. Personally I find the vehicle a little too high-waisted and old-school for me to fawn over, but we all know that, in the case of vehicles, taste is in the key of the beholder. That being said, the shapely fenders and pointy grille offer a level of distinction that sets it apart in a world of look-alike design themes. The PT's build quality appears above average too, with body panel spacing that is accurate with fairly narrow gaps. The yesteryear appeal of the PT's exterior carries through to its cockpit and dash design as well. The primary gauges are smallish in size and set within three separate circular openings directly ahead of the driver. The large captain-style front seats provide superb comfort and adjustability. But I was slightly disappointed by the expansive use of molded plastic paneling on the doors and rear sidewalls of the cab. The door panels look attractive enough given their two-tone accented theme and curvaceous sculpting, but to the touch they feel a little low rent. Albeit this is perhaps too harsh a criticism for a vehicle that delivers so much fun, performance and style with such minimal financial outlay.
Quite outstanding for the PT's compact size is its generous legroom. Few compact cars provide sufficient rearward seat travel to
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| Surprisingly, front and rear legroom in the Cruiser convertible is abundant. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
fully accommodate my leg span, and therefore I was relieved to find out that the PT could accommodate me comfortably. Front or rear, legroom is abundant. What's not in abundance is rearward visibility. When retracted, the roof embeds itself into a well that is located above the trunk, resulting in a tonneau cover height that impedes rearward visibility. Of course, the suitably sized side mirrors assist in figuring out what traffic may be coming up from behind. The yin to the yang of restricted rearward visibility is the enormous, for a compact convertible, trunk capacity, which can be made even more commodious by folding down and tumbling forward the rear seats. Such clever and efficient space usage in a convertible is extremely rare.
