Mission accomplished for Chrysler, who successfully transformed the lacklustre Sebring sedan into the more competitive 200. Sales have doubled in 2012 compared to the previous year, and when you add the sales numbers of the very similar Dodge Avenger, Chrysler sells more midsize sedans in Canada than any other automaker, beating out the Toyota Camry, the Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Sonata.
While numbers don’t lie, they don’t always tell the whole truth. The 2013 Chrysler 200 S is a quick, quiet and comfortable sedan; however, when you start comparing it against its rivals (the redesigned 2013 Honda Accord in particular), the 200 quickly loses its shine. Its lower price, before and after various manufacturer rebates, is its most appealing advantage.
The 200 ranks mid-pack in its category in regards to interior dimensions. Front and rear space isn’t as generous as in the Accord and the Nissan Altima. The 200 also loses points in terms of refinement, fuel economy and resale value compared to the competition.
As this is being written, a Chrysler 200 can be had with a $3,600 discount, which compensates for its overall shortcomings. As the sales numbers suggest, a lot of people (and, admittedly, rental fleets) are looking for a good deal and not necessarily the best all-around car in a given category.
From that perspective, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is worth a look.
V6 power
Although base versions of the 2013 Chrysler 200 are equipped by a 2.4L inline-4, the smooth and powerful 3.6L V6 is the engine of choice, and it’s standard when you choose the S trim. Producing 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the 6-cylinder motor provides very good performance, despite some noticeable torque steer.
The 6-speed automatic shifts almost imperceptibly during full-throttle acceleration and keeps the engine in its powerband. When you press on the gas to speed up, you’ll get the occasional lag in responsiveness, as if the transmission was mulling a one- or two-gear downshift before reacting.
The 2013 Chrysler 200’s ride is very pleasing. The suspension overhaul Chrysler performed for the 2011 model year provides a quiet drive, while road imperfections are easily soaked up with minimal floatiness. In short, not too soft, not too firm: just right.
Fuel economy is rated at 11.0/6.8 L/100km city/highway. The gutsy V6 spins at only 1,700 rpm at a steady 100 km/h, which helped achieve a respectable 10.3L/100km average during the test. The 2.4L engine is not much better on gas.
Fit and finish trails the competition
While the material quality and assembly are much better than in the old Sebring, the general atmosphere feels subpar compared to its established rivals, especially since the Accord, the Fusion and the Altima have all been redesigned for the 2013 model year.
The general appearance is pleasing if not breathtaking, and yet there are some details that remind us of the car’s sticker price; the leather seat upholstery looks like vinyl, the contrast stitching is too white, and there are exposed bolts on the seat tracks. The trunklid’s wiring harness is shamelessly exposed, and there is no pull handle to close the lid without getting your hands dirty.
As for the S trim, there’s isn’t much to get excited about over the Limited version, because there are no performance upgrades. You get sportier looking polished alloy wheels, blacked-out headlight clusters, a black grille, dual exhaust tips as well as body-colour mirrors and door handles (instead of chrome). However, the car’s drive isn’t sportier. Still, no other version of the 2013 Chrysler 200 looks as good.
Segment price leader
Starting at $19,995 before taxes, freight and delivery charges, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is, along with the Avenger, the most affordable midsize sedan in Canada.
Our S tester, equipped with the Sun and Nav II Package, costs $30,885. You get a fair amount of features for the price, including heated front seats, a power sunroof, climate control, a power driver’s seat and Chrysler’s Media Centre 730N system which bundles navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio connectivity as well as a voice recognition system.
While numbers don’t lie, they don’t always tell the whole truth. The 2013 Chrysler 200 S is a quick, quiet and comfortable sedan; however, when you start comparing it against its rivals (the redesigned 2013 Honda Accord in particular), the 200 quickly loses its shine. Its lower price, before and after various manufacturer rebates, is its most appealing advantage.
The 200 ranks mid-pack in its category in regards to interior dimensions. Front and rear space isn’t as generous as in the Accord and the Nissan Altima. The 200 also loses points in terms of refinement, fuel economy and resale value compared to the competition.
As this is being written, a Chrysler 200 can be had with a $3,600 discount, which compensates for its overall shortcomings. As the sales numbers suggest, a lot of people (and, admittedly, rental fleets) are looking for a good deal and not necessarily the best all-around car in a given category.
From that perspective, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is worth a look.
V6 power
Although base versions of the 2013 Chrysler 200 are equipped by a 2.4L inline-4, the smooth and powerful 3.6L V6 is the engine of choice, and it’s standard when you choose the S trim. Producing 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the 6-cylinder motor provides very good performance, despite some noticeable torque steer.
The 6-speed automatic shifts almost imperceptibly during full-throttle acceleration and keeps the engine in its powerband. When you press on the gas to speed up, you’ll get the occasional lag in responsiveness, as if the transmission was mulling a one- or two-gear downshift before reacting.
The 2013 Chrysler 200’s ride is very pleasing. The suspension overhaul Chrysler performed for the 2011 model year provides a quiet drive, while road imperfections are easily soaked up with minimal floatiness. In short, not too soft, not too firm: just right.
Fuel economy is rated at 11.0/6.8 L/100km city/highway. The gutsy V6 spins at only 1,700 rpm at a steady 100 km/h, which helped achieve a respectable 10.3L/100km average during the test. The 2.4L engine is not much better on gas.
Fit and finish trails the competition
While the material quality and assembly are much better than in the old Sebring, the general atmosphere feels subpar compared to its established rivals, especially since the Accord, the Fusion and the Altima have all been redesigned for the 2013 model year.
The general appearance is pleasing if not breathtaking, and yet there are some details that remind us of the car’s sticker price; the leather seat upholstery looks like vinyl, the contrast stitching is too white, and there are exposed bolts on the seat tracks. The trunklid’s wiring harness is shamelessly exposed, and there is no pull handle to close the lid without getting your hands dirty.
As for the S trim, there’s isn’t much to get excited about over the Limited version, because there are no performance upgrades. You get sportier looking polished alloy wheels, blacked-out headlight clusters, a black grille, dual exhaust tips as well as body-colour mirrors and door handles (instead of chrome). However, the car’s drive isn’t sportier. Still, no other version of the 2013 Chrysler 200 looks as good.
Segment price leader
Starting at $19,995 before taxes, freight and delivery charges, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is, along with the Avenger, the most affordable midsize sedan in Canada.
Our S tester, equipped with the Sun and Nav II Package, costs $30,885. You get a fair amount of features for the price, including heated front seats, a power sunroof, climate control, a power driver’s seat and Chrysler’s Media Centre 730N system which bundles navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio connectivity as well as a voice recognition system.
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