Quick Spin: 2013 Chrysler 200S

2013 Chrysler 200S. Click image to enlarge

Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony

The Chrysler 200 is hands-down the favourite whipping boy of many members in our Autos.ca forum. Chrysler, however, can be forgiven for not hearing their complaints over the sound of overwhelming sales success since the redesign that gave us the 200 over the substandard and ungainly Sebring. Those sales may not measure in the same league as the Camry and Accord in the US market, but almost doubling their sales in Canadian market and improving by 50 percent in the US market can’t all boil down to a great Super Bowl ad.

While the 200 is much improved in the looks department over the Sebring, to my eyes the 200 doesn’t entirely solve the overall awkwardness of Chrysler’s mid-size sedan design. At least they have eliminated or improved some of the more offensive design elements, like the claw marks on the hood and the bulbous headlight lenses. The 200 is significantly sleeker and more modern, its headlights and grille trying to borrow on the 300’s aura. But the profile, particularly the bulging roof and C-pillar, and sloping hood still fail to inspire any desire or interest for this car’s abilities at first glance.

The 200 competes in a crowded mid-size sedan segment, in which household names like the Camry and Accord have risen to the challenges of reinvented American sedans like the Fusion and Malibu while staying ahead of the Korean Sonata and Optima. There are a lot of good cars in this segment, the new Mazda6 and more affordable VW Passat also offering their brands’ unique variations on the theme of practical, easy-to-live-with motoring.

On this front, the Sebring is easy to live with, and as practical as most mid-size sedans are. That awkward roof means rear headroom is reasonable, and the trunk can handle 385 L – this trails the leaders in the segment by quite a bit, but still seems sufficient for most tasks and easily handled my hockey bag and stroller test. However, the trunk lid lacks a handle and on my tester, the spring that pops it open a fraction to allow a hand under its lip was broken so I had to wedge my fingertips into the narrow gap to pry it open.

2013 Chrysler 200S. Click image to enlarge

The front seats in this sample were leather-lined and as comfortable for my body as any typical sofa. The driver’s seat is power adjustable eight ways and seems wide enough to accommodate any type of occupant.

2013 Chrysler 200S. Click image to enlarge

Interior quality, like the design, is much improved, and I have to say that it is equivalent to many in this class, though not the leaders, and the stalk actions for lights, wipers and other functions are very crude and clunky. Design, is of course, a matter of opinion, but this one seems to lack any overarching theme, though it is simple. And while the analog clock is nice, it doesn’t instantly transform the rest of the cabin into an elegant lounge. Everything is in its normal place and easy to use, but the main menu buttons flanking the touchscreen are labelled with rather small text, so until everything becomes intuitive, owners might struggle to find the desired menu button.

The stereo, to my ears, delivered excellent quality (with bass, mid and treble equalizer) accessible through the Uconnect 6.5-inch touchscreen interface, which overall was simple and straightforward to use. But this system is still a generation behind Chrysler’s latest release in the Dodge Dart and updated Grand Cherokee with its far more intuitive and simple design and menus.

2013 Chrysler 200S. Click image to enlarge

Navigating the car in traffic was also a simple affair, thanks mainly to the one true highlight of this vehicle: the 3.6L Pentastar V6. Making 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Say what you will about the Sebring 200, this is an excellent engine, easily one of the best in the segment with its smooth, rich power delivery and silky exhaust note. The six-speed automatic transmission for the most part stays out of the way, but it didn’t do the engine any favours, so let’s hope the nine-speed auto destined for Chrysler FWD products is a better fit. Power comes on strong at any speed and in any gear, except for the occasional throttle hiccup, but the transmission is slow and jerky, especially on downshifts. Let’s hope the advanced transmission can also help with fuel consumption, as I saw 11.4 L/100 km, above the Energuide estimates of 11.0 city and 6.8 highway, but within range of the EPA’s 12.4/8.1/10.7 city/highway/combined.

Beyond the powertrain, the 200 becomes less and less appealing. Ride is passable, mostly isolating out road imperfections, although there are occasional brittle reactions to certain road surfaces. Handling is downright weak, even for this segment, and the steering is lacking in any sort of feedback while feeling incredibly loose and light. The light steering does make parking less strenuous on the arms, but the high bustle trunk and long hood can make parking distances difficult to estimate. A back-up camera would have made things easier, but our press car was not so equipped.

At times, the 200 felt like an engine wrapped in a confusion of available parts. Well, “confusion of available parts” wasn’t exactly the phrase I thought of, but you get the picture. The reality is that after a week in the 200S, I came away thinking that this is a car that you buy based on a deal, not for its superior engineering or intrinsic value. That being said, I’m sure there are deals to be had, but this is a product that Chrysler needs to improve with a mix of European engineering with packaging and tailoring for American tastes. Except for the powertrain department, this car does not hold up under scrutiny, nor does it measure up to any of its competitors, most of which are newer and better. This is a crucial sales segment, more so in the States than in Canada, and Chrysler desperately needs to rethink their mid-size sedan so it can be competitive in its segment like the Dart, Ram, or 300.

Pricing: 2013 Chrysler 200S
Base Price (S): $29,095
Options: Tungsten metallic clear coat – $150; Sun and Nav Package –$1,750 (Power sunroof, GPS navigation, UConnect 6.5-inch touchscreen, 20GB hard drive)
A/C Tax: $100
Destination: $1,595
Price as tested: $32,730

Features: Remote start, auto headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, tilt/ telescoping steering wheel, TPMS, variable intermittent wipers, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, auto climate control, power heated mirrors, power windows, power locks, six Boston Acoustics speakers, 6.5-inch touchscreen display, UConnect 430, steering wheel–mounted UConnect voice command with Bluetooth, sun-visor vanity mirrors, 18×7-inch aluminum wheels, LED taillights, halogen projector headlamps