The Chrysler 200, a finely schooled mid-sizer with all the modern amenities expected in a 2016 competitor, finds itself in a shark tank.
The mid-size sedan market remains ferocious in North America, accounting for roughly one out of every six vehicles sold in the U.S. The segment remains stocked with legacy imports including Toyota Camry and Honda Accord along with tempting delicacies from domestic rivals Ford (the Fusion) and Chevrolet (the Malibu).
Chrysler debuted first-generation 200 sedans in the 2011 model year, replacing the floundering Sebring. A fresh, second-generation 200 spawned four years later.
Underbellies are based off a stretched Alfa-Romeo "Giulietta" platform shared with the compact Dodge Dart and Fiat Viaggio, sold in Asia.
Four trims include LX, Limited, 200S and top-shelf 200C. Minimal updates for 2016 include firmer front bucket seats, three new exterior colors and standard heated steering wheel for 200C. Chrysler describes 200 as "mainstream and value priced."
Last year's value-laden redesign help cast 200 as the Midwest Automotive Media Association's 'Family Vehicle of the Year,' handed out at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The Chicago area based media organization celebrates 25 years in 2016 (with this aging manatee serving as a founding member, past president and voting participant).
During the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler debuted 'Alloy Editions' of the 200S starting at $26,685 with Dark Bronze and Titanium exterior accents (with five exterior color hue choices) and black leather seating featuring Caramel accent stitching inside. The typical 200 purchaser has a median age of 35 years with a college degree and married with tad polls.
Standard in all trims is an inline, multi-port fuel injected, 2.4-liter four-cylinder cranking out 184 horsepower and above-average 36 miles per gallon highway estimates. Optional in Limited, 200S and 200C is a 3.6-liter V-6 delivering 295 sea horses. The four-cylinder engine provides front wheel drive while the V-6 offers all-wheel drive in 200S and 200C trims. Both utilize regular, 87-octane fuel.
The all-wheel drive system operates in front-drive mode until sensors indicate more grip is needed through a power transfer unit operating at any speed. In the big picture, this technology conserves gas and extends fuel economy.
Both engines mate to an ultra-modern, segment-exclusive, nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing an aging four-speed variety from the first generation. It's operational not via a floor or steering column shifter, but a chrome twist dial between front bucket seats (cloth covering in LX and Limited), which takes some muscle-memory retraining as the shift-type motion remains ingrained in many minds.
Chrysler's 200 tilts toward comfort rather than a sporty mid-size road performer (a-la the Mazda 6). At highway speeds, expect a small, but acceptable amount of wind noise.
Narrow, slightly arching A and C pillars create a lower-slung roof. Also narrow in design, the honeycomb grille with a winged Chrysler logo insert. Shark-eyed headlight housing with bi-function halogen projection headlamps also supports the stretched, elongated style choice. Red tail light housing wraps around the trunk lid to side fins, err, fenders.
Interior volume measures a bit less than rivals. Still, three average-sized adults will enjoy second-row travel for short laps. The trunk's roomy 16.0 cubic feet of room remains impressive for the segment. Rear seatbacks flip down with a 60/40 split.
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2016 Chrysler 200 starts at a very respectable $21,995 for base LX. Our Touring tester (and volume leader among the four trims) included all LX equipment and a $495 Touring Preferred Package (leather wrapped steering wheel, voice command Bluetooth, 17-inch aluminum wheels). The bottom line reeled in at $23,485 after $995 destination charge.
Limited trims offer a 'Comfort' option package adding dual climate control, heated front seats and auto-dimming rear-view mirror if desired.
Inside, push-button start comes standard just east of the manually tilt-and-telescoping steering column. Large cruise control buttons are found at 3 o'clock on the three-spoke wheel. At 9 o'clock, push buttons control operations inside the instrument panel's digital message window between to circular sea-blue-hued analog gauges.
The lower-slung ceiling may concern those measuring six-foot five-inches or so. Dual inline beverage holders slither backward, revealing a hub housing a 12-volt outlet and USB, AUX plug-in ports benefitting portable electronics. A small opening allows cord tails to slither through to open air storage beneath a 45-degree angle command center.
An optional 8.4-inch media touch screen is one of the largest available with clear, big icons for drivers to easily follow and has been documented in previous FCA test drives. Our Touring species featured the smaller, standard five-inch screen flanked by three horizontal push buttons summoning compass, radio band, phone and other visuals.
A commonality of the two; push-type flippers on the flip side of 3 and 9 o-clock steering wheel spokes where finger tips monitor secondary volume control and station presets. Most Fiat-Chrysler products incorporate this user-friendly approach, helping keep eyes focused squarely on the horizon.
Connecting the center dash region to the cup holder region is the aforementioned 45-degree plank, home to the circular transmission shifter and electronic parking brake. A second portion of this bridge houses two large audio control dials and a third circular dial for monitoring ventilation speed. Large push buttons nearby raise and lower interior temperatures, and summon the a/c.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles well stocked its Sterling Heights Michigan plant (to the tune of $1 billion) where 200 docks. The future, though, remains murky. While this current generation effort will moor at dealers for a couple more seasons, FCA's Big Tuna, Sergio Marchionne, created a tempest in a tea pot earlier this year announcing both 200 and Dodge Dart will devolve from the company's auto pool at least in present form. The current evolution of thought involves outsourcing mid-size and compact sedan production.
In the global eco system, it's common for two separate species to share DNA. Fiat's all-new 2017 124 Spider two-door roadster remains a dead ringer Mazda's long-running MX-5 Miata.
Other than the mid-size 200, Chrysler's current abbreviated phylum includes the larger 300 sedan and all-new Pacifica minivan (with an available gas-electric hybrid powertrain).
In calendar year 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobile sales totaled 2,243,907 in the U.S., a seven percent jump from the previous 12 months. These numbers include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Trucks, Alfa-Romeo and Fiat brands. The 200's contribution totaled 177,889, a whopper-sized 52 percent above 2014 numbers bolstered in part by a second-generation exoskeleton.
It was back 2009 when Italian automaker Fiat netted a majority of Chrysler shares from private equity firm Cerberus during 'soft bankruptcy' proceedings. In January of 2014, Fiat gained total control by absorbing shares held in an United Automobile Workers trust, giving birth to "Fiat Chrysler Automobiles." Prior to 2007, Germany's Daimler-Benz synchronized swam with Chrysler.
2016 Chrysler 200 Limited
Price as tested: $23,485
Length: 192.3 inches
Width: 73.6 inches
Wheelbase: 108 inches
Engine: 2.4-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 184
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
City/Highway economy: 23 mpg city, 36 mpg highway
Assembly: Sterling Heights, Michigan