2015 Chrysler 200C Review – A Puzzling Experience

One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Type: Sedan Price: $26,325 Fuel Efficiency: 23 city/36 hwy Seats: 5

Best Suited For: Commute, small families/people Notable Features: Assisted parallel and perpendicular parking,  huge trunk space, good fuel economy to power ratio. Links: Official site

The 2015 Chrysler 200C is the smaller sedan of the Chrysler fleet. With smooth lines and a modern look, the 200C is a snazzy looking vehicle. The backend seems like curvy overkill but at least it gives a somewhat unique design. The funny thing about this car is that, when it comes to the performance and features, we really loved some things while we hated others. There were no in between opinions, only extreme likes or dislikes.

2015 Chrysler 200C – Love and Hate

The 200C was easy to drive and fairly smooth. With the nine gears there was plenty of power. However, the transition between those gears was jerky. The car almost seemed like it was sputtering while going from a stop or slowing down to one. This also affected how the adaptive cruise control responded. Instead of a gradual decrease in speed, the car would suddenly brake to adjust the speed, causing some slight head-flinging.

Controls in the cockpit are different but not necessarily bad. The knob to shift gears was easy enough to get used to and there was no problem in figuring out how to change the temperature. It did irritate me that, even when you turn the radio off, it automatically goes on again when you turn on the car. I had several “AAHH!!!” moments when I would start the car and be shocked when music suddenly blaring.

Here are some more examples of great ideas that just didn’t translate:

The size makes the 200C nimble and sporty but it’s a bit narrow. Frans felt squished while driving and three adult in the back look like sardines. Raised sides may also prevent car seats from resting flush on the cushions.

It’s easy to get in and out of the vehicle but the step is so wide that I always hit my shins on it.

The front of the roof curves down quite a bit. That may look nice on the outside but on the inside it pushes the rear mirror so far down that you can’t see past the middle portion of the windshield. It totally obstructs the view!

A nice-sized cubby sits between the driver and passenger seat but it’s awkward to actually put anything there.

Video Demo of How the Assisted Parking Works

The park assist on the Chrysler 200C was fabulous and scary at the same time. I loved that you could choose parallel or perpendicular parking and that it gets you in the space perfectly. I hated that it wouldn’t always do it right the first time and has you almost smashing into cars before alerting you that it needs to readjust the angle. Here’s an example of how it works:

One thing that really impressed me was the space in the trunk. I had to drop my mom, her husband, and their friends off to get on their cruise. Surprisingly, their three huge suitcases, one smaller suitcase, and a few extra bags all fit in the trunk. We didn’t even have to specially arrange the bags and there was even room to spare.

2015 Chrysler 200C Review

For $25-30K, the 2015 Chrysler 200C is a reasonable choose for a commute car or for small, petite families of up to four. There are plenty of convenient features with a clean interior and exterior finish. Still, there are plenty of “cons” that a potential buyer would want to take note of and check to see if they’d be deal breakers.