by Cheryl Eldridge
If you are interested in performance, quality and comfort the 2015 Chrysler 200 C is just the automobile for you.
The 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan is completely redesigned. The 200 convertible has been discontinued.
A five-passenger midsize sedan, the 2015 Chrysler 200 comes in four trim levels: LX, Limited, S and C.
Standard equipment on the base LX includes 17-inch steel wheels, keyless ignition and entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, manually height-adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with USB/iPod integration and an auxiliary audio input (a CD player is not included). A Uconnect option package provides Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a 5-inch touchscreen display for the audio system.
Next up is the 200 Limited, which has all of the above features as standard, along with alloy wheels, upgraded exterior trim and a six-speaker sound system. The Limited trim is also available with more options. The Comfort Group adds a remote ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and rear heating ducts, while the Convenience Group provides heated mirrors, a rearview camera, an eight-way power driver seat (with four-way power lumbar), a leather-wrapped steering wheel and satellite radio. A sunroof and 18-inch wheels are also available.
The S is the sporty flavor of 200, and it comes standard with all of the Limited’s equipment and many of the items in the Convenience Group, though notably, the rearview camera is not included (instead, it’s offered in an S-specific version of the optional Comfort Group). Also standard on the S are 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, foglights, an acoustic windshield and front-door glass (for a quieter cabin), cloth/leather sport seats and upgraded interior trim.
Optional on the S is the Navigation and Sound Group, which provides an upgraded instrument panel, an 8.4-inch touchscreen electronics interface, a navigation system, smartphone app integration, text-to-voice capability for compatible phones, an upgraded nine-speaker sound system and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Also available are xenon headlights, 19-inch wheels, a blind-spot warning system (with rear cross-traffic alerts), a panoramic sunroof and full leather upholstery with ventilated front seats.
At the top of the line is the luxury-themed 200C. It includes all the 200S’s standard amenities and the contents of its Comfort Group, but reverts to the Limited’s softer suspension setup and 17-inch wheels (18s on all-wheel-drive models). It also features standard leather upholstery and a six-way power front passenger seat.
Options for the 200C, my tester are very similar to those of the 200S, but the blind-spot warning system is part of a larger SafetyTec package that bundles adaptive cruise control, a frontal collision warning system, a lane departure warning and keeping assist system, an automated parking system, automatic high-beam control and rain-sensing windshield wipers. There’s also a Premium Group with driver memory settings, upgraded interior trim (with real wood inlays), a heated steering wheel and a 115-volt power outlet.
All 2015 Chrysler 200 sedans come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 184 hp and 173 pound-feet of torque. Optional on the S and C trims is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that’s good for 295 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission (with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the 200S). Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional with the V6. In addition, the V6 also features a Sport mode that sharpens up engine and transmission responses and provides slightly heavier steering effort.
In Edmunds testing, a Chrysler 200S with all-wheel drive sprinted from zero to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, making it one of the quickest family sedans available.
Safety for the 2015 Chrysler 200 comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and driver and front-passenger knee airbags. A rearview camera is optional on Limited and S models and standard on the C.
If you’re looking for more advanced safety tech, a blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alerts is optional on S and C models only. On the C, it’s part of the SafetyTec package, which also includes lane departure warning and keeping assist and a forward collision warning system that can automatically initiate braking if the driver doesn’t react to an impending collision situation.
A dated control interface was one of the bigger drawbacks to last year’s Chrysler 200, but company designers redoubled their efforts in the 2015 200, and the result is a thoroughly modern cabin design. It’s shown off to best effect in S and C models equipped with the optional 8.4-inch infotainment interface. This large touchscreen is intuitive, fills out the dash nicely and complements the automatic transmission’s rotary-style shifter. The real wood inlays in the optional Premium Group package are especially striking, as they feature exposed edges inspired by the iconic Eames chair.
That said, we’ve also spent time in a Limited model with cloth upholstery and the standard 5-inch audio display. It doesn’t look quite as state-of-the-art, but it’s still a comfortable and functional interior furnished with high-quality materials. All models feature a USB port that strategically routes your power cord to a handy storage shelf in the center console.
Most people will have little difficulty getting comfortable in the front seats, and a standard tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel makes it easy to find a good driving position. However, the 2015 Chrysler 200 has less hiproom than most competitors, so if you’re on the larger side, it may feel overly snug. Also be aware that the 200 offers less rear legroom than most other midsize sedans; anyone over 6 feet tall (or even 5-feet-10-inches if they have long legs) is likely to find the backseat a tight fit. Sense of space, too, isn’t as good as the class leaders that maximize the perception of room with their more upright roof pillars and less curvaceous bodies.
At 16.0 cubic feet, the 200’s trunk offers more space than the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Mazda 6. Its 60/40 split-folding rear seat also includes a small trunk pass-through that allows longer items to be carried along with four passengers in the car.
Mileage ratings: 19 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined city/highway.
The cost of my tester: $ 32,285.
Until next week, drive safe and buckle up, it’s the law.
