After replacing the much-maligned Sebring in 2011, the 2012 Chrysler 200 brings little new this year. It will continue to come in either a convertible or sedan format, but has added two new exterior color choices, as well as one additional interior color option for the convertible. Chrysler has also reportedly dropped the entry-level price for the 4-door sedan.
The 200 will return this year in a mind-boggling number of permutations. A Limited, Limited Convertible, LX, S, S Convertible, Touring and Touring Convertible are all available for buyers. And if that weren’t enough choices, Convertibles are available as a rag or hard top. The Convertible trims come with one of two engines. The Touring Convertible arrives with a standard 2.4-liter DOHC inline-4 paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The system produces 173 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque and EPA estimated fuel economy numbers of 18 mpg city/29 highway. A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine comes standard in the convertible Limited and S trims (it’s optional for the Touring trim). Again paired with the I4’s standard 6-speed, the V6 makes 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and almost identical fuel economy numbers (19/29).
The sedan varies only slightly. The same 2.4-liter I4 DOHC engine seen in convertibles is standard fare for the LX, Touring and Limited sedan trims, while the 3.6-liter V6 is an option for the Touring & Limited trims and standard for the S. While the majority of the sedan’s trims come with a standard 6-speed transmission (similar to the convertibles), the entry-level LX comes equipped with a standard 4-speed with overdrive and adaptive electronic control. The 4-speed makes fuel economy of 20/31, while the 6-speed comes close with 19/29.
The entry-level LX sedan seats four. Outside, it sports power heated folding mirrors and 17-inch wheels. Inside, the base provides standard manual air conditioning, a manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls for the CD/MP3 radio with audio jack and four speakers (Sirius XM satellite radio is an option). Cloth-trimmed seats include manual driver's lumbar and height adjustment, while the rear offers a 60/40 split-fold for greater cargo room in the trunk. Standard safety features found across all trims include advanced multistage front driver and passenger air bags, as well as supplemental side-curtain airbags for the front and rear outboard seats and supplemental front seat-mounted airbags. Antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control with brake assist and traction control also appear in all of this year’s 200s.
The Touring sedan provides the features of the LX, but adds the 6-speed transmission to the 2.4-liter I4 engine. The interior includes an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, HomeLink Universal garage door opener, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, as well as a year’s subscription to Sirius XM satellite radio. A tire-pressure monitoring display is added, as well as automatic air conditioning and headlights.
The Limited front-wheel-drive sedan adds heated leather front seats, the Media Center 430 CD/DVD/MP3/HDD system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen radio and 28GB of music storage. The Limited also provides the Chrysler UConnect system with hands-free phone, as well as fog lights and larger (18-inch) wheels.
Finally, the 200 S sedan boosts the engine to a standard 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar with the 6-speed automatic, and also upgrades several other features. Outside, the rear sports dual bright exhaust tips, 18-inch trim-specific polished aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, and S designed grille, headlights, fog lamp bezels and Chrysler winged badge (all of which have black details). Inside, the sound system is upgraded to a Boston Acoustics 6-speaker sound system (optional for the Limited trim), while the leather seats now get heat and suede inserts, and the steering wheel gets perforated leather.
Several packages of options are available for the 200 sedan this year, including a cold weather group—adding heated front seats and remote start to the Limited trim. The UConnect hands-free phone system, standard in the Limited and S trims, is an available opton for the two lower trims and also adds a remote USB port and auto-dimming rear-view mirror with a microphone.
The 200 convertible skips the LX trim and heads straight for the Touring trim, offering the standard 2.4-liter I4 engine combined with the 6-speed automatic. Like the other convertible trims, the Touring comes with a standard soft-cloth top, but unlike the Limited and S trims, does not offer the option of a power-retractable hard top. Other features in the convertible Touring trim include power windows and locks, and the ability to power the top down with the key fob. The Touring exterior features 17-inch aluminum wheels, power heated halogen automatic headlights and fog lights. Inside, the Touring convertible comes with standard vehicle information center, automatic temperature control and cloth-covered seats (6-way power adjustable for the front). The Touring offers the entry-level stereo system with an AM/FM radio and CD player with MP3 playback, six speakers and Sirius XM satellite radio. Although Uconnect voice command with Bluetooth for hands-free phone is standard for the Limited and S trims, it remains an option for the Touring 200. The leather-wrapped steering wheel includes audio controls and offers both tilt and telescoping.
Safety features in the 200 convertible are uniform across trims and include electronic stability control, advanced multi-stage driver and front-passenger airbags, as well as front seat-mounted airbags for the thorax and head. The front-wheel-drive convertible comes with 4-wheel power disc antilock brakes, as well as brake assist, traction control and tire pressure monitoring. A vehicle theft alarm system will also monitor the vehicle’s key cylinders and disable the HomeLink universal garage door opener.
The convertible’s Limited trim adds the larger, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, as well as dual bright exhaust tips, an upgraded Media Center (CD/DVD/MP3 with a 40GB hard drive and touchscreen radio). The trim also includes Uconnect for hands-free phone, an iPod connector and remote start (available in the Cold Weather group for the Touring trim).
The S trim’s features match the sedan’s, with trim-specific grille, seats, steering wheel, headlights, badging, fog-lamp bezels and wheels.
The fact that both the 2012 200 convertible and sedan are carryovers is a good news/bad news situation. Reviews of last year’s 200 dwelled heavily on their relief that the car had been upgraded both outside and inside from its Sebring predecessor. The V6 was particularly praised for its power and acceleration. (The I4 got a more lukewarm reception.) That being said, however, most agreed that, despite the improvements, the 200 did not measure up to most of its midsize competitors.
Although reviews have liked the choice of rag or hard top for the convertible, last year’s (and early 2012) reviews of the convertible haven’t been terribly complimentary. While drivers might expect a sporty fun ride, the 200 convertible, while offering true 4-person seating, offers neither. The convertible’s weight seems to be its primary drawback, slowing it down in test drives and affecting the handling and feel of the ride. Both the sedan and convertible also suffer in the cargo and rear passenger room compared to competitors in the midsize class. But considering the affordability factor promoted by Chrysler, the 200 may remain a test-drive option for buyers in the segment.
