Chrysler has put special incentives on the 2012 200 LX. Base models are selling for $16,495 plus
freight fees and taxes.
I recently had the opportunity to test drive this vehicle
when I rented one for the day. I used
the vehicle exclusively for city driving as I headed downtown for dinner and an
evening out. I had hoped for the V6 as I
had previously driven a Dodge Avenger with the V6 and absolutely loved the
driving experience. The vehicle that was
delivered to me was equipped with the 2.4L I-4 cylinder engine matched with the
4 speed automatic transmission, the base LX package. I was expecting a much softer ride in the 200
as the suspension is not as sporty as the Avenger, and I was also expecting a
lot of lag and soft pickup as the 4 cylinder 2.4l ‘World’ engine is only 173 HP
compared to the Best-In-Class Pentastar V6 283 HP power plant. What I found instead was a responsive vehicle
that had enough pickup to make the drive fun while delivering a much larger
luxury car feel because of its touring suspension.
The only options that were added to this vehicle were the 17
inch alloy wheels and the U-connect Sirius satellite radio package. The 17 inch alloy wheels make the vehicle
look like a higher option package, and when seeing the vehicle parked on the
street, it was certainly a striking looking car. One of the features of this vehicle that I
had not experienced by seeing them on the car lots was the halogen projector
headlamps. These are rarely seen on
entry level vehicles and when combined with the LED running lights and tail lights,
give the car a sophisticated look of a much more exotic automobile. The halogen projector headlamps provide
excellent roadway illumination because the beams are better focussed. You actually see a line where the headlamps
stop on the horizon providing protection from glare for on-coming traffic.
One of the features that I thought was completely stylistic
instead of practical was the analogue clock on the dash above the radio. Perhaps I’m showing my age when I say it quickly
grew on me as a desirable feature. It
was well-placed, well lit, and very functional.
This is one indicator that the 200 seeks out a more mature discerning
vehicle buyer who is interested in form while still keeping within a
budget. The Chrysler 200 offers great
styling while still being Canada’s most affordable mid-size sedan, based on
2011 Polk Standard Mid-Size Sedan segment.
In addition this vehicle has six standard advanced multistage airbags,
electronic stability control with an all speed traction control, active front
head restraints, and antilock four-wheel disc brakes, making this vehicle an Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.
The driver in me needed to stretch the car out a bit and see
what the 4 cylinder would do. It had a soft
fuel-efficient start off the line but once the vehicle hit 3000 RPM, it shot
ahead, showing a considerable amount of spunk.
This motor with the 4 speed auto transmission is not made for drag race
starts but it provides considerable acceleration. One option available in this
vehicle is the 6 speed automatic transmission with auto/stick, which allows you
to change gears manually without a clutch. The 6 speed transmission improves
gas mileage to 44 mpg hwy, and when you use the auto/stick option and drop it
down a gear to get the revs to jump a bit you can get some real on demand acceleration.
Other standard features on this base model 200 LX include steering wheel mounted audio controls, tire pressure monitoring, remote keyless entry, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, 17 inch wheels, power windows, locks, and heated power mirrors, and driver height adjustable drivers seat with lumbar support.
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