2015 Chrysler 200 Offers Luxury And Performance In An Affordable Sedan

2015 Chrysler 200 Front Quarter

The 2015 Chrysler 200 is all-new with a more appealing look, luxurious interior, and a choice of engines that will get your blood pumping.

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2015 Chrysler 200 C $25,995 $34,415 295/262
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT! 19/32 27.7

Midsize sedans are parked in a lot of American driveways, and with good reason. They offer enough room for family and friends to travel in comfort without feeling cramped, enough trunk space to haul your average day-to-day cargo around town, and are economical choices that won’t have you crying at the dealership or the pump. But the drawback is that they’re not always that exciting to drive.

2015 Chrysler 200 Front

Most midsize sedans don’t turn heads. They also don’t impress when you take a seat. They’re almost utilitarian. The Chrysler 200 C does not subscribe to this traditional definition of a midsize American sedan. It looks good sitting in the driveway. It has a downright luxurious interior. And it has two engine choices so you can have your cake and eat it, too.

The exterior has been redone to create a more modern, upscale vibe. Yes, it’s still a sedan and not a sports coupe and you won’t think otherwise based on its looks, but you also won’t think it’s just another sedan. Lines are smooth and curved with just a hint of sportiness. Opt for the Chrysler 200 S and subtle changes like black accents and dual exhaust tips give it an aggressive look.

2015 Chrysler 200 Profile

Inside, the Chrysler 200 is a rock star. There’s a sense that you’re sitting in a much more expensive car. The finishes look and feel good with real wood and real metal accents. Surfaces are soft in all the right places so elbows and arms can rest comfortably and plastics don’t look or feel cheap. It’s beautifully appointed and can easily give any luxury sedan a run for its money.

There are four different trim levels that offer different levels of luxury as well as different engines. The base LX starts at just $21,700 and then moves up to the Limited which adds comfort and convenience features. Next up the line is the S which gets a sporty look and adds in an available more powerful engine while the C combines both luxury and power in one package for a starting price of $25,995.

2015 Chrysler 200 Rear Quarter

The drive of the Chrysler 200 lives up to its first impression with two engine choices designed to appeal to every driver. There’s a standard 2.4L 4 cylinder that will give you 184 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque or you can opt for the 3.6L V6 with 295 horsepower with 262 lb-ft of torque on select trim levels. Both are paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

That nine-speed automatic transmission is the only one offered in this class and it shifts smoothly throughout the range. It manages those gear changes as well at high speed as on city streets helping to provide a smooth, quiet ride.

2015 Chrysler 200 Rear

The 2015 Chrysler 200 C we tested came with the larger V6 engine and it turned what looked like a sedan into a bit of a sports car. There is ample power that not only accelerates quickly off the line, but does equally well at high speeds. Merging into highway traffic is effortless, and should you need a burst of speed to pass, the Chrysler 200 C delivers.

Steering feel is very solid with a nice, thick steering wheel that feels good. There is very little roll on sharp corners and only the slightest of torque steer when really pushing the car to its limits. The ride is smooth on all surfaces with just enough feedback to keep the driver aware, but not bothered by, changing road conditions.

2015 Chrysler 200 Interior

The Chrysler 200 provides an impressively quiet ride at any speed. Road noise is minimal and wind noise is mitigated, even on the highway, by laminated acoustic front door glass. You can easily carry on a conversation with rear passengers without having to raise your voice.

Those in the market for a midsize sedan need to give the Chrysler 200 a look for its powerful engine options and luxurious interior at a very manageable price.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2015 Chrysler 200 C a Buy It!

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole is a member of the New England Motor Press Association and also writes for Automotive IT News, NerdApproved, and GeekMom. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.