WASHINGTON — Midsize sedans, the most popular car class, used to be filled with manufacturers offering a V6 engine as an option. Lately, smaller turbocharged four-cylinder engines have become the norm, but Chrysler, Honda and Toyota still offer an optional V6 that just seems right in a midsize sedan.
On the Chrysler 200 Limited Platinum, the V6 comes with an upcharge of nearly $2,000. Still, with a base price of $24,490, the price isn’t very high for what you get. The power of the bigger engine is a welcome boost over the base four-cylinder engine, jumping from 184 hp to 295 hp with the bigger V6 — more than enough for passing on a two-lane road.
The engine is quiet most of the time, unless you are using all that power. Then, it has a very pleasant growl. Some torque steer is evident when you use all that power from a stop. Luckily, you can get some trim levels with AWD, which helps. The nine-speed automatic is good, and it’s used in many products in the Fiat Chrysler America family of cars.
The transmission didn’t get confused or rough compared with past cars and SUVs I’ve tested. The ride is pretty good — not as sporty as, say, a Mazda 6, but not as relaxed as a Camry. Fuel economy with the V6 is better than I thought, at 26 mpg over 360 miles of mixed driving, surpassing the sticker figure of 23 mpg.
The 200 has nice, heated leather front seats, with adjustments for both the driver and passenger — part of the Limited Platinum package. The package also includes a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel and a remote start system.
With all that luxury, the price is barely $28,000 — a lot of car for the money. It made me wonder why this car isn’t as popular as its competitors. While I sat in the back seat, it became clear: I could instantly tell there isn’t as much headroom in the back as the competition — a must-have for most people buying this car. It’s a tight squeeze for people 5-foot-9 or taller.
The back can accommodate two car seats and a booster seat. Still, the headroom limits the appeal of an otherwise very nice interior. The U-connect system is one of the easier NAV and radio systems to use, with a large, 8.4-inch screen with decent graphics. Connecting a phone or device is quick and easy to do, and there is a handy storage area for your devices under the front console to keep them out of sight, with a neat cutout to thread cables and wires to the USB ports.
Outside, the styling looks sleek for a midsize sedan, with a sloping roofline toward the rear of the car. A smaller grill and wide narrow lights give a more sporty appearance in this more conservative class. The car has some chrome-colored trim that seems to fit nicely with the Velvet Red Pearl paint, adding a bit of pop. At the rear of the car, dual exhaust spices it up and shouts that you splurged for the bigger V6 engine.
The Chrysler 200 Limited Platinum has the rarer V6 engine and a more sporty side than some other midsize sedans. With a five-star crash rating, a five-year powertrain warranty and some big discounts, the 200 is worth a look if you don’t typically have people riding in the back.
