2015 Chrysler 200C AWD Review

Chrysler has been on a post-recession, post Fiat-buyout roll, with vehicles from its Jeep brand on a sales streak. But the core Chrysler brand is down to just three models, with the stalwart Town & Country minivan losing ground to large crossovers, the 300 affected by an overall full-size sedan sales slump, and the all-new 200 midsize sedan facing tough competition. And you don't have to be an automotive analyst to know which one Chrysler is betting will help revive the automaker's namesake nameplate.

The all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 has a good shot at accomplishing this tall task. Even though the midsize sedan segment is highly competitive and stacked with solid performers such as the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Mazda6, and Nissan Altima that best the Chrysler 200 in terms of passenger space, fuel economy, and performance, the newest vehicle on the midsize block boasts a class-exclusive nine-speed automatic transmission and the best in-dash tech of the bunch: Uconnect 8.4.

Pricing and Design
The 2015 Chrysler 200 comes in four trim levels: LX, Limited, S, and the top-of-the-line C that we tested. The base LX starts at $21,700 and comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a four-speaker sound system that lacks a CD player but offers USB/iPod integration and an Aux input. Uconnect Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a 5-inch touch-screen display can be added as a $495 option.

The next step up, the Limited, starts at $23,255 and adds alloy wheels, a six-speaker sound system, and enhanced exterior trim. Option packages include the $645 Comfort Group that includes remote start and dual-zone climate controls with rear ducts, and the $895 Convenience Group includes power/heated side mirrors, a backup camera, eight-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and one free year of satellite radio. A sunroof and 18-inch wheels, as well as a backup camera, are available as stand-alone options.

The S that starts at $24,495 comes standard with everything in the Limited's Convenience Group option, save for the backup camera. Also standard are 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, fog lights, an acoustic windshield and front-door glass for a quieter cabin, cloth/leather sport seats, and upgraded interior trim. Option packages include the $1,495 Navigation and Sound Group that adds the Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen head unit with navigation, a 9-speaker/506-watt Alpine audio system, and a 7-inch LCD instrument panel. The $795 Comfort Group option available for the S is identical to that of the Limited, but adds a heated steering wheel and front seats, rearview camera, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The $795 Premium Lighting Group includes HID headlamps with LED daytime running headlamps and LED fog lamps. Standalone options include 19-inch aluminum wheels, a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alerts, a panoramic sunroof, and full leather upholstery with ventilated front seats.

The flagship 200C that starts at $25,995 is loaded with all features of the Comfort Group (minus the heated steering wheel), as well as leather upholstery and a six-way power front passenger seat, but has the touring instead of the sport suspension, with 17-inch wheels on the FWD model and 18-inch wheels on the AWD model. The 200C's options are also bundled a bit differently. While the $795 Premium Lighting Group and the $1,395 Navigation and Sound Group are the same as on the S, a blind-spot warning system becomes part of the $1,295 SafetyTec package that adds adaptive cruise control, frontal collision warning, lane departure warning/keeping assist, automated parking, automatic high-beam control, and rain-sensing wipers. The $995 Premium Group option includes upgraded interior trim, driver memory settings for the seats and side mirrors, a heated two-tone leather steering wheel, and a 115-volt power outlet. Stand-alone options for the 200C include 19-inch polished and painted aluminum wheels, panoramic sunroof, and full leather upholstery with ventilated front seats.

Two engines are available for the 200. The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 184 horsepower and 173 lb-ft. of torque is standard on the LX, Limited, and the AWD versions of the S and C. The 3.6-liter V6 engine, with 295 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque, is available as a $1,950 option on the S and C. Fuel economy for the 2.4-liter engine is rated at 23 mpg city, 36 highway and 28 combined, and for the V6 it's 19 city, 32 highway and 23 combined. Both engines are mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that's standard equipment on all trim levels.

While not as eye-catching as the sleek sheet metal of the Ford Fusion or the Mazda 6, the new Chrysler 200 is a big improvement over the plain-Jane exterior design of the previous model. The car features the new "face of Chrysler," with an integrated grille, headlamps, and standard LED tail lamps. The interior is updated with higher-quality materials, and has an electronic rotary gear shift knob that's part of an innovative center console design that allows the wires of portable devices hidden inside to be routed to the USB and 12-volt ports at the front, sight unseen.

Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface
The 2015 Chrysler 200's Uconnect Access system uses a combination of an embedded modem and a driver's smartphone to provide cloud-based content ranging from online search to streaming music. The Uconnect 8.4AN infotainment system that's standard in the 200C we tested comes with a 12-month trial of the Uconnect Advantage service that includes telematics features like automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, as well as Yelp local search and remote features such as door lock/unlock and engine starting through a companion smartphone app. After the first year the service costs $14.99 a month. An owner can also choose to add Wi-Fi hotspot capability to the car for $9.99 a day, $19.99 a week, or $34.99 a month.

While this level of connectivity is now common on many cars, the features and interface of the Uconnect 8.4AN makes the 200 stand out in the segment. Its Garmin-based navigation system is one of the best available from any automaker, with maps and lane guidance rendered large and clear on the 8.4-inch screen. Chrysler's voice recognition system is also one of a few that allows true "one-shot" destination entry by just pressing the VR button on the steering wheel and speaking an address all at once. And the large touch screen and its logical control layout combine to make the 8.4AN infotainment system one of the most intuitive infotainment systems on the market. To top it off, it's supported by a 7-inch LCD instrument panel that displays helpful data ranging from upcoming navigation maneuvers to fuel economy right in the driver's face. (Click here to read our separate review of the 200C's Uconnect 8.4AN system.)

Media and Phone Support
The 2015 Chrysler 200C checks all the boxes on available media: AM, FM, Sirius XM, CD, USB/iPod, and Bluetooth audio, plus Aha, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Slacker as streaming music options. The car also comes with a one-year free subscription to Sirius XM Travel Link to provide weather, sports, fuel price, and movie information. From initially pairing a phone to making calls using the voice recognition systems, Chrysler's Uconnect Bluetooth phone system is one of the easiest to use. One trick we discovered while driving the Chrysler 200 was using the car's Wi-Fi hot spot and Bluetooth to make hands-free international calls via Skype. Slick.

Performance and Conclusions
Our test vehicle came with the 3.6-liter V6 and we were pleased with both its ratio power to fuel economy, which averaged about 31 mpg (compared with the estimated 32 highway). We were never left wanting, whether passing on a four-lane freeway or a two-lane highway during a long desert drive from LA to Las Vegas and back. The guttural growl of the exhaust note was a welcome surprise when we did get on the gas, although the small engine does create more noise, vibration, and harshness than we'd like when called upon to get up and go. The nine-speed automatic transmission is smooth through the gears whether cruising on the highway or gunning through the back roads, although the standard suspension causes the car to lumber through sharp turns.

With the full-size sedan market dwindling, midsize models like Chrysler 200 are becoming the new downsized four-door standard, and consumers now have great choices in the segment. Although the Chrysler 200C comes out on the pricier end of the spectrum among its competitors, and comes up short on key features like interior room and fuel economy, it easily tops others in terms of technology. And it sets a new standard in connected infotainment not only for midsize sedans, but also for far more expensive vehicles.