“After so much time in
the sedan wilderness, the Chrysler could hardly expect to rule a class whose
leaders include the Honda Accord, Mazda 6 and Ford Fusion.
Yet the midsize
Chrysler makes a case for inclusion, with a distinctively American design, an
especially user-friendly cabin and the most powerful optional V6 in the class.
Unlike the coming Jeep Renegade, a small Italian-built S.U.V. destined for
international markets, the 200 will be homegrown. It is being produced in a
plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., that recently received a $1 billion
expansion.
True to its Midwest
roots, Chrysler’s latest “Imported from Detroit” model is a big old softy. If
the Mazda 6 and Honda Accord occupy the athletic end of the family-car
spectrum, the 200 is safely parked near the center. Comfort is king at the
expense of anything resembling sporty handling, at least in the 200C AWD
version that I tested.”