2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser [ 2008 ]
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Overall Score - 8.5 (Very Good)
Reviewers swoon over the PT Cruiser's retro looks and spacious interior, but warn buyers that the four-cylinder engines are designed more for city travel than highway cruising. In addition, many safety features are extra-cost options.
The 2007 PT Cruiser has the same stylishly old-fashioned exterior design that's been catching the eyes of passersby since the first Cruisers appeared in the late 1990s, but reviewers are quick to point out that the Cruiser isn't just another pretty face - it also has a surprisingly large and versatile interior. "[T]he PT Cruiser's charismatic retro design," says the New York Times, "merely camouflages what is actually a supremely efficient box on wheels." Storage space is large enough that it meets federal government requirements for a large car -- despite the PT Cruiser's deceptively small-appearing exterior. "Small on the outside doesn't necessarily mean small on the inside," says Edmunds. "With creative packaging, a compact, easy-to-drive vehicle can also offer gobs of interior space. And so it is with the PT Cruiser."
What don't the reviewers like? The PT Cruiser's engines, which are felt to be adequate for driving around town but underpowered on the highway. "One area of weakness that surfaced, not unexpectedly, was the lack of power," says Motor Trend. This weakness is addressed somewhat in the high-end GT model, with its 230-horsepower V4, but even the GT is far from a performance vehicle. But Edmunds feels that this is beside the point: "This isn't supposed to be a performance car any more than Buzz Lightyear was a real Space Ranger." Road and Track more or less sums up the general feeling when they say that "the PT Cruiser excels at being what it is supposed to be -- a cheap, reliable and stylish family hauler." Or, as the Boston Globe says, "funky cars have their place."
The PT Cruiser comes in three trims: the base model, the Limited Edition and the high-end GT. IntelliChoice calls the 2007 PT Cruiser a "worse than average" value based on total cost of ownership compared to other vehicles in its class.
PT Cruiser Performance - 7.0 (Good)
The 2007 PT Cruiser has style and practicality, so reviewers mostly forgive it for not offering performance as well. Of its three available engines, the most powerful is a four-cylinder 230-horsepower model that, in the words of Auto Week, "makes the performance acceptable." continue
PT Cruiser Exterior - 8.6 (Very Good)
Reviewers adore the PT Cruiser's retro styling. The Los Angeles Times calls the PT Cruiser "one of the niftiest body styles to hit the market since Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964... It is pretty hard...to find someone who doesn't love its looks." continue
PT Cruiser Interior - 7.5 (Good)
Reviewers are particularly impressed with the spaciousness of the 2007 PT Cruiser's interior, but the interior finish is badly reviewed. "It's a good size," says The Auto Channel, "with enough seating and non-seating variations to make it either a micro-van or small people-carrier." continue
PT Cruiser Safety - 7.8 (Good)
The 2007 PT Cruiser has driver and passenger frontal air bags, but additional air bags as well as anti-lock brakes are extra-cost options. The Cruiser receives good but not perfect ratings in government crash tests. continue
PT Cruiser Reliability - 7.0 (Good)
The 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Chrysler offers a bumper-to-bumper warranty of 36 months or 36,000 miles. continue