- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
104kW, 188Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
NA
- Ancap Safety
NA
Used car review: Chrysler PT Cruiser
We all tend to immediately think of the reborn Mini and Volkswagen Beetle when the topic turns to retro car design, but even those two are put in the shade by a third vehicle that has taken the whole retro movement to extremes.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser not only raised retro to new heights, but did so by recalling an age that most car buyers in the 21st century can't remember because they weren't there.
On the surface, it really doesn't make much sense: why invoke a period in time that dates back to before the consumers it's aimed at were even born?
Maybe it's just one of those leaps of faith that car makers come up with every now and then, but whatever the circumstances, the PT Cruiser that was born of it certainly made a splash.
In terms of its inspiration, the PT Cruiser is all about 1930s station wagons; a breed of cars that was itself all about an emerging leisure culture and enabling honest, working folk the opportunity to see cars as something other than mere transport.
It's an era that gave us the Ford "Woodie", a station wagon with the bulk of its bodywork from the windscreen back made of hand-laminated timber frames and panels.
No, the PT Cruiser doesn't resort to hardwood for its construction, but it's that kind of mood it conjures up.
Nothing, but nothing, looks as natural with a pair of surfboards on its roof as a PT Cruiser.
The theme was continued inside with a body-coloured dashboard (made of plastic but designed to appear made of metal) and old-school instruments to complete the feel. And despite all the yesteryear touches, perhaps the most impressive thing about the PT Cruiser was its interior versatility.
The upright styling meant there was plenty of headroom and because the occupants sat fairly upright, legroom was also maximised.
Clever folding rear seats meant that the PT Cruiser could swallow a pair of mountain bikes standing up while still carrying two people and their luggage. As an alternative to bike racks and strapping stuff to roof racks, the Cruiser's ability to cope with gear was a major selling point.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the PT Cruiser was its performance.
When it launched in 2000, the vehicle was available with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine which produced a fairly meagre 104kW of power.
In five-speed manual form, you could drive around the relative deficiency, but with the four-speed automatic specified, the PT Cruiser was a pretty lethargic performer.
An upgrade in 2004 retained the same gearbox choices but brought with it a new 2.4-litre engine, still a four-cylinder, that produced just a single kilowatt more power, but a hefty increase in torque.
Even then, the 2.4-litre PT Cruiser was still not what you'd call a strong performer and the refinement many were expecting simply wasn't there.
The obvious solution would have been to slot a small-capacity V6 into the PT Cruiser, but here it was a victim of its own style.
Those sculpted front mudguards and 1930s-esque bonnet line meant that a V6 simply couldn't be packaged in a way that would make it compatible with the vehicle's transverse-engined, front-wheel-drive layout (pinched from the unloved Chrysler Neon).
Handling was expected to be, given the car's North American heritage, a fairly roly-poly experience. While there was some body roll, it was mainly because of the tall cabin throwing its weight around.
Beyond that, the PT Cruiser was no race car, but neither was it offensively sloppy to drive.
So while the car's American roots didn't ruin its handling, they did make for a pretty well-equipped package. Air-conditioning was standard, as was remote central locking, a CD player and even a trip computer. And since the US is the home of the airbag, the PT Cruiser got dual front bags as well as anti-lock braking to keep itself safe.
The PT Cruiser was more or less an instant hit with a particular slice of the Australian market, and before you knew it there were even PT Cruiser clubs springing up.
They're also a commonly accessorised vehicle and you'll see plenty with big shiny wheels and wild paint jobs as part of the owner's attempts to make their own statement within a statement.
The other thing to be watchful of is a PT Cruiser that has done a lot of hard miles as a promotional vehicle. The funky looks made them an obvious target for businesses looking for a cool delivery or promo vehicle, and some have been used hard as a result.
But a steady flow of buyers from both sides of the corporate paddock have ensured that there's a good supply out there, so there's plenty of choice should a slice of 1930s Americana appeal.
What to pay
Prices have taken a bit of a beating lately and you'll now find 2.0-litre examples for around the $12,000 mark in good, serviceable condition. A2.4-litre car is quite a bit more expensive and will cost closer to $20,000 or high-teens at the very least. Then again, it's a clearly superior car and will be worth the extra for some.
The competition
Retro design isn't scarce any more, but nobody else has really applied the retro brush to a small people-mover or soft-roader (depending on how you want to pigeon-hole the Chrysler). And perhaps that explains the vehicle's relative success despite its dynamic shortfalls; it's simply the only game in town.