The 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser appeals to people of
all ages and lifestyles with its unique and retro design. It is affordable,
practical, and roomy. The 2007 comes in two body styles: a five-door
hatchback/wagon Chrysler calls a sedan; and a two-door convertible. The sedan is
available in four trim levels: base, Touring, Limited, and GT. The convertible
comes in Touring and GT trim. All PT Cruisers are powered by a 2.4-liter,
twin-cam four-cylinder engine. The GT models deliver strong acceleration
performance and bring hot-rod credibility to the Cruiser's hot rod image.
Standard remote keyless entry and optional stain-resistant fabric are among the
handful of changes for Chrysler's 2007 PT Cruiser, now in its seventh year. The 2007 model got moderate exterior revisions, an updated interior, more power
for the GT model, and reductions in road, wind and engine noise. Amid
fresh competition, the Cruiser has relied on innumerable special editions,
turbocharged and convertible variants to stay competitive. Chrysler says the
retro-styled, front-wheel-drive PT Cruiser blends the elements of a sedan,
wagon, sport utility vehicle and minivan. Four trims are available: base,
Touring, Limited and GT.
Power for the Cruiser
The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder produces 150
horsepower. Two turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinders are offered, producing
either 180 hp or 230 hp. The 180-hp engine comes only with a four-speed
automatic transmission, but the other engines can mate with either the automatic
or a five-speed manual. The automatic in the 230-hp PT Cruiser GT incorporates
AutoStick manual gear selection. The manual gearbox is surprisingly precise, not
sports-car grade, but not bad for a unit with a longer-throw gate and foot-long
shifter. PT Cruiser Drive
The PT Cruiser is fun to drive. In essence,
it is a tall, practical car that is speedy. The standard engine gives enough to
propel the Cruiser from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. Distinctive styling is
the main attraction to the Cruiser, but this wagon's roomy and flexible interior
is another high point. Throttle response on the 2007 PT Cruiser is rapid. As
expected, the high-output turbocharged GT delivers responsive performance, even
with the automatic. The PT Cruiser's terrific handling is confident and
nimble. This wagon maneuvers crisply and takes corners well. Body lean in curves
is noticeable, but the otherwise-stable PT Cruiser is exceptionally easy to
drive. With its big 17-inch wheels and tires, the rear suspension design
maximizes cargo space, but the twist-beam rear axle bounces a bit on rough
pavement and the chassis does not feel rigid.
Trims Levels for '07
The base PT Cruiser sedan comes with AM/FM/CD/MP3
stereo, fabric bucket seats and floor console, tilt steering, power windows,
speed-sensitive power locks, engine immobilizer, tinted glass, rear window
defroster, wiper, and washer, 65/35 split folding rear seat, remote keyless
entry, power liftgate, and 15-inch steel wheels.
The Touring sedan adds air conditioning, power
mirrors, a fold-flat front passenger seat with storage drawer, and other
interior features. To that list the Touring Convertible adds a power top with
soft boot cover, 50/50 split rear seat, fog lamps, and 16-inch painted aluminum
wheels. Leather seats are optional on the convertible.
Limited comes with side-impact airbags, cruise
control, six-way power seats with upgraded cloth upholstery and manual lumbar
adjustment, leather-wrapped steering wheel, security alarm, HomeLink universal
garage-door opener, power glass sunroof, and a unique Touring suspension on
16-inch aluminum wheels.
The GT sedan adds four-wheel disc brakes with ABS,
a performance-tuned suspension, traction control, and all-season performance
tires on 17-inch chromed aluminum wheels. The GT also comes with side-impact
airbags, a power glass sunroof, and most of the Limited's luxury goodies.
Leather sport seats are also standard. The GT convertible comes with all the
Limited and GT sedan extras.
Safety
Along with the federally required dual front
airbags, a driver's knee airbag is standard. Side-impact airbags for the front
seats are optional. Antilock brakes are standard on the GT and available on
other trim levels. Three-point safety harnesses are provided at all positions,
including the rear center position. The front belts have pre-tensioners,
just like in luxury cars, to tighten the belts for the initial stages of an
impact. The rear bench is equipped with child-seat tethers.
Chrysler Cabin Features
Two bucket seats are installed up front and a
65/35-split, folding rear bench holds three. Outboard passengers have adequate
space, but the center rear position is cramped. Removing the rear seat
expands cargo volume from a moderate 21.6 cubic feet to a sizable 62.7 cubic
feet. The front-passenger seatback folds flat, leaving enough space to haul an
8-foot ladder. Performance seats, silver cluster gauges and a satin silver
gearshift knob are included in the GT. With both rear seats out, the Cruiser
provides 64 cubic feet of cargo volume. The load floor measures 40 inches
between the wheel wells. Window switches are high in the center stack,
inconvenient for quick operation, forcing the driver to search for them. A bonus
of the Cruiser's tall profile is its upright seating position, with a fairly
high view ahead, somewhat like a sport-utility vehicle or minivan. The front
seats in the three lower-line models have a reasonable amount of bolstering to
keep driver and passenger from sliding side to side.
PT Cruiser Design
The Chrysler PT Cruiser blends the retro look of a
late-1930s or early 1940s American sedan with new-age styling cues such as
dual-beam flush headlights and teardrop-shaped taillight lenses. Bulging
fenders, fender-mounted headlights and taillights, and a tall, wide eggcrate
grille help give the PT Cruiser its unique look. The PT Cruiser is quite
compact. It's shorter in overall length than most compact sedans, but it's
relatively tall. The height is a crucial element of the PT Cruiser's design.
Built on a 103-inch wheelbase, the PT Cruiser is 168.9 inches long overall. The PT Cruiser GT has a larger, lower grille opening for its air-to-air
intercooler. Additional GT features include a large-diameter chrome exhaust tip
and all-season performance tires on 17-inch chrome-clad wheels. The PT Cruiser
pulls its exterior styling themes into the cabin, although the retro theme is
tempered a bit by a very modern-looking center stack that visually splits the
vintage-styled dashboard.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser combines retro with
modern performance, efficiency and features. The PT Cruiser comes in two body
styles: a versatile five-door model and a not-so-versatile two-door convertible. The
2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser remains relatively the same from 2006, with a few
additions to colors and features. The Cruiser's interior volume and versatility
compares well to a small SUV. Yet the PT Cruiser is small and easy to park. It
gets good fuel efficiency with 26 mpg Hwy, and 21 mpg City. The
lower-level models are competitively priced and a great value. The
Turbocharged models add performance, but are pricey. The PT Cruiser convertible
is one of the least expensive convertibles on the market.