2007
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser appeals to people of all ages and
lifestyles with its unique and retro design. It’s 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.
Powertrain
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. Working the gears to
get the most from the base engine is enjoyable.
Handling
The PT Cruiser is fun to drive. In essence, it's 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
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.
Interior
Up to five occupants can fit inside the PT Cruiser. 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. Folding the front passenger
seatback flat forms a table next to the driver, or makes room
for an eight-foot stepladder or a load of two-by-fours. Window
switches are high in the center stack, inconvenient for quick
operation, forcing the driver to search for them. The door
levers have a nice action, and the switches operate with good
tactile feel, though they're not world class. 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.
Exterior
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. Another distinctive feature is its basic stance, which
makes the wagon look like it's leaning forward. The PT Cruiser
is quite compact. It's shorter in overall length than most
compact sedans, but it's relatively tall. Measuring 63 inches
from the pavement to the highest point of its roof, it's nearly
as tall as a minivan. 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. A liftgate-mounted sport spoiler
is standard on the GT and optional on the Limited. 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 a 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 Cruisers interior volume
and versatility compare 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.
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