2009 Chrysler Aspen Quality Review

Although Chrysler continues to market the Aspen Chrysler as an upscale SUV, TheCarConnection.com's research and firsthand experiences with the Chrysler Aspen have shown that it lags behind competitors in terms of overall quality.

The interior of the 2009 Chrysler Aspen is relatively spacious, and Cars.com says the Aspen Chrysler "seats seven occupants in three rows, although an available third-row bench seat bumps capacity to eight." Accommodations for passengers in the first and second rows of this 2009 Chrysler SUV are comfortable, with ConsumerGuide finding "ample legroom and headroom" up front, "even beneath the sunroof housing." They add that the Aspen Chrysler's "2nd row has decent headroom, legroom, and foot space, though taller passengers will be cramped for legroom." Edmunds reviewers agree, noting the second-row captain's chairs "are fixed in place so legroom's tight," but they do appreciate that "moving about the cabin doesn't demand the nimbleness of a gymnast." For the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Cars.com states that passenger volume is "down by just 0.4 cubic feet, or less than 1 percent; Chrysler says that's due to the battery pack, which sits underneath the rear load floor." Third-row passengers will be glad they didn't lose much space, since there really wasn't much to begin with—ConsumerGuide reports that the third row "can accommodate adults for short trips" only.

For 2009, Chrysler's sole SUV offering gives drivers impressive utility, thanks to its generous cargo capacity. Edmunds reviewers find that the "maximum cargo capacity is impressive at over 102 cubic feet with all rear seats folded," which Cars.com notes is "a bit less than the Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe, which both have around 110 cubic feet." ConsumerGuide reports that the 2009 Chrysler Aspen "Hybrids lose no cargo space to conventional versions," and both variants of the Aspen Chrysler feature "plenty of in-cabin storage, including a deep center console and large, useful console tray."

One area where this 2009 Chrysler falls short of expectations is in the quality department. Edmunds reports that interior quality "lags behind the class leaders," and ConsumerGuide seconds that by commenting that the Chrysler Aspen's interior material "trails those of premium rivals from Acura and Cadillac." Cars.com jumps on the bandwagon here as well, noting that the Chrysler Aspen's "dashboard materials and overall build quality are generally disappointing, and Chrysler's electronic frills—among them a sharp navigation display and onboard MP3 hard drive—can't bring it up to par."

When it comes to driving environment, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the Aspen Chrysler's is acceptable, if not class-leading. ConsumerGuide  remarks that overall "road noise is decently muted, but certain surfaces can induce audible tire roar." As for the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Cars.com says that "the motor emits a noticeable whirr as the engine revs hard, but we have no complaints with the system's overall sound."