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2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser Performance Review

February 22, 2009

PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Interior volume and versatility compare well to a small SUV
Automotive.com

150-hp engine is fine for around-town cruising but weak on hills or in highway passing
ConsumerGuide

Newer competitors outdo the PT in terms of performance, handling and features
Edmunds

It may bear a passing resemblance to modern interpretations of 1930s hot rods, but this Chrysler PT Cruiser is no speed demon.

The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine also offered in turbocharged form. Cars.com says that "the base 2.4-liter...produces 150 hp, and the only turbocharged engine offered...makes 180 hp." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that either engine will move you around town decently well, but don't expect much in the way of power from a standstill. ConsumerGuide contends that the "150-hp engine is fine for around-town cruising but weak on hills or in highway passing," while the turbo is "noticeably stronger in all situations." Edmunds chimes in by noting that the turbocharged 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser "accelerates decently once the turbo is spooled up," but warns that "buyers will want to avoid the base engine, which leaves the car feeling lethargic." Automotive.com sums it up nicely, surmising that the "PT Cruiser is fun to drive, but it's not a sports car."

Teaming up with the available engines is a pair of transmissions, and Automotive.com says that the Chrysler PT Cruiser "offers both a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission." ConsumerGuide approves of the automatic, which they claim is "responsive, despite a tendency to lurch when downshifting." Automotive.com adds that "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."

With a low-power, low-displacement engine and relatively light overall weight, you might expect the Chrysler PT Cruiser to post decent EPA mileage ratings. You'd be wrong, however, as the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser disappoints in any configuration. The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, while automatics earn a 19/24 mpg rating, and the turbo is even lower in the city, at 18 mpg.

The chassis under the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is still a derivative of the old, discontinued Dodge and Plymouth Neon—sophisticated and refined it's not. ConsumerGuide reports "noticeable body lean" in fast corners, "but no tippiness." Cars.com takes a very different approach to the PT Cruiser's handling, noting that it exhibits "terrific handling [that] is confident and nimble. This wagon maneuvers with utter crispness and can take corners with impressive speed." While some reviewers did appreciate the Chrysler PT Cruiser's handling more than others, the hyperbole from Cars.com is definitely on the high end of the spectrum. The ride inside the PT Cruiser is commendable, as ConsumerGuide points out when remarking that "all models absorb bumps reasonably well." Edmunds agrees and says that "apart from a wide turning circle, all PTs are easy to steer.

Conclusion

The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon offers passable acceleration but not much more—perfect for cruising city streets.

PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Interior volume and versatility compare well to a small SUVAutomotive.com150-hp engine is fine for around-town cruising but weak on hills or in highway passingConsumerGuideNewer competitors outdo the PT in terms of performance, handling and featuresEdmunds It may bear a passing resemblance to modern interpretations of 1930s hot rods, but this Chrysler PT Cruiser is no speed demon. The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine also offered in turbocharged form. Cars.com says that "the base 2.4-liter...produces 150 hp, and the only turbocharged engine offered...makes 180 hp." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that either engine will move you around town decently well, but don't expect much in the way of power from a standstill. ConsumerGuide contends that the "150-hp engine is fine for around-town cruising but weak on hills or in highway passing," while the turbo is "noticeably stronger in all situations." Edmunds chimes in by noting that the turbocharged 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser "accelerates decently once the turbo is spooled up," but warns that "buyers will want to avoid the base engine, which leaves the car feeling lethargic." Automotive.com sums it up nicely, surmising that the "PT Cruiser is fun to drive, but it's not a sports car." Teaming up with the available engines is a pair of transmissions, and Automotive.com says that the Chrysler PT Cruiser "offers both a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission." ConsumerGuide approves of the automatic, which they claim is "responsive, despite a tendency to lurch when downshifting." Automotive.com adds that "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." With a low-power, low-displacement engine and relatively light overall weight, you might expect the Chrysler PT Cruiser to post decent EPA mileage ratings. You'd be wrong, however, as the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser disappoints in any configuration. The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, while automatics earn a 19/24 mpg rating, and the turbo is even lower in the city, at 18 mpg. The chassis under the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is still a derivative of the old, discontinued Dodge and Plymouth Neon—sophisticated and refined it's not. ConsumerGuide reports "noticeable body lean" in fast corners, "but no tippiness." Cars.com takes a very different approach to the PT Cruiser's handling, noting that it exhibits "terrific handling [that] is confident and nimble. This wagon maneuvers with utter crispness and can take corners with impressive speed." While some reviewers did appreciate the Chrysler PT Cruiser's handling more than others, the hyperbole from Cars.com is definitely on the high end of the spectrum. The ride inside the PT Cruiser is commendable, as ConsumerGuide points out when remarking that "all models absorb bumps reasonably well." Edmunds agrees and says that "apart from a wide turning circle, all PTs are easy to steer. ConclusionThe 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon offers passable acceleration but not much more—perfect for cruising city streets. 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STYLING | [7 out of 10] Automotive.com: "New-age styling cues such as dual-beam flush headlights and teardrop-shaped taillight lenses" Edmunds: "Aged design" ConsumerGuide: "Instrument panel carries on the exterior's retro theme but is contemporary for its ease ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Chevrolet HHR was introduced as a 2006 model, and many saw it as a direct competitor to the popular PT Cruiser. The HHR is marginally larger than the PT Cruiser, and it tends to be a better driver because its chassis and powertrain technology are a generation newer than the Chrysler's. With the introduction of the high-performance HHR SS, the PT Cruiser has no direct competitor for this model. The Jeep Compass, also a product of Chrysler, is actually a carlike tall wagon and boasts better handling than the PT Cruiser—along with more standard features and a lower price. And the Compass offers all-wheel drive; the PT Cruiser doesn't. The Scion xB is another potential Chrysler PT Cruiser competitor. The xB has a boxy body style that some might find more fashionable and more modern; the xB’s interior isn’t as roomy as the design might lead you to believe, though. Finally, the upcoming 2010 Kia Soul, which goes on sale halfway through the ‘09 model year, is another promising rival, a tall, very boxy wagon that offers perhaps the best fuel economy of any in this group.

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See the Chrysler PT Cruiser in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

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