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PT Cruiser is fun to drive, but it's not a sports car. In essence, it's a tall, practical economy car that goes relatively quickly. The standard engine is rated 150 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the Cruiser from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds and down the quarter-mile drag strip in about 16.7 seconds. We call that peppy, but the base engine makes its best power at higher rpm, so you have to really get on it to get that type of performance. Big four-cylinder engines have a natural tendency to idle roughly, so Chrysler's 2.4-liter engine uses a counter-rotating balance shaft to smooth things out.
The PT Cruiser offers both a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission. 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.
The automatic isn't as effective as the five-speed at getting the base Cruiser cruising, because 'automatics tend to keep an engine in lower rev ranges and the 2.4-liter's' peak torque is reached at a relatively high 4,000 rpm. (Torque is the force that propels the car from intersections and up steep hills). On the other hand, kickdown shifts come fairly quickly. With properly timed dips of the accelerator, there's enough power for safe, clean overtaking on two-lane roads. In short, we like the manual better than the automatic. With the manual transmission, the base engine is EPA rated at 21 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. With the automatic, the ratings are 19/24.
The 180-horsepower turbocharged engine that's standard on Limited and optional otherwise produces a healthy 210 pound-feet of torque, starting at 2800 rpm and holding steady to 4000. That improves performance with the automatic considerably, and makes it eaiser to make that pass, accelerate ahead of traffic, or fill that hole in traffic. The turbo is relatively devoid of turbo lag, so the extra power makes the PT Cruiser easier to live with on a daily basis. And the fuel economy hit is not that larger. With the manual, the turbo 2.4 gets 20 mpg city and 25 highway; with the automatic, it is rated at 18 city and 24 highway.
Even the base PT Cruiser handles more like a sedan than a minivan, maintaining its composure in the corners. With its big 17-inch wheels and tires, the Limited is sportier, though it lacks precision. Though it is noticeable in all models, body lean is much better controlled than in any SUV and is good for an economy car. 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. In quick, hard, slalom-type maneuvers any PT Cruiser starts to feel top heavy'. You can almost feel the high mass of the car try to continue in one direction as the front wheels turn in the other. It feels tentative when turning in for high-speed corners and does not inspire confidence. It's more composed than the typical sport-utility or minivan in sudden lane-change maneuvers, but it really is more of a cruiser than a sports machine.
In spite of its height, we did not find the Cruiser to be particularly susceptible to cross winds at high speeds. There is little wind noise, almost no tire or road noise, and a just-audible whine from the drivetrain.
The ride quality is generally absorbent in all models. The suspension feels better controlled with the Limited's 17-inch wheels and touring suspension, but these is little if any price to pay in ride quality. The convertible is less rigid and exhibits some cowl shake but is satisfylingly well controlled. Suprisingly, some convertible coupes have more cowl shake. next page