End of the road: Chrysler builds last PT Cruiser

Consumer Reports News: July 12, 2010 05:22 PM

With retro-inspired styling and a versatile interior, the 2001 PT Cruiser proved that small and affordable needn't mean dull. Its initial buzz was strong and the PT quickly gained popularity. Over a long 10-year model run, the PT Cruiser introduced a turbocharged variant, a convertible, and many special editions, yet beyond a minor midlife interior freshening, precious little was done to update this distinctive model. With sales dipping and no announced replacement on the horizon, Chrysler has discontinued the PT Cruiser. The last example was built on Friday.

The Toluca, Mexico, assembly plant where the PT Cruiser was built alongside the Dodge Journey will be converted to build the Fiat 500 for North America, spearheading the return of that Italian brand. (See our Fiat 500 driving impressions.)

The last PT Cruiser we tested was a 2006 Touring model with the turbocharged engine. It was recommended, but the car wasn't without compromises. That example returned just 20 mpg overall and it required premium fuel—an expensive combination for a small car.

Based on our testing, we thought the handling was secure but not agile, and the ride was compliant. The wide turning circle, flawed driving position, and compromised visibility were detractions.

The versatile interior could accommodate long objects, and the heavy rear seats could be removed to increase cargo volume. The firm front seats were comfortable, but thigh support for tall drivers was limited. The rear bench seat offered very good head and leg room for two passengers.

The PT Cruiser was innovative at launch and held much potential that sadly remained unrealized. Despite Chrysler showing edgier concepts on the auto show circuit, the much-needed redesign never materialized.

For now, the PT Cruiser remains an interesting mile marker in the automaker's product history. New PT Cruisers are still available, and there are ample used examples on the market—many for rather low asking prices. However, used models have very uneven reliability; the latest safety features are still missing (head-protection air bags and ESC have never been offered); and IIHS side-crash test results are poor. Hence, it's critical for used-car shoppers to do their homework. Overall, though, we think there are better choices.

With the PT Cruiser on the way out, I hope the Fiat 500 is intriguing enough to make it easy to forget that stylish five-door hatch.

— Jeff Bartlett