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2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Station Wagon
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PT Cruiser slightly better, but will it be enough? New competition, flood of retro cars to challenge PT sales
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Perhaps the most noticeable change is in the headlights, where a droopy, scalloped, two-part lamp replaces the simpler and more elegant cat's eye design. It looks like Chrysler bought a bunch of the droopy lights at a yard sale and then rigged up a way to stick 'em on the Cruiser. They don't fit the character of the car.
Inside, you'll find an attractive, all-new interior that looks nice enough, but it's hardly the step up in quality you'd expect from a company that also owns Mercedes. Aside from a hard plastic dash that feels like it's made from the same material as Bic pens, everything in the cabin looks like a nice, comfortable, slightly upscale car should. Which, come to think of it, is about how the old PT fared, too.
Also like the older PTs, the new ones remain very affordable with prices starting at $13,405 and ranging up to $23,030 for the turbo GT model. A low price is something we like to see carried over from the old models.
Two improvements are quite noticeable, though.
One is the amount of noise you hear while driving around, particularly at highway speed. Chrysler added more sound insulation to keep wind and road noise out of the cabin to make the PT sound more like a luxury car and less like a gussied-up Dodge Neon.
The other is a new turbocharged engine that makes 230 horsepower -- a huge number for a relatively small car.
In the PT Cruiser GT model I tested, which came with this high-output engine, I had no trouble spinning the tires from a dead stop with an automatic transmission. It's easy to let that amount of power sneak up and surprise you from time to time when you glance down at the speedometer and see you're breaking the law ... by a considerable margin.
Other than that, it's the same old PT. The only question is whether that's enough to keep it a winner on the showroom floor.
Pros: It's a spunky, practical, good-looking vehicle at a great price.
Cons: It doesn't stand out nearly as much as it used to.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 9
- Performance: 8
- Price: 10
- Handling: 8
- Ride: 4
- Comfort: 7
- Quality: 7
- Overall: 8
More Data
Where Built: Mexico
Major Options: Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition, Chrome Accents Group. Front side airbags, Antilock brakes, Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Air conditioning, Power sunroof, Boston Acoustics sound system, Satellite radio, UConnect, Leather upholstery, Heated front seats, Cruise control, Universal garage-door opener, Rear privacy glass, Engine-block heater, Chrome alloy wheels.
Seating: 4-5.
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 168.9
Warrantees: 3 years/36,000 miles Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles Extended powertrain, 5 years/100,000 miles Corrosion protection, 3 years/36,000 miles Free roadside assistance.
Weight in Pounds: 3,076 lb. â€' 3,303 lb
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 865 lbs.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 1,000 lbs.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 15.0
Destination Charge: $640
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