Times have changed in America, that much we can tell you.

Remember the day when mid-sized convertibles were as trendy as the mullet hairstyle? Those days are long gone, which is why it's a little surprising that automakers are still producing these vehicles.

Consumers still love convertibles, but these days, it has to be of the sporty variety. The 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible->ke3341 is not a sports car, but it does come with the capability of being a convertible. So you can say that the vehicle offers the best of both worlds, right? The sporty performance of a coupe and the open-air freedom of a convertible all wrapped in a midsized vehicle's body.

To be fair, there are a number of positive attributes with the 200 Convertible. It's been completely refreshed to make Chrysler->ke21 forget about the forsaken Sebring. It also has an impressive powertrain configuration that does justice to its looks.

So there's still hope for the 200 Convertible. But hope is fleeting, especially in the auto industry and ultimately, the midsized convertible is a dying breed.

Chrysler may have something with the 200 Convertible but for the most part, it's going to take a lot of convincing to get people interested in this kind of car these days.

Click past the jump to read about the 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible

2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 173
  • Torque: 166
  • Transmission: Six-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The promise of a clean and sleek midsized convertible isn't lost on us. Give credit to Chrysler for putting in the work on providing the 200 Convertible with its redeeming qualities.

The front end looks clean, maybe even too clean that it hardly inspires anything more than an ambivalent reaction. The inclusion of LEDs on the projector lamps is a welcome sight, as is the streamlined quality that harkens back to those old bulky convertibles of yesteryear.

Speaking of its dimensions, the 200 Convertible is really long. Too long, at least, for our liking. The car's decklid is a challenge to open, something that should have been expected for a car this size yet you would've hoped Chrysler had already addressed. Closing it isn't a problem but you would've liked it to be the same for both ends.

You can't talk about this model without discussing the folding hardtop, which may look good but is just too bulky and complicated to even use.

Dimensions in(cm):

Wheelbase

108.9 (2765)

Track, Front

61.7 (1567)

Track, Rear

62.7 (1594)

Overall Length

194.8 (4947)

Overall Width

72.5 (1842.6) w/o side mirror / 82.3 (2089.3) with side mirrors

Overall Height w/Cloth Convertible Top

57.9 (1470) with 225/55R17

Overall Height w/Retractable Hard Top

57.8 (1469) with 225/55R17

Cd

0.342


Exterior Features

Features

200 Touring

200 Limited

200 S

Convertible Top

Power cloth soft top

Standard

Standard

Standard

Power retractable hard top

-

Optional

Optional

Defroster — electric, rear window

Standard

Standard

Standard

Lamps

Bi-function halogen projector headlamp

Standard

Standard

Standard

Automatic

Standard

Standard

Standard

Headlamp off-time delay

Standard

Standard

Standard

Front fog lamps

Standard

Standard

Standard

Mirrors

Dual, power, heated, body color

-

Standard

-

Dual, power, heated, bright

Standard

-

Standard

Remote start (included with Cold Weather Group)

Standard

Standard

Trunk lid release — power

Standard

Standard

Standard


Interior

The interior of the 2013 200 Convertible doesn't do much in the way of making you feel like you're in a cabin that inspires luxury. Spacing in the front is an issue that's only exacerbated by stiff front seats that can get really uncomfortable on long drives. You can get away with improving the interior quality with all the additional options available, but it's still a bummer knowing that Chrysler could have made some of these options, including its 8.4-inch UConnect screen, standard yet didn't do so.

The rear does carry enough room for more than one passenger, although folks with longer appendages, comfortably fitting in the back can prove to be a real challenge.

So what's good about the interior of the 200 Convertible? Not a whole lot, although the use of soft plastic throughout the cabin is more than what you're going to get from other midsized convertibles, or whatever's still being offered in the market these days.

Interior Dimensions

Seating Capacity - F/R

2/2

EPA Total Interior Passenger Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m)

88.4 (2.50)

Front

Head Room w/Cloth Convertible Top

38.7 (984)

Head Room w/Retractable Hard Top

39.0 (992)

Legroom

42.4 (1077)

Shoulder Room

56.4 (1432)

Hip Room

52.7 (1339)

Seat Travel

10.2 (260)

EPA Front Compartment Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m)

53.6 (1.52)

Rear

Head Room w/Cloth Convertible Top

37.0 (939)

Head Room w/Retractable Hard Top

36.3 (921)

Legroom

33.5 (850)

Shoulder Room

47.1 (1197.4)

Hip Room

44.2 (1123)

EPA Rear Compartment Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m)

34.8 (0.99)

Cargo

Trunk Lift-over Height

31.2 (792)

EPA Total Trunk Volume – Top Up

13.3 (0.38)

EPA Total Trunk Volume – Top Down

7.0 (0.2)


Interior Features

Features

200 Touring

200 Limited

200 S

Console

Center console with FORE/AFT sliding armrest

Standard

Standard

Standard

Soft center console armrest

Standard

Standard

Standard

Door Handles (Interior)

Color keyed

Standard

-

Standard

Bright

-

Standard

-

Door Locks — power

Standard

Standard

Standard

Floor Mats — premium

Front and rear, carpeted

Standard

Standard

Standard

Instrument Panel

Analog clock in instrument panel

Standard

Standard

Standard

LED instrument cluster with tachometer

Standard

Standard

Standard

Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with trip computer and tire-pressure monitoring (TPM) display

Standard

Standard

Standard

Outside temperature display in instrument cluster

Standard

Standard

Standard

Bright Chrome I/P, gauge cluster rings

Standard

Standard

Standard

Quick Silver steering wheel and door trim bezels

Standard

Standard

Standard

Soft-touch, reverse in-mold graining

Standard

Standard

Standard

Incandescent map/reading lights for front seats

Standard

-

-

LED interior map/reading lights for front seats

-

Standard

Standard

Mirror

Day/night manual rearview

Standard

-

-

Automatic-dimming rearview mirror with microphone

-

Standard

Standard

Power Outlets — two, battery- and ignition-fed

Standard

Standard

Standard

Seats

Premium cloth

Standard

-

-

Premium leather-trimmed seats

-

Standard

-

Premium leather-trimmed seats with ‘S” suede inserts

-

-

Standard

Heated front seat (included with Cold Weather Group)

-

Standard

Standard

Six-way power driver and passenger

Standard

Standard

Standard

Driver-adjustable lumbar

Standard

Standard

Standard

Shifter

Leather shift knob

Standard

Standard

Standard

Sound Systems

AM/FM radio with CD player and MP3 play capability

Standard

-

-

Media Center 430 CD/DVD/MP3/HDD

Optional

Standard

Standard

Media Center 730N CD/DVD/MP3/HDD/NAV

-

Optional

Optional

Six speakers

Standard

Standard

-

Boston Acoustics speaker system

-

Optional

Standard

SiriusXM Radio

Standard

Standard

Standard

Uconnect Voice Command w/Bluetooth

Optional

Standard

Standard

Speed control

Standard

Standard

Standard

Steering Wheel

Tilt and telescoping

Standard

Standard

Standard

Leather-wrapped

Standard

Standard

-

Leather-wrapped, performance tu-tone

-

-

Standard

Audio controls

Standard

Standard

Standard

Sun visors

Standard

Standard

Standard

Lighted Visor mirrors

Standard

Standard

Standard

Trunk

Lid release — power with internal emergency release

Standard

Standard

Standard

Trunk mat

Standard

Standard

Standard


Drivetrain

Depending on what model you get, the Chrysler 200C is offered with a choice of two powertrains: a 2.4-liter in-line-four engine that develops around 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque or the automaker's award-winning 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine, in particular, is pegged to hit 60 mph in 7.5 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of about 120 mph.

The in-line-four engine is offered as standard on the 200 Convertible Touring model while the latter V-6 comes as standard on the 200 Convertible Limited and S models.

Engine Specifications

Model

200 Touring

200 S and Limited

Engine

2.4-LITER, GASOLINE, DOHC, 16-VALVE, VVT, SMPI I-4

3.6-LITER, GASOLINE, DOHC, 24-VALVE, SMPI V-6

Type and Description

Four-cylinder inline, tuned intake manifold with electronic active charge motion control valves with dual counter-rotating balance shafts

60-degree bank angle, liquid-cooled, three-plenum intake manifold with electronically controlled manifold tuning valve and short-runner valves

Displacement

2,360 cc

3,605 cc

Bore x Stroke

3.46 x 3.82 in.

3.78 x 3.28 in.

Construction

High-pressure die-cast aluminum block with dry iron liners, cast-aluminum cylinder heads, cast-aluminum ladder frame, forged-steel crankshaft

High-pressure die-cast A380 aluminum block with iron liners and semi-permanent mold A319 aluminum heads

Compression

10.5:1

10.2:1

Power (SAE net, estimated)

173 bhp (129 kW) @ 6,000 rpm (71 bhp/liter)

283 bhp (211 kW) @ 6,400 rpm

Torque (SAE net, estimated)

166 lb.-ft. (225 N•m) @ 4,400 rpm

260 lb.-ft. (353 N•m) @ 4,400 rpm

Max. Engine Speed

6,500 rpm (electronically limited)

6,800 rpm (electronically limited)

Estimated EPA Fuel Economy mpg (City/Hwy)

18/27

19/29


Suspension

All Chrysler 200 Convertible models come with an independent MacPherson strut suspension in the front with a coil spring over gas-charged absorbers and stabilizer. On the back, the suspension setup features a multi-link independent suspension with coil springs, a link-type stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers and an isolated rear suspension cradle.

Trim

All 200 Convertible Models

Front

Independent MacPherson strut, coil spring over gas-charged shock absorbers, stabilizer bar

Rear

Multi-link independent with coil springs, link-type stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers and isolated rear suspension cradle


Pricing

Chrysler promised that the 200 Convertible will come with an affordable sticker price with the base model coming in at $27,325. Depending on your definition of what "affordable" is, that MSRP is either comfortably priced or you're better off getting the more impressive American muscle cars that include the Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Camaro.

Should you opt for the 200 Convertible, you can at least find comfort knowing that the U.S. market will offer three different models: the Chrysler 200 Convertible Touring, the 200 Convertible Limited and the Chrysler 200 S model.

Pricing Details

Model

Engine

MSRP

200 Touring Convertible

2.4L DOHC I4

$24,325

200 Limited Convertible

3.6L Pentastar V-6

$32,320

200S Convertible

3.6L Pentastar V-6

$32,820


Competition

The market is bare with direct competitors, which should give the 200 Convertible a leg-up, right? Well, not quite. One of its chief rivals, the Volkswagen Eos, has been discontinued.

Likewise, Ford and Chevrolet have pretty much taken themselves out of the midsized convertible game. In fact, you can make a case that the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible fits itself nicely as a competing model to the 200 Convertible.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

They're both priced at around the $30,000 mark for respective base models and the 200 Convertible is kidding itself if it says that it can compete with the Camaro in terms of looks and overall sex appeal.

Even the Camaro's base 323-horsepower output is significantly more than what the 200 Convertible is capable of producing. The only thing the Chrysler convertible has over its rival is the plethora of options you can give to it and the fact that roomier rear seats, which the Camaro probably doesn't even care about.

Conclusion

As much as we appreciate Chrysler for putting in the extra work to make the 200 Convertible more appealing than its Sebring predecessor, we can't find the value in buying it, especially at its price where there are multiple other vehicles where you can get more value for your buck. Ultimately, the 200 Convertible isn't the kind of car you'd want to own; it's the kind of car you'd want to borrow for the weekend.