The Best Midsize Chrysler Cars
The discontinued Chrysler 200, Chrysler Sebring, and Chrysler Cirrus are the midsize Chrysler options. Let’s see how they stack up.
Written by Jaya Anandjit
Reviewed by Bellina Gaskey
Table of Contents
If you’re in the market for a midsize Chrysler, your three options are the Chrysler 200, Chrysler Sebring, and Chrysler Cirrus. These now-retired sedans are packed with desirable standard features, yet they fall behind class competitors for durability, performance, and efficiency.
Midsize cars can be a toss-up when it comes to looks and mechanical make-up, so it’s no wonder Chrysler may have struggled with delivering optimal midsize sedans in the past. The Chrysler 200, Chrysler Sebring, and Chrysler Cirrus are prime examples of vehicles that had their price-worthy pros and some notable cons.
We’re here to walk you through Chrysler’s midsize car lineup, including the good, the bad, and the competition. Let’s take a look at Chrysler’s three midsize vehicles to determine which ones are best.
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2017 Chrysler 200
Manufactured from 2011 to 2017, this five-seat medium-sized sedan is praised for its impressive high-trim V6 engine performance, high crash test scores, and affordable price tag. The 2017 iteration added new trim levels for a total of six trims packed with updated technology and modern designs.
Pricing
The 2017 Chrysler 200 started at $22,115 MSRP for the base LX trim, which is pretty low for a midsize sedan. The highest upgraded 200C Platinum trim started at $27,795 MSRP, making the Chrysler 200 an overall very affordable midsize car.
Performance
Every 2017 Chrysler 200 comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Engine options for the 200S and 200C Platinum trims include a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
As expected, the optional 3.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with the nine-speed automatic transmission delivers the best performance for the Chrysler 200. This engine and transmission duo puts out 259 horsepower, which is over 100 hp more than the 2.4-liter engine and transmission.
Also, the upgraded engine provides the Chrysler 200 with the ability to reach 60 mph in as little as 6.2 seconds, making it one of the fastest midsize sedans. Alternatively, the standard engine drags the Chrysler 200 down to a 60 mph acceleration time of 9 seconds, which puts this sedan at the very bottom of its class for speed.
Fuel economy
If fuel efficiency is a top priority for your ride, the Chrysler 200 may not meet your standards.
The base engine offers an EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined (23 mpg city, 36 mpg highway), while the upgraded engine gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 31 mpg highway).
For comparison, other midsize sedans from the 2017 model year, like the Chevy Malibu and Mazda6, get an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined, putting the Chrysler 200 slightly behind for fuel economy.
Interior and tech
The Chrysler 200 encloses a modern and luxury-leaning interior. Featuring a spacious front cabin, the Chrysler 200 sports a rotary transmission shifter, which adds a classic Chrysler flare to the 2017 model.
The base trim is fitted with cloth upholstery and a 5-inch audio display, but the Chrysler 200S and 200C Platinum include upgraded materials and an optional 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system.
Height-adjustable front seats and 60/40-folding rear seats make for a comfy and customizable driving or riding experience, and a four-speaker sound system with USB and AUX connectivity make entertainment even more convenient.
Drawbacks to the Chrysler 200’s interior include less leg, head, and hip room throughout the vehicle, making it smaller than the average sedan. Driver’s also reported restricted visibility due to the vehicle’s lowered shape.
Safety and reliability
The 2017 Chrysler 200 is equipped with standard safety features—and when upgraded to higher trims with driver assistance technology or Chrysler’s SafetyTec package, this midsize sedan has a lot to offer in terms of protection.
As a result, the Chrysler 200 received an overall five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In terms of reliability, the Chrysler 200 has a 4.0/5.0 rating from RepairPal and was rated number three for midsize cars by J.D. Power, who gave the 200 an 80/100 reliability rating.
MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
Trim levels
The Chrysler 200 is available in six trims: LX, Touring, Limited Platinum, 200S, 200S Alloy Edition, and 200C Platinum.
The base LX and next-level Touring trims are built for ease and comfort, checking off the basic boxes for midsize sedans from 2017. The upgraded 200S and 200C Platinum trims are geared towards modern safety, upscaled interior finishes, and improved performance. These higher trim levels feature the power-primed 3.6-liter V6 engine, which arguably sets this sedan apart from the competition.
Competitors
How does the 2017 Chrysler 200 compare to other midsize competitors? Take a look at the table below, which measures the Chrysler 200 against three leading midsize sedans.
Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 Chrysler 200 | $22,115 to $27,795 | 148-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder w/nine-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD | 19-23 mpg city/31-36 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 80/100 (J.D. Power) |
2017 Chevrolet Malibu | $21,680 to $30,975 | 160-hp 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder w/6-speed shiftable automatic transmission and standard FWD | 27 mpg city/36 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick (IIHS) | 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 77/100 (J.D. Power) |
2017 Ford Fusion | $22,610 to $36,750 | 175-hp 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder w/six-speed shiftable automatic transmission and standard FWD | 21 mpg city, 32 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 84/100 (J.D. Power) |
2017 Mazda6 | $21,945 to $30,695 | 184-hp 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder w/six-speed manual or automatic transmission and standard FWD | 27 mpg city, 35 mpg hwy | 4 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 84/100 (J.D. Power) |
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2010 Chrysler Sebring
The Sebring is one of Chrysler’s most popular sedans and features “upscaled” convertible iterations from 1996 onwards. The Sebring was introduced in 1995 as a replacement for the Chrysler LeBaron coupe and was meant to offer luxury where other midsize sedans lacked.
If you like classic sedan exteriors like that of the beloved Dodge Avenger, the 2010 Sebring may be the two-door convertible or four-door midsize car for you. Let’s take a closer look.
Pricing
For its initial release in 1995, the
Chrysler Sebring
had a starting price of $15,969 to $19,564 MSRP, but 1995 models are now sold for around $2,000 to $3,000. With time and inflation, the last model year of the Sebring sedan (2010) had an MSRP range between $19,840 and $26,810. The 2010 Chrysler Sebring convertible began at $27,850 MSRP, with the upgraded Limited trim coming in at $32,710 MSRP.
Performance
Base models for the sedan and convertible Sebring feature a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a four-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This standard sedan setup reaches 173 horsepower, which is on par for sedans from this year.
Upgraded trim levels for the front-wheel drive convertible Sebring include the Touring trim, which has a 2.7-liter V6 with a four-speed automatic transmission, and the Limited trim with a 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Among the three engine and transmission options for the 2010 Sebring convertible, the Limited trim delivers the most power at up to 235 horsepower.
Across all iterations of the Chrysler Sebring, drivers have reported issues with the engine being noisy, and the transmission may lack in the acceleration department. Overall, the Sebring isn’t a top performer in its class and is easily outdone by vehicles like the
Ford Fusion
, Nissan Altima
, and Mazda6
.Fuel economy
The 2010 Chrysler Sebring offers low gas mileage. The sedan trims and base convertible trim get up to 24 mpg combined with 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on highways. Not bad, but not great, and the Touring and Limited trims for the convertible fall way behind. The Touring convertible Sebring gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined, while the Limited convertible gets a mere 16 mpg combined.
Interior and tech
The Sebring’s interior is below average for a sedan of its model year. The sleek and geometric design is muffled by cheap plastics in a rather tight interior, although the retractable hard-top or vinyl soft top on the convertible leave tons of space in the Sebring’s trunk.
The sedan includes a sunroof, a navigation system with music storage and traffic updates, and a six-speaker audio system. The Convertible adds leather upholstery, automatic climate control, remote start, Bluetooth, and a touchscreen stereo system.
Safety and reliability
When it comes to safety, the Sebring checks off most standard features, including four-wheel antilock brakes, active front head restraints and front-seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags in the sedan.
With that said, the Sebring gets a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a good score for crash testing from the IIHS. Reliability ratings are also up for the sedan, which receives a 4.5/5 from RepairPal and 83/100 from J.D. Power.
Trim levels
Overall, there are five trim levels for the 2010 Chrysler Sebring: the Touring sedan, the Limited sedan, the LX convertible, the Touring convertible, and the Limited convertible.
The Sebring Touring sedan covers the basics with air conditioning, cruise control, a four-speaker CD stereo with radio functions, and an auxiliary input. Add-ons are limited to Bluetooth functionality and an anti-theft alarm.
The Sebring Limited sedan steps it up a notch with a six-speaker audio system with a six-CD changer, leather finishes, heated front seats, and fold-flat passenger seats in the front.
As for the convertible, the LX trim mirrors the Limited sedan in many areas, adding a vinyl soft top for convertibility. The Sebring Touring trim includes heated side mirrors and a cushioned center console under the vinyl soft top, while the Limited convertible uses a retractable hard top, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an upgraded navigation system.
Competitors
Here’s how the 2010 Chrysler Sebring compares to other midsize sedan models from its time.
Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 Chrysler Sebring | $19,840- $32,710 | 173-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder w/four-speed automatic transmission and FWD | 21-27 mpg city/20-30 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Good (IIHS) | 4.5/5 (RepairPal), 83/100 (J.D. Power) |
2010 Chevy Malibu | $21,825 to $26,955 | 169-hp 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder w/four-speed automatic transmission and FWD | 22 mpg city/30 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Good (IIHS) | 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 83/100 (J.D. Power) |
2009 Ford Fusion | $19,035 to $22,310 | 160-hp 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder w/five-speed automatic transmission and FWD | 20 mpg city/28 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Good (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 82/100 (J.D. Power) |
2009 Hyundai Sonata | $18,700 to 26,550 | 175-hp 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder w/five-speed shiftable automatic transmission and FWD | 21 mpg city/32 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Good (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 81/100 (J.D. Power) |
2000 Chrysler Cirrus
The oldest midsize sedan manufactured by Chrysler is the Cirrus, a Concorde successor with a five-year production timeline between 1995 to 2000. This was an easy-on-the-eyes luxury-inspired sedan with numerous amenities, great handling, and tons of interior space. Let’s take a closer look at this late-90’s vehicle.
Pricing
The 2000 Chrysler Cirrus had a rather low starting price for a midsize sedan of its time.
The base LX trim level rang in at $16,230 MSRP, while the upgraded LXi started at $19,935 MSRP. Among the two, the base Cirrus LX was favored for its price, engine, and interior stylings, although both trim levels were critiqued for cheap materials and noisy highway driving.
Performance
Speaking of noisy highway driving, the 2000 Cirrus LX features a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. This version of the Cirrus pushes 132 horsepower, which isn’t far off from the LXi trim.
The LXi only pushes 168 horsepower from a 2.5-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive, making both trim levels relatively slow. Drivers reported lame acceleration from both engines with complaints about the V6, and traction control is said to be seriously lacking.
Fuel economy
The 2000 Chrysler Cirrus LX gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg combined, 17 mpg in the city, and 26 mpg on highways. The Chrysler Cirrus LXi falls down to an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined with 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on highways.
Interior and tech
The Chrysler Cirrus was built to represent luxury over everything else. Notable interior and tech features in the 2000 Chrysler Cirrus include standard leather trimming, a premium AM/FM eight-speaker stereo system, and an optional moonroof. Trunk space for the 2000 Cirrus is commodious, but space throughout the cabin is average.
Safety and reliability
Safety and reliability for the 2000 Chrysler Cirrus are below average for the midsize sedan class. The Cirrus tested poorly for crashworthiness from the IIHS and does not have an overall rating from the NHTSA. RepairPal gives the Cirrus a 3.5/5 for reliability, while J.D. Power has not ranked this sedan for quality and reliability.
Trim levels
There are two trim levels for the 2000 Cirrus: the LX and LXi. These trims are fairly similar in interior and exterior composure—the main difference between these two is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission in the LX and the 2.5-liter V6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission in the LXi. Both vehicles exclusively use front-wheel drive.
Competitors
Here’s how the 2000 Chrysler Cirrus measures up to competitors from the same year:
Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 Chrysler Cirrus | $16,230 to $19,935 | 132-hp 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder w/five-speed manual transmission and FWD | 16-17 mpg city/24-26 mpg hwy | Poor (IIHS) | 2.5/5 (RepairPal) |
2000 Chevy Malibu | $21,190 to $24,740 | 170-hp 3.1-liter V6 w/four-speed automatic transmission and FWD | 18 mpg city/27 mpg hwy | 4 stars (NHTSA), Acceptable (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal) |
2000 Ford Taurus | $17,885 to $21,085 | 155-hp 3.0-liter V6 w/four-speed automatic transmission and FWD | 17 mpg city/26 mpg hwy | 4 stars (NHTSA), Good (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal) |
2000 Dodge Stratus | $16,330 to 20,230 | 132-hp 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder w/five-speed manual transmission and FWD | 19 mpg city/27 mpg hwy | 3.5 stars (NHTSA), Poor (IIHS) | N/A |
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FAQs
Is a Chrysler 200 a midsize car?
Yes! The Chrysler 200 is a midsize sedan with impressive crash test scores and strong engine performance. The Chrysler 200 comes in six trim levels with tons of upgrades.
Does Chrysler have a mid-size SUV?
No, Chrysler does not have a mid-size SUV. The Chrysler Aspen is the only SUV produced by Chrysler, and it is full-sized for its class.
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