2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited Road Test

Call it a retro wagon, a tall-bodied hatchback or even a ‘30s style “sedan” as Chrysler does, no matter what descriptor it goes by, the PT Cruiser is nothing less than distinct. The pointed nose, prominent fenders and sloping backside helped to make it one of this decade’s most iconic designs, not to mention a polarizing one. People either love the PT Cruiser, or they hate it - there’s no middle ground.

I certainly can’t call it nostalgia (I’m not old enough), but seeing a PT Cruiser like this one, painted in glittering bright Surf Blue Pearlcoat, with its shiny chromed 17-inch wheels, I feel kind of warm inside. It somehow manages to convey a sense of California; it would look perfectly at home on a beach with a pair of surfboards on top. From some angles, particularly from the front, it also harks back to Plymouth’s Prowler roadster, a modern-day retro hot-rod. Squint and you can see it in the grille, and the headlamps.

Perhaps I’m the only one that thinks of the PT in this light. The arrival of the Chevrolet’s PT-lookalike has certainly taken away some of Chrysler’s exclusivity in the compact retro car segment, though the passing of eight years since its arrival have no doubt dull some peoples’ reactions to it. Still, there’s one aspect to the design that customers haven’t grown tired of - its practicality.

Open up the PT’s tailgate and you’ll find a rather tall cargo bay with a fairly deep well, allowing tall, bulky and otherwise awkward objects to be carried with ease. A removable, adjustable plastic parcel shelf doubles as a tonneau cover, keeping objects out of site, as well as a second loading floor for stowing more stuff or just keeping things separated. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats totals 21.6 cubic feet, which is a little bit less than the 23.7 cu ft offered in the HHR. Keep in mind that the PT Cruiser is over seven inches shorter than an HHR, which should give you an idea of how well Chrysler’s designers optimized the body for practicality.

But the most impressive part has to do with the sheer amount of cargo volume it has when it’s a two-seater. The rear bench seat folds 65/35, but unlike any other compact crossover or hatchback, you can take the back seats out, just like with Chrysler’s non-Stow ‘n Go minivans. A flat floor from front to back means that there’s 62.7 cubic feet of space, which is over 7.1 cu ft more than what the HHR offers and 13.3 cu ft more than a Pontiac Vibe. With its cargo capacity and sturdy suspension, why it is that Chrysler didn’t market the PT as a commercial vehicle or a panel van is beyond me, but it’s a success that Chrysler missed out on.

The Limited model that I drove while I was in Detroit was powered by Chrysler’s 2.4-liter turbo engine, which makes 180 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The engine is a descendant of the Neon-based Dodge SRT4, and was previously used (in higher output form) in the PT Cruiser GT. It’s only available with a four-speed automatic, which takes some of the edge off its performance - it just doesn’t feel as quick as a car with its power ought to. That said, it’s more than sufficient to move the PT around, and, if you’re often moving heavy things or people and luggage, it will certainly feel stronger than the 150-horsepower naturally aspirated version of this engine, which is standard on base models.

On that note the PT Cruiser is a fun car to drive, not in the way a Corvette or a Challenger SRT8 is fun to drive, but it’s a neat cruising machine. Its suspension is tuned to absorb bumps little and big, and it has sufficient power to out-pace big trucks on the highway, and catch a few inattentive Civic drivers off the line. But it isn’t a cornering machine. The thin-rimmed steering wheel with its four narrow spokes is too big and geared too slowly for much fun in turns, and there’s quite a bit of torque steer if you push the PT hard out of tight corners. Another sign that the PT was built for cruising (other than its name) is the shape of the seats - they offer near zero lateral support, though their upright position yields a commanding view over the road. Instead, take it easy, roll down the windows, open the sunroof and crank up the tunes.

Like Volkswagen’s New Beetle, you face a creative dashboard, though this one is inspired by cars of the past. All PT Cruisers come with a lighter interior color scheme - light beige or gray - and the combination of body-colored instrument panel inlays, as well as the painted silver console brighten up the cabin. With splashes of chrome, classic white-faced gauges and the Chrysler corporate analog clock, the PT Cruiser has a different look and a classier appearance than most other vehicles on the market in its price range, despite the minimal use of soft-touch plastics.

Though the PT’s design may not be new, the concept is still perfectly relevant in this day and age. Economical crossovers have taken off, thanks to high fuel prices. Just look at the Dodge Journey for instance; it’s this country’s best-selling crossover. Meanwhile, sales of small, practical hatchbacks are up too. What Chrysler really needs to do with the PT is update its powertrain. With a new selection of engines and gearboxes, the PT Cruiser could easily have greater appeal. And though the car as a whole was refreshed in 2006, a thorough redesign could keep the modern-day icon alive.

Over the past two years, the PT Cruiser’s range has shrunk. The convertible model ceased production in late 2007, and the 220-horsepower GT model was axed as well. Chrysler has worked to consolidate trim levels, most evident in the past model year, where only four trim levels are now available - the base LX model, plus the Touring, Street Cruiser and Limited. And though the PT Cruiser sedan has soldiered on, it too will come to an end. Cerberus, Chrysler’s parent company, announced that as a part of Chrysler’s restructuring the PT would meet its demise after this upcoming 2009 model year.

At least it can be said that the PT Cruiser will go out in a way that’s authentic to its retro hot-rod style. Announced recently at the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise, Chrysler will be building a special edition model, the Dream Cruiser Series 5 (incidentally, it’s the fourteenth special edition PT Cruiser). With custom pearl white and black two-tone paint, wheels borrowed from the old Neon SRT4 and more shiny trim in the form of aluminum mesh grilles and badging, it is uniquely PT. Only 1,500 units will be made, and it will be available in a choice of 2.4 and Turbo models. For anyone that didn’t take part in the first 1.3 million PT Cruiser’s sold, or loved there’s so much that they don’t want to face life without one (and there are many that do), here’s one last chance to get hold of a very special PT. It’s a cool tribute and a fitting last call.