Well, public and media reactions to the Cruizer showcar was so forceful that Chrysler s marketing wizards built a strong case for a Cruizer market and now, two years after the concept car rolled onto the stage at Geneva, a production version rolls out of a Chrysler assembly plant in Mexico as a 2001 multi-purpose vehicle under the banner of PT Cruiser as in Personal Transportation Cruiser. Following the beach party, we put a PT Cruiser to the test with a day of driving over mountains and deserts, tracing twisty back roads and quick-clip freeways alike. The experience produced vivid and positive reactions not just from the driver but those who encountered this unusual car along our path and some surprises. Our biggest surprise concerned the substantial feel of the Cruiser, the rigidity of its structure and the impressive way that all parts mesh together and function in a tight, no-nonsense manner. The tightness translates through an extended wheelbase and broad track into surprisingly competent road manners, with unexpected agility when mastering a set of curves and a stability at freeway speeds that defies the compact size of the package.
Respectable power flows from a spunky little engine.
Despite bold exterior styling in a radical look that defies categorizing, much less describing, the interior design for the Cruiser scores as its most inventive aspect. With 26 defined positions for the seats and a flat cargo floor, the space becomes a canvass for personal expression. The interior structure is tall, which accommodates seats that rise high like chairs and create voluminous space with access through four wide and deep doors, plus the flip-up rear gate. Sitting erect with hips elevated not only feels more comfortable than a slouched stance in the typical car seat but sets the head in a commanding position so you can see more clearly outside the vehicle. Headroom is generous even for tall passengers and so is the legroom for front and back seats.