DaimlerChrysler's new PT Cruiser may look like a throwback to an earlier time, tugging at the heartstrings of those who remember the hot rod from either real life or celluloid. But don't be fooled: Just months into the new millennium, the sedan of the future has arrived.
The PT (for "personal transportation") Cruiser breaks new ground. It is a unique, thoughtfully designed vehicle with lots of pizazz -- and with base-model to top-of-the-line sticker prices that range from $16,000 to $20,000, it's poised to reshape the market for small sedans the way Chrysler's minivan line redefined family transportation in the '80s.The hot-rod look draws attention, but it's the Cruiser's ability to carry lots of stuff that really sets it apart. While the car's exterior dimensions are smaller than the Focus, Ford's new compact, its efficient packaging provides more interior space than Ford's midsize Taurus.
Unlike most sedans, which come with a set seating configuration, the Cruiser is designed to function like a "duffel bag," to be shaped and reshaped for various tasks. For example, you can have as many as five passenger seats or just one for the driver. Folding down the front passenger seat gives you a flat surface for your laptop computer. Removing the rear split-bench seats increases the 19-cubic-foot cargo area fourfold. A 42-by-42-inch hatchback lets you hoist big boxes into the car.
The cargo-bay cover can provide a flat floor from the rear hatch to the dashboard on the passenger side of the car -- enough space for an 8-foot ladder -- or, with a quick maneuver, it can become a table for tailgate parties.
Eight cool colors -- including inferno red, deep cranberry and Aztec yellow --- will draw even more attention, as will the optional roof rack. When not in use, the rack converts into a rear spoiler.
In many ways, the PT Cruiser blends the elements of a small car, a minivan and a small sport utility vehicle. Test drives in and around Detroit proved the front-wheel-drive Cruiser to be a civil passenger car, despite its tall stance and designation as a truck for some federal regulations. (Although they don't have to, the Cruiser's bumpers meet the 5-mile-per-hour protection standard required for cars.)
The Cruiser's 2.4-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine can deliver 150 horsepower, plenty for the 3,112-pound car which fits four adults comfortably, five in a pinch.