When the PT Cruiser was first introduced as a 2001 model year car, waiting lists were long and many dealers demanded well over sticker. As with just about every “hot” model, sales cooled within a couple of years, and with the 2005 Chrysler cut prices dramatically, repositioning the car as an entry-level compact. In a further attempt to re-ignite demand for the car, Chrysler updated the exterior and interior for 2006.

But are the changes enough? Are they even an improvement? When my wife’s 2002 PT was at the dealer for service recently, I took a 2006 for a test drive to find out.

Styling

Some designers have argued that retro styling can be hard to update, and thus results in dead-end products. While I’m personally not so sure about this–how many different retro Mustangs have we now had?-- the 2006 PT provides evidence for their position. The main change to the exterior is that the grille now stops at the bumper, where it used to have a section below the bumper. The old grille was one of the strongest aspects of the front end styling, so this is definitely a step backward. The car isn’t ugly with the new grille, just wimpier. The headlights have also been redesigned. They now have the currently common peanut shape. This also waters down the strength of the original design, but not nearly as much as the change to the grille.

Other than these changes the exterior remains the same, and thus still resembles a scales-down 1930s sedan. People tend to either love it or hate it. My wife loves it.

The interior has been more thoroughly redone. The old one was thoroughly retro. The new one combines retro touches with more contemporary elements, like strips of faux aluminum trim. In general, the new interior design is edgier and less organic. The dash panels are again body color in some cases. Some people will prefer the old one, others will prefer the flashier new one. The ergonomics remain iffy, with the power window buttons mounted high in the center stack. As before, all of the plastics are of the hard variety.

Accommodations

Beyond the new styling, the interior remains much the same. You sit high, with good visibility all around. I've also driven the convertible before. It's an interesting feeling having no roof when you sit this high.

The front seats are comfortable--I've driven my wife's PT 700 miles in a day without discomfort. The available power seat is now 6-way rather than just power height. Though the car I drove lacked this option, it's safe to say that while a height adjustment alone is of limited use--the seat is quite high even in its lowest position--the new additional tilt adjustment could be very useful. Especially on long trips I like to be able to adjust the tilt of the seat cushion.

The rear seat remains roomy and comfortable for two adults. There's far more rear legroom than most people suspect--about as much as you'll find in a large sedan or SUV--and the seat cushion provides very good thigh support because, like the front seats, it is mounted well off the floor.

Cargo versatility also remains a strong point. The 60/40 split rear seats can be folded, tumbled forward, or completely removed. The package shelf can be positioned at multiple heights. On all but base models, the front passenger seat folds forward, so long items can be carried with the liftgate closed. Items I've carried in my wife's PT include a seven-foot-tall bookcase and a boxed storm door. It'll swallow a lot.

On the Road

Many people have complained about the sluggish acceleration provided by the base PT's 150-horsepower 2.4-liter four. I personally have no problem with it--how quickly do you need to accelerate in this sort of car? My wife has also never complained. Those who do want quick acceleration can opt for the 230-horsepower turbo. It is quick.

I have more of a problem with the thrashy sound quality of the engine in my wife's car, especially when heard from outside the car. The engine in the 2006 does sound smoother, quieter, and generally more refined, so Chrysler has made some improvements in this area.

The four-speed automatic does pretty much what people except an automatic to do. The standard five-speed manual should make the car more entertaining to drive. Hopefully the manual makes the PT more economical as well. With an automatic, my wife's car struggles to break 20 in typical suburban driving--and she doesn't have a heavy foot--and returns around 25 on the highway.

The steering on the 2006 feels smoother but less lively and communicative than that on my wife's 2002. But then I drove a base model, which has 195/65R15 tires and the base suspension, and my wife's car has the 205/55R16 tires and touring suspension that are standard with the Touring and Limited. There is also a bit more roll in turns with the base 2006.

On the other hand, the ride in the 2006 is smoother and quieter than that in my wife's 2002, probably for the same reasons. The differences aren't huge. Either way the PT is a good rather than great handler with so-so ride quality over patchy surfaces. The problem is with the beam rear suspension, which can dance about a bit much. The Chevrolet HHR, with a softer suspension, rides more smoothly and quietly, but handles significantly worse.

One strength of the PT, both in 2002 and 2006, is a much more solid feel than you'll usually find in a compact. Judging from the doors and tailgate--and the fuel-economy-killing 3200-plus-pound curb weigh-the thing is built like a tank. Combine this solid feel with the high, upright driving position, comfortable seats, and good straight-line stability, and the PT Cruiser is much better suited to long-distance highway travel than I expected it to be. We've taken ours on a number of long trips--with three children in the rear seat, no less.

Chrysler PT Cruiser Price Comparisons and Pricing

In base trim before rebates, the PT Cruiser costs about a thousand less than a Chevrolet HHR. But its standard equipment list is also much shorter. Step up to the more comparable Touring trim and add a couple of options to bring it even with the HHR, and the Chrysler costs about $1,500. Guess what? The rebate on the Chrysler is $1,500 larger, for a total of $2,000. End result: at this level they're very close in price. Loading up both cars is to Chrysler's advantage, yielding a price difference around $1,500.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the PT Cruiser:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/PT.php

Last Words

The differences between the 2002 and the 2006 are not large. People who liked the 2002 should also like the 2006, while those who didn't like the 2002 won't be won over by the tweaks in the interim. The price is much lower now, though. So even people who don't care for the styling might be attracted by the amount of room and utility provided for the price.

A Note on Chrysler PT Cruiser Reliability

Our PT Cruiser was reliable--until the warranty ran out. The chrome rims corroded so badly at about 3.5 years of age (before the tires had even worn out) that the tires needed filling every 2-3 days. Chrysler picked up 50 percent of the cost of new ones. The front suspension's lower control arms require new bushings, which will cost at least $400 (mostly labor). Both appear to be common problems with these cars. And the transmission required $1,700 in repairs at 52,000 miles--Chrysler didn't pick up a dime this time. In addition, the remote key fob rarely works (bad internal connections) and the horn is also currently AWOL (reason unclear).

To provide more solid reliability information, I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a PT Cruiser rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Chrysler PT Cruiser reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the PT Cruiser--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.