- Open-top appeal
- Distinctive retro styling
- Useful 50:50 folding rear seats and boot
- Generally comfortable ride…
- … but body shakes over bumps
- Soft, unsupportive seats
- Brake pedal lacks feel
- Low standard of interior fit and finish
Review: Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio (2006-08)
Overview
Released in June 2006, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio was a two-door, four-seat soft-top convertible. Manufactured in Toluca, Mexico, the front-wheel drive PT Cruiser was powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The 2.4-litre petrol engine had a cast iron block, aluminium cylinder heads, twin-counter rotating balance shafts, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1.
Compared to the PT Cruiser on which it was based, the PT Cruiser Cabrio was 2 mm shorter (at 4286 mm), 43 mm wider (1748 mm) and 62 mm lower (1539 mm); wheelbase length, however, was unchanged (2616 mm). The PT Cruiser Cabrio had a power-operated three-layer soft-top roof with a roof-mounted D-ring release. The roof could be raised or lowered in ten seconds and, once lowered, could be covered with a soft tonneau cover.
The PT Cruiser Cabrio had MacPherson strut front suspension with asymmetrical lower control arms and a twist beam rear axle with trailing arms and Watts linkages.
| Variants | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touring, Limited |
2.4-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
105 kW at 5200 rpm | 214 Nm at 4150 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, traction control and front seatbelt pretensioners; the PT Cruiser Cabrio also had a fixed rollover bar.
Features
Standard features for the PT Cruiser Cabrio Touring included 16-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, air conditioning, six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, front fog lamps, 50/50 split and folding rear seats, a tip-and-slide front passenger seat, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a tilt adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, 12 volt power outlets, tinted windows, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.
Beyond this, the Limited added 16-inch chrome-finish alloy wheels, combination leather and suede seats, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and chrome highlights.
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