TestDriveNow Critic Steve Hemmes Puts The Chrysler 200S To The Test (Video)

Now in its 2nd model year, Chrysler’s midsize fighter faces an uncertain future but for now the 200 provides an interesting alternative to the segment’s stalwarts. Here’s a look at the sporty 2016 200S.

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recently had this to say about the company’s best-selling car: 1) they’ll stop producing it within the next several years at which point they’ll look to outsource the car to another manufacturer and secondly, that his designers screwed up when copying the Hyundai Sonata’s roofline, making it difficult to get in and out of the backseat. With that as the backdrop, there truly does live a very likeable car here. When you’re shopping the 200, you have the choice of 4 trims: LX, Limited, 200S and 200C, the latter two also offering all-wheel drive. But it’s this 200S model that brings a touch of urban edginess into the fold with a distinctive appearance and sportier drive. Gloss black exterior treatments, optional 19” hyper black aluminum wheels, a sport-tuned MacPherson strut suspension, sport seats and this optionally available, flamboyant Ambassador Blue Leather interior make up the 200S persona. Mine has the all-wheel drive setup with a fully disconnecting rear axle to better preserve fuel economy and as such comes standard with the 3.6-liter version of Chrysler’s Pentastar V6 teamed with the company’s much maligned 9-speed automatic. With rotary control, sport mode and paddle shifters it helps this model achieve an estimated 22mpg in combined driving and it’ll also run on E85 if you desire. No transmission gremlins to report here.