Finally, after about a decade of building real-life show cars for the high end of the market, Chrysler has decided to build one for the rest of us.  The Prowler and Viper were wonderful toys…if you had $50,000 to burn.  If you were of average means and wanted a stylish but quirky automotive statement, Volkswagen’s New Beetle was about the only thing going.  Until now.  The PT Cruiser brings show-car looks to an affordable part of the market, and creates its own market segment at the same time.

Actually, it’s not a new segment.  High-roofed compact station wagons are nothing new–ask Toyota and Nissan, who built thousands of the awkward-looking things in the late 1980s.  Some of them even had minivan traits to make them more user-friendly, just like the PT Cruiser does.  And still the PT Cruiser manages to be something else entirely, in comparison.

The design of the thing helps.  The PT Cruiser is at once familiar and otherworldly, in the way that exotic cars and street rods are.  Of course it doesn’t look like anything else on the road; that’s the whole idea.  It shares the look of the Chrysler Pronto Cruizer, which toured the auto show circuit in 1998.  It’s part Forties street rod, part minivan, and part woody wagon.  The sides are sculpted to suggest separate fenders front and rear, and the PT Cruiser’s nose narrows to a prominent grille, which is bisected by a full-width bumper.  If it were chrome, it could be 1938.  As it is, it should silence the folk who are always writing to Ford and asking them to bring back the Model A.  Out back, the PT Cruiser takes on the look of an old panel van, with a smooth, almost art-deco-round liftgate and small oval taillights that ride low and to the sides.  Chrome logos and door handles are nice retro-elegant touches.  It looks unique, it looks special, and, to our eyes, it looks good.  For 2002 Chrysler will up the retro ante, with the addition of “Woodie” and limited-production Dream Cruiser editions.  The Woodie is just what you think it is; an option package that adds woodie-style decals to any PT Cruiser.  The Dream Cruiser is painted a chrome-yellow gold similar to that of the original Pronto Cruizer show car, and has unique 16″ chrome wheels.  Only 7500 Dream Cruisers will be built.

The PT Cruiser’s tall body pays off inside with chairlike seating for front and rear passengers.  Unlike most minivans, the rear seats are as comfortable as those up front.  The windshield is more narrow and upright than most; it’s not unlike driving an old Saab.  Visibility is fine, but the distance to the glass takes a little bit of getting used to.  The style continues inside, with elegant black-on-white gauges recessed deep in the dash, body-colored panels in front of the driver and front-seat passenger, and a handsome, modern rendition of a classic steering wheel.  But here’s the best part:  unlike other fashion-conscious boutique cars like Volkswagen’s New Beetle, there’s a pretty useful car underneath all of that style.  The PT Cruiser’s interior is multi-configurable, like a minivan’s.  The rear seats can be split, folded, flipped or removed.  An optional fold-flat front passenger seat enables the PT Cruiser to swallow longer loads.  The cargo cover can be positioned at two different levels, turned vertically, or used as a tailgate party table.  Helpful nooks and crannies abound.  The PT Cruiser is eager to help out when it comes to erranding.

Erranding seems to be the PT Cruiser’s favorite task.  Don’t take those street-rod looks to heart, because the 150-hp, 2.4-liter four under the hood started out powering Neons, and now there’s a lot more vehicle to haul around.  The automatic-equipped test car we drove seemed a little sluggish compared to our old Volvo.  Once up to speed, the PT Cruiser has no problem keeping up with traffic.  Tallish gearing keeps things quiet under the hood.  The four-speed automatic can be slow to downshift.  Chances are the standard five-speed manual transmission livens things up a little bit.

What it lacks in sheer accelerative power, the PT Cruiser more than makes up in nimble around-town manners.  The vehicle’s surprisingly small stature and high-up seating make it easy to dice in and out of traffic, especially in congested urban areas.  The PT Cruiser is smaller than its presence makes it seem (it’s almost half a foot shorter than a Ford Focus) and this will be obvious the first time you parallel park one.  It doesn’t feel tippy at low speeds, although an overly enthusiastic cloverleaf will have passengers grabbing for the door handles.  A unique rear suspension combines a beam axle with trailing arms, which restricts sway at the rear (that queasy, side to side wobble that makes the ride unsteady in other tall vehicles).  The ride is a little firmer than that of the average economy car.

Four-wheel antilock brakes and side airbags are optional on the PT Cruiser, but don’t feel cheated.  Remember, this is a show car for the rest of us, so the PT Cruiser is equipped and priced like an economy car.  The base PT Cruiser comes with ugly hubcaps, AM/FM cassette, power windows, and all of the neat flip-fold options and cubbies we’ve mentioned for only $15,450.  Our test vehicle featured side airbags, ABS, and the optional automatic transmission, and stickered for $17,790.  Chrysler will load your PT Cruiser up even further with 16″ wheels, leather, cruise control, and a sunroof if you like.  The “Woodie” option will add $895 to the bottom line, and the special-edition Dream Cruisers start at $23,170.

Minivan?  Station wagon?  Retro-modern transport pod?  Who cares?  The Chrysler PT Cruiser’s goal is to make sure that the rich guys aren’t the only ones to get to buy the jaw-dropping, out-of-this-world cars.  And that’s a good thing.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser which we tested.
Length:     168.8 in.
Width:        67,1 in
Height:        63.0 in.
Wheelbase:    103.0 in.
Curb weight:    3112 lb.
Cargo space:    18.3 cu.ft. (seats up) 64.0 (seats removed)
Base price:    $15,450
Price as tested: $17,790
Engine:     2.4 liter, DOHV 16 valve inline four cylinder
Drivetrain:     four-speed automatic, front wheel drive
Horsepower:     150 @ 5600 rpm
Torque:     162 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Fuel capacity:    15.0 gal.
Est. mileage:    20/25

6/2009 update: There’s still something about the PT Cruiser that just makes me smile.  The mechanicals are uninspiring, and they aren’t exactly uncommon, but this is still a happy car.