What’s New?
The PT Cruiser rolls into 2007—its seventh model year—with very few changes. New are three colors—Pastel Yellow, Tangerine, and Opal—as well as YES Essentials stain- and odor-resistant cloth seating surfaces, standard remote keyless entry, and enhanced interior lighting for the center console.

Overview
Chrysler introduced the PT Cruiser as a 2001 model and so far has sold more than one million of what it calls a segment-busting design with “one-of-a-kind” exterior styling and “Swiss Army knife-like interior flexibility,” all offered for the price of a compact car. It can be said that the PT Cruiser was a crossover utility vehicle before anyone had coined that term. In addition to the standard pillared-roof version, a PT Cruiser convertible is available.

The standard PT Cruiser comes with a 150-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission (with an automatic on the option list). Power windows, a CD player, remote keyless entry, and a split, folding, and removable rear seat are standard equipment. An automatic gearbox, air conditioning, side air bags, anti-lock brakes, and Sirius Satellite Radio are options. The Touring trim level adds such things as air conditioning, a fold-flat front passenger seat, power mirrors, and a rear cargo shelf. The Limited trim level adds a 6-way power driver’s seat, YES Essentials fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, side air bags, and fog lamps. It also is available with a 180-hp and turbocharged version of the 2.4-liter engine. The GT trim level has its 2.4-liter engine turbocharged to produce 230 hp, and also gets a 5-speed manual transmission, a sport-tuned suspension, anti-lock brakes, and more.

The convertible—available in standard, Touring, and GT versions—has an integrated “sport” bar that bridges the passenger compartment, and is equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes, standard air conditioning, a pass-through trunk, and a fold-and-tumble rear seat to enhance cargo capacity. The Touring version of the convertible gets the 180-hp turbo engine with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The Competition
The Chrysler PT Cruiser competes in the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) segment, which consists of 20 models. Buyers in this segment look for fuel economy, reliability, and comfort, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Honda CR-V (170,028 units sold), Ford Escape (157,395), and Toyota RAV4 (152,047). The Chrysler PT Cruiser sold 138,650 units in 2006, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact CUV segment include the Chevrolet Equinox and HHR, Saturn Vue, Scion xB, and Hyundai Tucson. Joining the segment in 2007 are two Jeep models—the Compass and Patriot—and the Kia Rondo.