2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible

Times have changed in America, that much we can tell you.

Remember the day when mid-sized convertibles were as trendy as the mullet hairstyle? Those days are long gone, which is why it’s a little surprising that automakers are still producing these vehicles.

Consumers still love convertibles, but these days, it has to be of the sporty variety. The 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible is not a sports car, but it does come with the capability of being a convertible. So you can say that the vehicle offers the best of both worlds, right? The sporty performance of a coupe and the open-air freedom of a convertible all wrapped in a midsized vehicle’s body.

To be fair, there are a number of positive attributes with the 200 Convertible. It’s been completely refreshed to make Chrysler forget about the forsaken Sebring. It also has an impressive powertrain configuration that does justice to its looks.

So there’s still hope for the 200 Convertible. But hope is fleeting, especially in the auto industry and ultimately, the midsized convertible is a dying breed.

Chrysler may have something with the 200 Convertible but for the most part, it’s going to take a lot of convincing to get people interested in this kind of car these days.

Exterior

The promise of a clean and sleek midsized convertible isn’t lost on us. Give credit to Chrysler for putting in the work on providing the 200 Convertible with its redeeming qualities.

The front end looks clean, maybe even too clean that it hardly inspires anything more than an ambivalent reaction. The inclusion of LEDs on the projector lamps is a welcome sight, as is the streamlined quality that harkens back to those old bulky convertibles of yesteryear.

Speaking of its dimensions, the 200 Convertible is really long. Too long, at least, for our liking. The car’s decklid is a challenge to open, something that should have been expected for a car this size yet you would’ve hoped Chrysler had already addressed. Closing it isn’t a problem but you would’ve liked it to be the same for both ends.

You can’t talk about this model without discussing the folding hardtop, which may look good but is just too bulky and complicated to even use.