Chrysler Cirrus performs in two roles as hauler and playmate
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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FORT ROSS, Calif. -- Putting Cirrus to the challenge of curvy 2-lane routes laced across California's coastal mountains revealed that Chrysler's mid-size sedan has the active and controllable traits of an imported sports coupe.
Tests in both the base 4-cylinder Cirrus LX and a V6-inspired LXi edition occurred across the redwood-littered mountains of Sonoma County north of San Francisco and through the broad plain of Sonoma Valley. The area contains some of the most convoluted and challenging backroads and bylanes, plus fast-paced freeways, of anywhere in the country and remains a favored site for feeling how a vehicle performs under stresses of speed and torque and turns.
Freeway stretches on U.S. 101 near Santa Rosa and city routes through the downtown maze off Market Street in San Francisco exposed Cirrus in the comfortable role of mundane transporter, but it sparked with the guts of a sportster on long uphill sections like Meyers Grade north of Jenner or corkscrew twists down eastern slopes of the Coastal Range near Lake Sonoma.
Measuring in exterior dimensions to the length of a compact sedan yet with the cabin space of a mid-size car that can accommodate five adults due to Chrysler's unique cab-forward design scheme, Cirrus looks like a fluid little sedan but conceals that latent aura of a sporty coupe.
It packs either a gutsy four or a smooth six-pack of power plus the kind of handling hardware you'd expect to find in that pricy import. It also stocks some pleasing comfort features, plus a lot of safety gear.
And, as strange as it may be to imagine what should otherwise be a rather stodgy interpretation of the typical 4-door sedan whose mission it is simply to transport all in the family, Cirrus actually becomes quite a thrill to drive.
It's that rare thing, a zippy family car.
Push it through some hard corners like those Sonoma mountain curves and you'll get the picture.
This contrast between sport performer and secular family hauler highlights the dual personality of Cirrus.
But that's its strength in a market of Asian clone cars and some nebulous American imitations.
Cirrus doesn't act like all of the others in this class, and it looks different too.
A distinctly rounded form with sharply slanted windshield orients around an enormous passenger compartment that's best viewed from above -- it consumes most of the space within the car's perimeter.
The transversely-mounted powerplant, shoehorned into a pared engine compartment, creates the appearance of a snub-nosed aero slipper with high-cocked tail whose upturned rear lip was added to provide a visual landmark for the Cirrus driver when backing up. This crest defines the rear edge so you may more clearly judge clearance distance when parking.
Thanks to that cab-forward design which expands cabin space lengthwise by squeezing some room from the front engine area, Cirrus ends up with a longer wheelbase than rivals, and this sets up a smoother ride quality.
It also bests competitors by providing far more leg room, not just up front but in the rear seat. Even a 6-footer like this tester can sit comfortably with crossed legs on the Cirrus back bench.
Further, Cirrus crafts more shoulder room than others supply with its B-pillar bow in a sectional shape which resembles a diced jellybean.
In keeping with Chrysler's cab-forward design concept, designers pushed the Cirrus wheels to outer limits of its plan, thus ensuring the platform's stability in motion and setting up -- when supplanted by all of that sporty hardware -- an aggressive performer.
Just how aggressive is it?
To find out requires two different drives because Cirrus supplies a 4-cylinder standard engine or optional V6.
The base four, displacing 2.4 liters and equipped with twin cams and four valves for every cylinder, reaches to 150 horsepower and feels active at all speeds. For the budget-minded shopper, this will be the plant to pick, and it comes with sound fuel economy ratings.
The optional 2.5-liter V6, with single cam and aluminum alloy cylinder heads, extends to 168 hp. It's quiet and smooth, but drags more digits to the bottom line.
Gear ratios for the 4-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift controls have been calibrated for fast-clip getaways in stoplight derbies and typical stop-and-go in-town driving situations.
This makes Cirrus feel fast and converts freeway entries into easy maneuvers.
Personally, I prefer to apply this transmission while running in lower gears. On those twisty up-and-down coastal slopes, for instance, it seemed to function best when down-shifted into third gear to block the occasional hunt for fourth when third would perform better.
The Cirrus steering mechanism, with speed-sensitive power assistance linked to a crisp rack and pinion device, delivers a nice neutral feel.
The suspension, fully independent in double wishbone arrangement with front and rear stabilizer bars affixed, creates an exceptionally smooth ride quality -- even when deliberately dropping right wheels off pavement to feel an irregular shoulder.
The two trim choices of LX and LXi differ in suspension components because the latter employs stiffer spring rates for tighter tuning and a sportier feel. In addition, the LXi rolls on more aggressive Michelin tires.
Otherwise, the two versions are quite similar in such important content as safety systems like dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and all sorts of steel-reinforced bracing.
A Cirrus LX, totaling to $18,030 plus freight fee to a Chrysler dealer, arrives complete with air conditioning, power door locks, dual heated power exterior mirrors, front reclining bucket seats with center console, speed-sensing windshield wipers, a digital clock, analog instruments including tachometer, even fog lamps.
The Cirrus LXi with V6 reaches $21,060 with perks like leather upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel, the stiff suspension components and 8-way power driver's seat.
Premium sound systems, 6-disc CD changer, gold trimmings and cold weather gear rank among options.
1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS
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| 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
108.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
186.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
SOHC 2.5-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
I4: 21/29 mpg
V6: 19/27 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 18,030 to $ 23,000 |
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