Plymouth Breeze behaves itself as the bargain-priced sedan
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- A drive across rippled remnants of flat-top Boston Mountains in northeast Oklahoma followed 2-lane blacktop paths constructed with the kind of dips and curves and pitches which show off a sporty set of wheels.
Wheels de jour that one tester steered quickly settled into the undulating rhythm of this meandering route, then tackled all contours with an aggressive posture which tracked firmly and conveyed a sure-footed confidence.
To say it romped around those tricky curves and flashed through the hollows in smooth and flowing fashion would be a fair statement, but this machine also delivered an element of fun for the driver.
Considering that the vehicle for my test amounts to a relatively inexpensive 4-door sedan whose intended purpose seems to be hauling around members of a family, its tilt toward an active persona became an obvious bonus asset.
Drive a family sedan and have fun doing it?
That's the apparently contradictory roles for Plymouth's mid-size sedan, Breeze. It provides family transportation in a fun-to-drive package that functions like a practical sedan but performs more like an agile coupe.
Where Breeze earns the highest marks, at least in my personal experience of tests, concerns its ability to handle a set of curves and finesse through dicey road maneuvers.
Of course, Breeze also scores well in a comparison of competition prices, as it embodies the recently recast spirit of Plymouth toward value-oriented automobiles.
A new name at Plymouth, Breeze arrived in 1996 as a family sedan wearing affordable price tags.
It comes off the JA platform of Chrysler which also supports Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus, two similar sedans which manage to stuff malleable hardware typical of a sports coupe into the format of a slinky sedan.
As the third and most practical design from the JA series, Breeze slants toward the economical and practical side of motoring, with a thrifty 4-cylinder engine installed and a surprisingly spacious interior compartment outfitted with seats for five.
In the Plymouth family, mid-size Breeze shares a powertrain with the compact model, Neon, and, thanks to a similar cab-forward interior design, functions as a larger and refined edition of Neon.
The intent may be to offer a larger car choice for Neon drivers who desire to move up in both size and comfort but without busting a budget.
Breeze shines brightest in its barest form, where the bottom line drops to $14,800.
That base model stands fully equipped, by the way, as Breeze provides only one engine in a single trim level containing many primary features normally priced as add-on options -- such as air conditioning, power steering and a stereo sound system.
It looks slick too.
The round and fluid exterior shape of Breeze flows rearward from the body-colored prow and blunt hood to a massive raked windshield, which then lips over a brief lid before tapering to the stubbed tail.
View it from the side and you'll see that the 4-door articulation has been diminished through blacked-out B pillars that makes Breeze appear more like a 2-door coupe. From any angle, though, the most noteworthy feature of Breeze is its enormous passenger compartment, which clearly consumes most of the space within this car's rims.
The structure serves as a good example of Chrysler's use of cab-forward architecture, which expands cabin space lengthwise by squeezing some from the front engine area.
Compared to rivals, Breeze ends up with a longer wheelbase, which sets up a smoother ride quality and also results in more leg room added in both front and rear seats. Also, shoulder room in Breeze adds up to more than other models supply, thanks to a convex bow of B pillars.
Interior volume of 95.9 cubic feet creates class-leading space in a configuration with twin bucket seats in front and a bench for three in back, plus storage spaces tucked throughout the cabin.
Breeze's trunk, which can be locked from the outside but also has a lockable pass-through to the passenger compartment, amounts to 15.7 cubic feet, largest in class.
Precise handling hardware, like an independent double wishbone suspension system and power-assisted rack and pinion steering, usually appears only on pricy imports but also comes with Breeze. This equipment enables the sedan to check inevitable body roll in turns or cut quickly to steer clear of hazards that may suddenly appear in the path.
Safety systems begin with a unibody platform which creates a steel cage wrapping around the passenger cabin, with structural front and rear crumple zones in place, plus side door beams and twin airbags. Front riders use 3-point seatbelts with shoulder height adjustments, and in the rear outboard passengers get 3-point belts.
A child's safety seat, with fixed back integrated into the rear seat, becomes an option for $100.
What about throttle power?
Well, since there is but one engine offered, buyers don't have to choose between an ensy-weensy base plant and a muscular hock-your-house option.
The sole plant, a 2.0-liter in-line-4 with overhead cam and 16-valve format, was lifted from Neon and in Breeze produces 132 horsepower.
This engine pairs with a 5-speed manual shifter in the base Breeze, and the combination feels quite active in terms of snappy starts and lower-gear runs.
An electronically controlled 4-speed automatic which also includes a cruise control feature, becomes the most notable option for Breeze at $1,050. It shifts smoothly, although power diminishes slightly in lower gears.
With that exception, Breeze in base format contains a number of standard features in addition to air conditioner and the stereo sound system, such as a tilting steering column, twin exterior mirrors, analog gauges including tachometer, remote trunk release lever, digital clock, speed-sensing windshield wipers, folding rear seatback and electric rear window defogger.
A package of convenience items, like power windows, power door locks and heated mirrors, runs to $685.
1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE
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| 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
108.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
186.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 2.0-L I-4
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum
Opt. 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
26/37 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 15,000 to $ 19,000 |
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