2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser

When you're working with a finite budget, finding a car that's packed with personality can be an enormous challenge. In most cases, you're relegated to mainstream (and very modest) style, bland performance and an overall panache-deficit.

For 2002, the PT Cruiser gets minor adjustments, most of which are inside. However, hood/fender flames and faux-woody side graphics are two new appearance items from the factory.

It doesn't always have to be that way, of course. The Volkswagen New Beetle shrugged off convention with spectacular style when it arrived a few years back. (The New Beetle also happens to be a very good car.) Just last year, Chrysler rocked the affordable-car status quo with the daring PT Cruiser. Inspired by a show car called the Pronto, the PT Cruiser is stylistically very true to the outlandish original vision of a nouveau/retro tall sedan. When the car debuted as a 2001 model, people were paying well over sticker price just to get hold of a PT Cruiser. To say that the car was well received would be a massive understatement. While not everyone loves the PT Cruiser, it certainly has more than enough takers for Chrysler to further boost production in the Toluca, Mexico factory where they're built.


So is the PT Cruiser really any good, or is its appeal based on its style? Yes to both questions, actually. It's a fine-performing, affordable car with special qualities that make it particularly versatile. And it looks great and is fun to drive. Buy it for impetuous emotional reasons; you can be confident that it won't disappoint your practical side.


Not much has changed in the PT Cruiser for its sophomore year. Now all models get a passenger-side armrest, AM/FM radio with CD player, and a storage bin under the front passenger seat. Oh, and let's not forget the new factory optional flame-accent graphics package for the hood and front fenders—just the thing to make sure everyone picks up on the PT's sassy street-rod stance.

The PT's comfortable cocoon now includes a standard CD player and an under-seat storage bin.

Equipment is pretty complete when you consider a base price of just $16,200. Chrysler has also added an optional Power Convenience Group for the base PT, should you want to step up in features. The new mid-level Touring Edition ($17,915) features popular items previously offered in the Touring and Luxury Touring option groups. The Limited tops the line with stuff like leather, chrome wheels, moonroof, side airbags and more, while still capping price at a reasonable $20,265. The frenzied days of dealer mark-ups are passed now, so these MSRPs actually relate to real-world pricing.