Chrysler 200 Touring ($21,370) upgrades to the 6-speed automatic transmission, automatic temperature control, eight-way power driver's seat, Electronic Vehicle Information Center and trip computer, satellite radio, six speakers, automatic headlights, premium headliner, universal garage door opener, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob with chrome accent, 17-inch aluminum wheels. The 3.6-liter V6 ($1,795) is optional and comes with an upgraded alternator, engine oil cooler, and dual exhaust with bright exhaust tips.

Chrysler 200 Limited ($24,070) upgrades to leather upholstery, heated front seats, upgraded interior trim, remote start, touch-screen display, compass, outside temperature reading, 430-watt sound system Media Center CD/DVD with 40-gig hard drive, iPod input, Bluetooth, U-Connect hands-free phone, fog lamps, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels. The V6 is optional ($1,795). Navigation is optional ($695) and comes with Sirius Real Time Traffic and Sirius Travel Link.

Chrysler 200 S ($26,365) comes standard with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, Boston Acoustics sound system, leather, special front seats with suede inserts, heated front seats, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels with black trim, body color mirrors and door handles, and special trim: black-barred grille, headlights with black background, unique foglight bezels, and a black-inlayed winged Chrysler badge. Navigation is optional ($695).

The Chrysler 200 convertible comes similarly equipped in Touring ($26,575), Limited ($31,570) and S ($32,070) models.

Mopar, Chrysler's performance brand, offers sports suspension, special induction and exhaust pieces and other parts to improve handling and performance.

Safety equipment on all models includes advanced multistage front driver and passenger air bags, supplemental front-seat mounted air bags, side curtain airbags, active head restraints, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control, and electronic traction control, and tire pressure monitor on all models but the LX.

If you compare the 200 to the old Sebring, you can stretch and call it sleek; it's clearly lower and wider. The main thing about the 200 is that it's big, for a midsize car, and it's American (also that it's well-equipped and inexpensive).

The rear deck lid looks chopped, with a chrome strip between LED taillamps and another chrome bar between the exhaust outlets that widens the look of the car. It bears a wing logo in brushed metal and blue, replacing the old traditional wing logo, to signify the rebirth of Chrysler.

The Chrysler 200 is not a car that gathers second looks, at least not for its beauty. But its buyers are not the type of people who care about second looks. They want the most metal for their money, the most affordable size and luxury, and the 200 offers that.

Rear legroom measures just 36.2 inches, which is on the short side for a midsize car. Toyota Camry offers 38.3 inches of rear legroom while Ford Fusion has 37.1 inches, although the Chrysler beats the Lexus ES, at 35.9. The rear seat is split 60/40 and folds down for more cargo space, always appreciated.

The instrument panel contains the usual three round gauges, with gray-on-gray graphics that are pleasing to the eye, while its white accent lighting is wonderful at night. The three-spoke steering wheel has a thick leather-wrapped rim and padded hub with controls for the sound system and cruise setting. Armrests are soft, and door pockets roomy. Some models have two USB ports, handy for phone and laptop charging.

The cabin is one of the quietest in the segment, thanks to new sound absorption materials, as well as an acoustic glass windshield, laminated side glass usually found in higher priced vehicles, and new engine mounting for the 2.4-liter engine.

Fuel economy is an EPA-rated 20/31 mpg City/Highway with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 6-speed automatic transmission in a Chrysler 200 Touring sedan. That's about what we got during a week of good seat time in the Northwest.

Later, we drove a convertible with the top down on a hot summer day near Seattle, at the event called Run to the Sun by the Northwest Automotive Press Association, and it was a blast. This is the kind of car you can simply enjoy, because there are no worries. It's about what a car like this gives you, not what it is or how impressive it is.

Still, we were way impressed by how smooth and solid the 200 feels. It's put together well. Low road noise contributed a lot to this conclusion, with quiet-running Michelin tires and a retuned exhaust system.

Same with the steering and ride: smooth and solid, even the convertible. The Chrysler 200 corners really well, with little body roll.

The 6-speed manual automatic transmission is beautiful, seamless and not over-programmed. Chrysler calls it AutoStick, a name they've been using for 15 years, because they invented it. That's right, the manual automatic transmission first appeared in the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus Sebring, when it was perfectly programmed; that is, it did nothing without the driver's input. (We might add that its 2.5-liter V6 made less horsepower than today's four-cylinder, and cost more in today's dollars.) The 6-speed automatic is a good reason to step up from the base model, which comes with a 4-speed automatic.

We also got good seat time in a Chrysler 200 Limited, with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that's been around two years and continues to get rave reviews.

The V6 makes a 283 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque, coupled to a 6-speed manual automatic. At highway cruising speeds, there is some wind and tire noise (the price you pay for more aggressive tires), but it's not objectionable.

Using third and fourth gears on the mountain two-lanes, it showed off its class-leading power and acceleration. According to Chrysler, the engine makes more than 90 percent of its peak torque from 1600 rpm all the way up to redline 6400, and our mountain driving supports that, as we had plenty of torque and acceleration coming off slow corners. The engine has a nice, powerful growl when it's working, and you can't hear it when it's not.

The V6 gives up very little to the I4 in fuel mileage, with a strong EPA rating of 19 city/29 highway miles per gallon.

Sam Moses reported on the Chrysler 200 after his test drive through the Columbia River Gorge; Jim McCraw contributed to this NewCarTestDrive.com report.