Used Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000 - 2008 review

The idea of a small MPV that looks different and is fun to drive seems a good one. That was the PT Cruiser's brief when it appeared in 2000, but it doesn't quite fulfil this.

For a start, it can only cope with five people, although, to be fair, it can easily cope with those five adults and their luggage thanks to a large boot. The biggest problem is that, instead of three individual rear seats, it has a 60/40 split folding rear bench, which takes two people to lift out. No fold-in-the-floor seats here...

Despite its hot rod-inspired looks, the PT Cruiser has more in common with a Chrysler Neon on the road. The drive is tidy and accurate, although the ride is firm and the steering light. Performance, even from the early 2.0-litre engine, is good, but suffers if you opt for the four-speed auto instead of the five-speed manual 'box.