Since Fiat took ownership of Chrysler in 2009 and formed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2014, the automaker has wielded some of the longest-standing and most desirable automotive brands in the market. Though FCA technically oversees more than a dozen entities, the typical consumer only interacts with Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, and Fiat vehicles.
After a recent trip to Chrysler’s Chelsea Proving Grounds to sample the full range of 2017 model-year vehicles, I’ve decided to take a stab at condensing FCA’s offerings into more useful categories. And while the average Joe would love to tool about in an Alfa Romeo or Maserati, for our purposes, we’ll leave those nameplates out of this roundup.
Sub-compacts have been around for a while now, but have regained popularity as fuel prices have risen. Though this class of vehicle has steadily increased in size, its smaller footprint means better maneuverability and a cheaper price tag. Here’s FCA’s spread of 2017 subcompacts.
If you were to ask the typical American buyer to picture a car, chances are, they’d envision a compact vehicle. That’s because almost every major automaker has a compact model that combines efficiency, affordability, and reliability. Here’s what FCA has to offer for 2017:
Yes, sedans are now only the second most popular type of vehicle sold today, but that still means an incredible number of them are ushered in and out of dealerships each month. Only the Dodge and Chrysler brands currently offer vehicles in the U.S., but Alfa Romeo will introduce its Giulia sedan before long.
The Chrysler 200 is the brand’s entry-level model, and while it hasn’t sold quite as well as FCA would like, it’s still a compelling car for the money. This year, Chrysler has introduced three new trims, each loaded with goodies: Touring, Limited Platinum, and 200C Platinum. Buyers can choose from either a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 making 295hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The latter motor is quite the motivator, but is somewhat constrained by the standard nine-speed automatic. Prices for the 2017 Chrysler 200 start at $21,995.
The buzzword of the decade. Automakers can’t seem to make these vehicles fast enough, at least when the models themselves are good. FCA relies on its Jeep and Dodge brands to handle the compact and full-size crossover sales for now, but that could change before long.
The definition of practicality. Vans care not for aesthetics; they only seek to bring their owners maximum utility. While there are a number of commercial vans under the RAM brand, we’ll keep this list to consumer and light-duty models.
Work and play are blended together in the truck segment, with some buyers interested in appearance, and others demanding rugged performance. FCA’s trucks are confined to the Jeep and RAM brands, and not much has changed for the 2017 model year.
When the name of the game is driving pleasure, the sports car category is the only one worthy of investigation. FCA’s high-end marques may be beautiful and thrilling, but even the more affordable sports cars have plenty to offer.
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