Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £24,995 to £27,390
Striking and original styling, tuneful and responsive V6 engine, well equipped, reasonably entertaining and fair value
Poor fuel consumption, slightly cramped cabin, uncomfortable passenger seat, tacky centre console finish, could be a more engaging drive, old-tech fabric roof on convertible
A fine mix of style and substance, backed by Mercedes' engineering but spoilt by some cheap details . Not as much fun as the alternative Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX-8, either, but a distinctive and desirable car.
Sporty two-seaters are popular in the USA, but German or Japanese models were taking much of the market. So Chrysler came up with a contender of its own: the rear-wheel drive Crossfire, powered by a 215 bhp 3.2-litre V6 engine sourced from former partner company Mercedes, matched to a six-speed manual or a five-speed 'AutoStick' automatic transmission.
The Crossfire boasts distinctive styling - all grooves, strakes and edges - and it demonstrates much-improved quality over Chryslers of old, as well as that all-American image. Its look is the work of Andrew Dyson, a British designer who has previously worked with Volkswagen. The Touareg 4x4 was his design, another example of a car intended to help redefine its brand. The world's first glance of the Crossfire idea came with Dyson's concept car in 2001; to move from concept to production in just two years is an impressive achievement.
But the Crossfire isn't quite what it seems. Using - no, relying upon - the resources of DaimlerChrysler partner Mercedes-Benz, the Crossfire is based on the platform and mechanicals of the first-generation Mercedes SLK. It's also built in Germany, by Karmann, and has in total 39% Mercedes content: its only American components are some badges and part of the stereo system.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Chrysler Crossfire
wrote on 21 06 2006