Chrysler Crossfire (2003-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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For a sports car, the Crossfire is fairly comfortable. You sit low behind a shallow windscreen, snug in a supportive and electrically multi-adjustable seat, and few drivers should find the lack of height adjustment for the steering wheel a problem. It does adjust for reach, though. Taller drivers will be a little short of leg and headroom, however, and your passenger will suffer a seat whose cushion is too horizontal (it has no tilt adjustment), denying them thigh support. And the reclining facilities on both seats are impeded by the rear bulkhead. Noise levels are mainly low, and the sounds you do hear are mostly tuneful engine notes - and that whining spoiler. There's a little whistle around the frameless door windows, but it's not intrusive, and road roar is low compared to its closest conceptual rival, the harder-edged Nissan 350Z. Convertible versions let in more intrusive wind noise, however, through their thin canvas hoods (which are unlined, with bare metal bars over occupants' heads). The ride is firm but well damped, but on some surfaces the Crossfire turns uncomfortably choppy, its rear suspension curiously incapable of absorbing bumps. But at other times, it soaks up breaks in the road surface quite well, especially given the tyres' ultra-low profile. The Crossfire is strictly a two-seater, with not even a token effort at rear seats - unlike an Audi TT. Tall drivers and passengers will find it a little cramped because the cabin isn't quite long enough. The Crossfire does, however, have quite a deep boot within its stubby tail, albeit with a narrow opening forced upon it by the boat-tail styling. Cupholders, a glovebox, a small storage box behind the handbrake and net door pockets offer sufficient space for chattels, but a big road atlas is best stashed behind the seats. There was no sat-nav on the cars we tested, but it is likely to be an option. The stereo, however, is well up to the Crossfire's premium-coupe aspirations, with 240 watts of power and six Infinity speakers including two subwoofers. Naturally, it includes a CD player.