The 2016 Chrysler 200C focuses on creating a more premium-feeling experience than the base 200 or the sportier 200S. Inside, the leather-wrapped seats are supple, there's been clear effort to engineer soft touchpoints on key areas like the steering wheel and armrests. As in many of Fiat Chrysler Automobile's cars, the knobs, buttons, and steering wheel are all subtly oversized, with the controls possessing a satisfying substance sometimes lost on cars for less than $40,000. Other midsizers like the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy often resort to simple leather trim, additional technology, and visual accents for their upper trim levels, but the 200C more convincingly captures a slice of the big-brother Chrysler 300's legitimately cushy amenities. The real wood trim offered on the 2016 Chrysler 200C, while not everyone's cup of tea, is a swanky touch that elevates the 200C in our eyes.

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Dynamically, the Chrysler 200 isn't as exciting to drive as the snappy Mazda6 and Honda Accord, but it does serve up a comfortable and balanced ride. Even over the most pockmarked Detroit highways, the suspension soaked up vicious bumps without issue. The overall feel borders on floaty, but there's a pleasant composure to the 200C you don't get from most of its rivals.

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Under the hood, the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder sends 184 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through Chrysler's nine-speed transmission. Although the transmission is overly eager to downshift and is too often lost hunting for the next gear, the 200C effectively isolates unwanted transmission and engine harshness from the cabin. For those who want more get-up-and-go, FCA's fabulous 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is available as well, from the Chrysler 200 Limited on up.