Chrysler has been around for a century. On top of that, it has a name that is associated with one of America’s Big 3 car manufacturers. While its lineup is only very limited and is not a popular brand these days, Chrysler remains to be well-respected for its reliability and durability. Here’s a breakdown of the most affordable Chrysler models.
What is the cheapest Chrysler car?
For the model year 2020, the cheapest Chrysler car model is the Voyager with a starting price of $26,985. It is also dubbed as a budget version of Pacifica. It is followed by 2020 Chrysler 300 with an employee pricing for all at $28,285. Let’s take a closer look of the two of the most affordable Chrysler models today.
2020 Chrysler Voyager
Overview
Chrysler rebranded the lower trims of its Pacifica minivan with a name that is already familiar–the Chrysler Voyager. Despite the new name, it is virtually the same as the first two trim levels of the 2019’s Pacifica with minor feature updates.
Just like the 2019 Pacifica, it has ample space for passengers and cargo. It comes with a sophisticated-looking cabin, brisk acceleration plus a useful towing capacity of up to 3,600 lbs.
Overall, the Voyager is a solid van that comes at a reasonable price, but in terms of refinement, it loses to the Honda Odyssey.
Pros
- Gentle ride
- Stow ‘n Go 3rd-row seats make for impressive cargo utility
- Good fuel economy
- All-around visibility is great
- Straightforward and user-friendly technology
- Strong performance from standard V6 engine
- Budget-friendly price
Cons
- Second- and third-row seats have less space and are less comfortable than its rivals.
- Below average cargo room for its category
- Seat padding is firm
- Nine-speed gearbox occasionally clunks or shifts slowly
2020 Voyager Performance
The Voyager is powered by a 3.6-L V6 engine that produces 287-horsepower. Its engine is fit for every driving such as commuting to work or dropping the children off at school. It is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The front-wheel-drive version has an impressive fuel economy for a minivan, delivering 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. It has the same gas mileage figures as the Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey.
The Voyager is a comfortable minivan fit for daily driving. It provides a smooth ride and composed handling. Some consumers even pointed out that the Voyager rides more like a large sedan than a minivan. It's one of the most affordable Chrysler models.
2020 Voyager Interior
The Voyager can accommodate seven people in 3 rows in its standard setup. It comes standard with two second-row bench seats. Available as an option are two second-row bucket seats which create an aisle for passengers to get in and out of the 3rd row easily.
The first row has roomy seating, but passenger room in the Voyager’s first and second rows are not as spacious as its class rivals. The third row gives room for 3 passengers, but these seats are not ideal for adult passengers.
For child safety, the Voyager has 4 complete sets of LATCH connectors, with 2 sets for both 2nd- and 3rd-row seats.
When it comes to interior quality, it does not disappoint. Even if it is another one of the most affordable Chrysler models, it comes with a nicely built interior with plenty of soft-touch surfaces. However, only cloth seats are available and some hard plastics are found throughout the cabin.
Despite having less cargo space than some class rivals, the Voyager still gives ample room for cargo. Overall, it has 140.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 32.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row.
Stow n’ Go seats comes standard. This feature allows you to make the most of your cargo space without the need to remove the seat. It also makes it easier for passengers to access the third row.
The Voyager has a number of smaller storage spaces throughout the cabin including Stow n’ Go storage in-floor cargo cubbies, drawers that can hold phones, purses, etc., and a front seat umbrella holder.
2020 Voyager Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
The Voyager comes with the Uconnect infotainment system which is known to be one of the most intuitive interfaces on the market. Menus are logically placed, and the touch screen is very responsive. However, if you want a Wifi hotspot or a premium stereo, you better opt for the Pacifica.
Standard Infotainment Features
- 7-inch touch screen
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- USB port
- 6-speaker stereo
- Bluetooth
Available Infotainment Features
- Satellite radio
- Overhead DVD player
Other Available Features: Tri-zone Climate Control
2020 Voyager Crash Test Results
The Voyager gets five out of five stars overall star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, earning four stars in the rollover assessment and five stars in the frontal side crash tests.
The 2020 Voyager also gets the highest rating of Good in four crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also earned the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the small overlap front passenger-side test. However, it got the lowest rating of Poor for how well its headlights lit up the road ahead.
2020 Voyager Safety Features
Unfortunately, the only standard advanced feature the Voyager has is a rearview camera.
Available Safety Technology Features:
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
The Chrysler Pacifica offers more safety tech features while staying at one of the most affordable Chrysler models price point.
2020 Voyager Trims
The two trims are called L and LX. The base L trim will meet the demands of most shoppers. It comes at the most affordable price tags in its class, and provides a decent amount of standard technology which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The higher LX trim offers a few more options, but you might want to look at the upscale Pacifica for more available add-ons.
Chrysler Voyager L
The L trim has a base price of $26,985. It has a rearview camera, cloth upholstery, Stow n’Go third row bench seats, two second-row bench seats, and remote keyless entry. It also comes standard with the Uconnect infotainment system.
If you want to add more safety features, you’ll need to spend $495 for the SafetyTec Group package. The package includes rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors and blind spot monitoring. For Tri-zone automatic climate control, you’ll need to shell out $445.
Chrysler Voyager LX
The LX trim’s starting price is $29,795. It adds satellite radio, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, two second-row bucket seats and in-floor storage bins on top of the L features.
The tri-zone automatic climate control and the SafetyTec Group package are available as options with the same prices as in the L trim. At $995, you can get a rear overhead DVD player and at $495, you can get the Cold Weather Group package which adds remote start, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats.
2020 Chrysler 300
Overview
It was in 2005 that Chrysler launched its 300 model. That’s more than a decade ago, yet this large sedan manages to remain attractive and relevant thanks to constant updates and revision. The 2020 Chrysler 300 comes in two trims: the 300S with its potent V-6 engine and the 300C which comes with a smooth V-8 engine. The latter generates 363 horsepower effortlessly and in a mellow way. However, the strong engine options aren’t enough to make 300 a sports sedan.
Pros
- Smooth and strong V-8 engine is available
- Very American in Style
- Looks great for years to come
- Punchy V-6 engine
- User-friendly infotainment system
- Well-appointed cabin
Cons
- Small leg room space in the rear seat
- Somber base cabin
- High-power version is no longer offered.
2020 Chrysler 300 Performance
The Chrysler 300 and its corporate sibling, the Dodge Charger, are different from others in the large-sedan segment thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout and available Hemi V-8 engine that produces 363 hp. AWD is available as an option, but only with the standard 3.6-L V6 engine that generates 292 hp.
For its size, the handling of the 300 is okay, and the body roll is well-controlled. The chassis is eager to play but not as aggressive as a sports sedan. The suspension of the 300S trim is stiffer than its class rivals, and the standard 20-inch wheels make the ride rougher. This is why you should go for the upper trim, 300S, if you want a more comfortable and smooth ride.
The V6 powered model is almost able to match its rivals with V6 under their hood. It has an EPA estimated rating of 30 mpg. Almost because it still falls short. The V8-powered model consumes more gas. Other class rivals like the Nissan Maxima have better fuel economy.
2020 Chrysler 300 Interior
The 300’s base trim, Touring, has cloth upholstering and few amenities. The upper scale Limited trim has far more features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heat and adjustable lumbar support, illuminated front and rear cupholders, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel and heated rear seats are unique to the top-spec 300C.
The 300C comes with soft-touch rubberized plastic with a leather-grain pattern covering upper door panels and the dashboard. Despite having a nice texture, the aesthetic looks artificial and dated. It simply cannot match its rivals like the Buick Lacrosse and Kia Cadenza.
Almost every car in this class can accommodate six carry-on boxes inside the trunk, but the 300 is able to accommodate an additional 10 boxes when the rear seats are folded. Those seats don’t fold completely flat but can be split in a 60/40 setting.
2020 300 Infotainment and Connectivity
It comes with Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system which is well-liked for its user-friendliness, intuitive menu layout and responsiveness. Its 8.4-inch touchscreen display presents this user-friendly interface and to make it even better, it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SiriusXM satellite radio also comes standard with a one-year trial period. Navigation feature is available as an option.
2020 300 Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Unlike the Voyager, the 300 has a spotty performance in its crash testing. Chrysler’s driver assistance gear comes available for all except for the base Touring trim in the SafetyTec Plus package. It has the following key safety features:
- Available Lane Keeping Assist
- Available Automated Emergency Braking
- Available Adaptive Cruise Control
Is Chrysler cheap to maintain?
Yes, it is. The cheapest car brand to own after 10 years on the road is Chrysler, beating Toyota, Mazda and Lincoln for overall cost-effectiveness. This is based on Consumer Report’s rankings. One of the reasons for this is that Chrysler only made a few changes in their 2010 vehicles.
The rankings take into consideration the maintenance and repairs during the vehicle’s 10-year road worthiness. But the survey does not include ownership costs like insurance, car payments, or gas, though gas mileage contributes to lowering costs.
According to Consumer Reports, the average maintenance and repair cost for a 10-year-old vehicle is $458 over a year with over 25 brands surveyed. The cost of ownership for a Chrysler vehicle over that period was only $208, with only Toyota and Lincoln also under $300.
Is Chrysler a reliable brand?
Yes, it is. With a reliability of 3.5 out of 5, Chrysler ranks 11th out of 32 for all car brands. Annually, it has an average of 0.3 visits to a repair shop and only a 12 percent probability that the repair needed is severe.
Conclusion
Currently, Chrysler only has three models, the 300 sedan, the Pacifica and Voyager minivans. The most affordable Chrysler model is the Voyager which is described as a lower trim version of a Pacifica. This minivan is ideal for daily commute and is budget-friendly. The 300 sedan has a more upscale look on the inside compared to the Voyager, but both have a user-friendly Infotainment system. It also comes with a powerful V8 engine, but if you are concerned with gas mileage, better stick with its V6 engine.