The Retro Cruiser is Reborn for 2006

For the past eight years the Chrysler PT Cruiser has taught small car

I quite like the look of the PT's facelift. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

buyers a lesson - space and room don't necessarily mean you have to conform; not to style and not to tradition. And while the PT is still viewed by some to be a retro statement or fashion accessory, beneath its skin it remains an impressive engineering feat of practicality which many have imitated but few have equaled. From this light, you can see why Chrysler is keeping the PT alive with a significant overhaul for next year, while its mechanical relative, the Dodge SX 2.0 (Neon) will pass into history. But in the face of a segment that's rapidly filling in, is Chrysler's update enough to lure in newcomers while pulling existing buyers back for more?

Like the concept the PT was based off, the '06 model gets scalloped headlamps. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

To mark this major update, the styling of the PT 'sedan' has been doctored ever so slightly. Its nose now bears half the grille it once did, accented with chrome and cut off at the front bumper, while the headlamps are now scalloped like the concept car that preceded the original PT. Following the profile, we arrive at bulged fenders that have been sheared back with flat faces to yield a trimmer appearance. This minor nip and tuck surgery also includes new front and rear fascias with squared-off bumpers, and new clear turn signal indicators integrated into its teardrop shaped tail lamps. With multi-spoke alloy wheels, classic push-button door handles and a grille all plated in chrome, the PT goes from being a misfit to fitting in with the cool '40s Film Noire style, like the 300C; a unique approach that is missing from the Pacifica and Sebring.

Earlier this year I drove a pre-facelift PT, in base, bare-bones form.

Believe it or not, this bodystyle was called a 'sedan' in the '40s. Nowadays, we're not quite sure. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

Dynamically, the new PT is essentially unchanged as the update focuses more on aesthetics and quality than on dynamics. For those of you who haven't yet driven a PT, this means, unencumbered but slow-geared handling through the well-weighted helm-sized steering wheel. This time around, I tested a PT in Classic guise, which came equipped with the PT sports 'Touring' tweaked springs and dampers plus a set of multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 55-series Goodyear Eagle LS tires. It cruises quite well, its soft, loping ride hushing the noise and impact of Toronto's weather-beaten city streets. But then again, I wouldn't expect anything less; after all, 'cruise' is an integral part of the badge on the fender.