Driving Impressions

The Chrysler Concorde delivers a smooth ride, brisk acceleration performance, and impressive handling. This car handles rough roads well. The suspension filters unwanted vibration without isolating the driver from the road. Although not the quietest car in its class, the Concorde keeps noise and vibration low. The Concorde feels extremely stable at high speed. Its direct, precise steering does rate among the best in its class. The chassis grips impressively in hard cornering and the brakes deliver a solid, stable performance. It's amazing how well this car handles given its size. It's easy and fun to drive on winding roads. The fully independent touring suspension provides this handling prowess without sacrificing ride comfort. The secret lies within the Concorde's rigid unit-body and chassis. An aluminum crossbeam behind the instrument panel stiffens the structure just where it needs it the most, helping to reduce noise and vibration, and nearly eliminating body shake. The stiff body allowed tuning the suspension more precisely and effectively. The Concorde provides a smooth ride even when thumping over rough, beat-up roads. The 2.7-liter V6, standard in the LX, is a modern double-overhead-cam design with 24 valves. It delivers good performance around town, decent fuel economy, and a Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) rating from the government. But it isn't the most refined engine in this class, and it can feel a little taxed when accelerating onto the freeway fully laden with passengers. The high-output, 3.5-iter V6 in the Limited model offers a lot more punch. Quiet when cruising, it serves notice with an aggressive growl when provoked. Plenty of power is on tap for accelerating away from intersections, onto freeways and for passing on two-lanes. Yet the 3.5 is tuned with a broad torque curve, to provide instant throttle response at any speed. We didn't drive an LXi, but we expect that its 234-hp V6 performs nearly as well as the 250-hp unit in the Limited. All Concordes come standard with a four-speed automatic transmission that shifts effectively without hunting for the appropriate gear. The Concorde's brakes are excellent, offering quick, predictable stopping power at the threshold limit. ABS is standard on the Limited, but it's a $600 option on LX and LXi. We recommend ABS highly; anti-lock brakes allow the driver to maintain steering control during emergency braking situations. Likewise, traction control is standard on the Limited, optional on LXi; traction control reduces wheel spin under hard acceleration, making the car easier to drive in slippery conditions.

Final Word

An elegant interior, solid acceleration and excellent handling complement the appealing looks of the Chrysler Concorde. With its roomy back seats and generous legroom, the Concorde can haul four people in comfortable surroundings. Those surroundings are particularly luxurious in the Limited model with its premium leather. All Concorde models are supremely smooth and stable at highway speeds. We could spend many miles in any one of them.