2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Review: A Boring Budget Compact That’s Not Even the Best Car for the Price

The 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser isn’t nearly as lousy a compact as its reputation suggests, but it’s not exactly a hidden gem, either. It’s just a serviceable, boring compact outclassed at the same price by the 2005 Hyundai Elantra.

Is the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – Not a bad car, not an especially good one. Just disappointingly middle-of-the-road in almost every way.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – Cargo and passenger space are limited, but the suspension rides nice and smooth.
• Reliability 8/10 – The PT Cruiser’s biggest draw may be that it’s cheap to maintain and built to last. But, expect to make a lot of little here-and-there fixes on the road to 250,000 miles.
• Safety 6/10 – Crash test ratings and onboard equipment are adequate for 2005, but you’ve got to dock a point for hiding anti-lock brakes and traction control away in the higher trims.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – 22/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t terrible for a 2005 compact. But when you see how long it takes to accelerate you’ll wonder where all that fuel is going.
• Value 7/10 – The PT Cruiser’s saving grace is that it’s dirt cheap. But so is the vastly-superior Hyundai Elantra.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

Consumer Reports praised the 2005 PT Cruiser’s interior flexibility, but state that the wagon is ultimately limited by its mid-range powertrain and mediocre cargo capacity. All told, CR offer one of the more positive reviews of the compact.

Kelley Blue Book users offer a lukewarm 75% recommendation for the 2005 PT Cruiser. Positive reviews praise the vehicle as a decent grocery-getter that may well last to 300,000 miles with adequate care. Drivers note that the car feels pretty frail in stormy weather, it’s pretty small, and you’ll be making lots of little repairs.

Edmunds listed the car’s admittedly charming styling as a plus. The versatile seeting, smooth ride, and reasonable pricing all earned some positive remarks, as well. The slow acceleration, awkward layout, and mediocre fuel economy, not so much.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Have?

Most of the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser’s issues are electrical in nature, with 46 of the car’s 252 total National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints being for electrical problems. One common complaint addresses a broken mechanism in the tilt steering wheel, leaving the wheel dropping out of place.

There are 32 complaints on file for suspension issues, with worn front wheel bearings being a common issue, and one driver reporting that they’ve had the front left control arm replaced multiple times.

Engine and powertrain complaints are uncommon, and the PT Cruiser has generally proven to be a fundamentally reliable vehicle on a mechanical level, but there are some complaints of shift leaver gear controls snapping, leaving drivers unable to shift into drive.

The 2005 PT Cruiser has just 5 recalls on file with the NHTSA. For a compact released nearly twenty years ago, the car’s NHTSA numbers are remarkably low.

How Long Will the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Last?

PT Cruiser drivers typically report a minimum lifespan of 200,000 miles, with maximum lifespans extending well past 250,000 miles. But, you’re unlikely to see 300,000 on the odometer in a used model, as you can’t vouch for the previous owner’s maintenance habits. Expect to reach 250,000 on the original powertrain.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of $641 for the Chrysler PT Cruiser, with the most expensive common fix being a new fuel level sending unit, starting at around $764.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2005 PT Cruiser is pretty basic, even for a 2005 compact. The Base model comes with an AM/FM radio. Higher trim levels include a CD player and six premium speakers, and that’s about as high-tech as it gets here.

The same goes for safety technology. Base models include next-gen airbags, and the GT model includes anti-lock brakes and traction control.

Is the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser a Good Value?

The PT Cruiser is a good value. The PT Cruiser is pretty underwhelming as a whole, it’s nobody’s dream car, but that disinterest has resulted in some of the lowest prices on the used car market. The Base model typically lists at around $3,739, with the Limited listing for just a couple hundred dollars more, and the sporty GT at $4,188.

These prices come from models with around 130,000 miles on the odometer, and cost of ownership is pretty low, with major breakdowns being pretty rare under 200,000 miles. The PT Cruiser may be cheaply-built, boring, and underwhelming, but it’s priced like they’re trying to get rid of it.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

The 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser is offered in four trim levels, from the entry-level Base to the high-end Limited, and the turbo-charged GT.

With the Base model you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• AM/FM radio
• Power windows and door locks

The mid-range Touring adds:

• Remote keyless entry
• Manual air conditioning
• CD player

With a top-of-the-line Limited you’re adding:

• Fog lights
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Driver lumbar support

Finally, the sporty GT adds:

• Leather seating
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Anti-lock brakes
• Traction control

What Engines Come In the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

• The base engine in the 2005 PT Cruiser is a 2.4L inline-four delivering 150 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive, and it averages 22/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
• In the GT model you’ll find a turbo-charged version of the 2.4L i4, delivering 220 horsepower and 245 lb.-ft. of torque, and averaging 21/27 miles to the gallon. Like the standard i4, this one is paired to a 4-speed automatic in front wheel drive.

What Colors Does the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

The 2005 PT Cruiser is moderately comfortable. It looks like an SUV, but it’s more of a compact car, with a modest 46.7 inches of hiproom in the back. On the other hand, there’s plenty of head room and the suspension rides nice and smooth.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Have?

The 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser offers a measly 7.4 cubic feet of storage space to start with, but you can fold the seats flat and go up to 64.2 cubic feet, which ain’t bad for a compact. With the seats up, you’re not carrying much more than a week’s groceries, but, seats down, you can haul everything you need for a weekend road trip.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The PT Cruiser only ran for a single generation, with Chrysler launching the nameplate in 2001 and retiring it in 2010. The 2005 model was the fifth iteration.

2002: Chrysler made no big changes for 2002, but they did introduce the “Dream Cruiser” series, with some charming two-tone paint schemes.

2003: The GT model debuted in 2003, offering 215 horsepower and 245 lb.-ft of torque.

2004: No big changes to the PT Cruiser for 2004, but a limited edition Platinum model was sold as a 2004 exclusive.

2005: The convertible model was new for 2005.

2006: GT models got an extra performance boost for 2006, bringing it up to 230 horsepower.

2007: Chrysler backed out of a redesign for 2007 at the last minute, making the PT Cruiser one of the few vehicles that never had so much as a facelift, let alone a second-gen relaunch.

How Does the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compare to the Competition?

The 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser is functional, capable, and dependable. That’s about all it has to offer. It’s perfectly serviceable, but it’s outclassed by the competition on almost every single front.

A 2005 Honda CR-V may cost you almost twice as much as PT Cruiser, but it’s got the agile, powerful framework of a Honda Civic under its hood. A Hyundai Elantra prices in the same range as a PT Cruiser, but it’s more efficient, more powerful, and more fun to drive.

The PT Cruiser’s reputation would have you believe that it’s one of the worst cars ever made. If that were true, it would at least be valuable as a collector’s item. In reality, it’s not an awful car by any stretch, it’s just an underwhelming, mediocre budget compact that’s not even the best car for this price.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?