EDMUNDS.COM 2004 CHRYSLER CONCORDE
Find, Buy, Review, Make offers on, and View more vehicles like the 2004 CHRYSLER CONCORDE new at UsedNewCars.com!
Click Here For More Reviews On Edmunds.com
 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
A spacious and handsome luxury car that''s surprisingly light on its feet.
Pros
Big trunk, plenty of passenger room, handles well for a big car.
Cons
Big blind spots, unrefined power delivery, fussy stereo controls, some cheap interior bits.
What''s New for 2004
The Concorde gets only minor changes to the front fascia design for 2004.
Overview
Introduction:
During the summer of 1992, as Americans were beginning to question the ethics of the man who would become their new president, Chrysler Corporation was busy reinventing itself -- again. Lee Iacocca, credited with saving the company from certain doom in the early 1980s, was retiring, but not before launching a new breed of sedans that would signal an end to the rapidly aging K-Car platform upon which nearly all Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth passenger cars of the era were based. Called the LH cars, the new Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision (and later, the Chrysler New Yorker and LHS) were revolutionary in style, the first to employ cab-forward design as a means to expand interior and cargo room. So different were these models from their predecessors, in terms of technology and consumer appeal, that they represented the definitive turning point for the beleaguered car company toward vehicles espousing cutting-edge engineering and design. Sadly, the LH cars did not improve upon Chrysler''s track record for quality or rather, its lack thereof. Early production models suffered plenty of detail-oriented reliability problems, and assembly quality wasn''t up to standards set by the imports. The Concorde was last redesigned in 1998. Now into its sixth year, this sedan offers interior space as only a full-size American sedan can. Overall, the Concorde displays a great combination of style, room, comfort, performance and fuel economy. And now that the Concorde is scoring higher in reliability ratings than in years past, this is a car that just may serve your full-size needs.
 |
For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
Sharing its platform with the Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler 300M, the Concorde is available in three trim levels: base LX, plush LXi and top-of-the-line Limited. The LX has most of the features folks want, such as air conditioning, tilt wheel, cruise control, power everything (including driver seat), keyless entry and a capable stereo with cassette. Opt for the LXi and you get automatic headlamps, alloy wheels, leather seating and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Buyers who go whole hog and get the Limited will enjoy an analog clock, power-folding mirrors, electroluminescent gauges and 17-inch wheels.
Powertrains and Performance:
The LX is powered by a 2.7-liter 200-horsepower V6, while the LXi has a larger V6 with 234 horses. Even more power, a stout 250 ponies, can be had in the Limited model. None of those engines will be mistaken for something from Lexus, as the Chrysler V6s growl noticeably under hard acceleration. All are managed by a four-speed automatic.
Safety:
The Concorde offers four-wheel antilock brakes with low-speed traction control. Side airbags for front occupants are optional. In NHTSA frontal crash testing, the Concorde scored four stars for the driver and the same for the front passenger. Side-impact scores are four stars for front-seat occupants and three stars for rear-seat riders. In the frontal offset crash testing by the IIHS, the Concorde received an overall rating of "Acceptable" (second highest).
|
For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
The Concorde offers plenty of room for five adults to ride comfortably, and the spacious trunk has a flat load floor, allowing the most to be made of its 19 cubic feet of space. The only negative aspect of this car''s design concerns blind spots created by the cheeky C-pillars and sloped rear window. The cabin features large gauges, plush seats and mostly sound ergonomics. Gripes center on the stereo, which has confusing buttons and an annoying two-step method of setting radio presets. Interior materials are OK, but a few low-grade trim pieces are present.
|
For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
Driving this big sedan is not as boatlike as you might expect, as the compliant suspension absorbs the bumps without ruining the handling. Though acceleration is adequate on the LX, you''ll want the LXi or Limited to get maximum forward thrust.
|
For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
[ UsedNewCars.com ] [ Information Index ] [ Site Map ]
[ CHRYSLER Information Index ] [ SEDAN Information Index ]
|
