Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio

While it's essentially a fashion accessory, the PT Cabrio does bring something new to the market - namely convertible style with uncompromised practicality. If you want a soft-top that doubles as a family car, this could be it. A pity it's LHD-only - otherwise, Chrysler would have had a surefire hit.

It's a fair bet that practicality is much lower down a convertible buyer's list of priorities than characterful styling. Small boots and cramped rear seats are sacrifices most cabrio owners are willing to make if it means they can be seen in this year's 'must-have' model.

But Chrysler aims to change all that. The PT Cruiser Cabrio claims class-leading legroom and load space, and has proved so popular that the firm has had to delay its launch in some markets, including Britain, until later this year.

The model was originally due to go on sale here in April, but waiting lists in the US are so long that the first six months' production will be dedicated to the car's home market. This success also means it will be offered here only in left-hand-drive, which is sure to limit its appeal on this side of the Atlantic.

But will it be worth the wait? We took a very early drive in a pre-production European-spec model to find out...

The Cruiser certainly looks the part. In profile, it's cleaner than the hard-top that has been on sale since 1999, with the bulging rear wheelarches in particular more suited to the roofless version.

The front is identical to the five-door, while the middle section has been modified to include two larger doors. Rollover protection is provided by a central hoop, which incorporates the interior light so it can still be used with the roof down.

Inside, space is excellent. Unlike most convertibles, the rear can accommodate two adults in reasonable comfort, while the back bench can be dropped by pulling two knobs in the boot - allowing big loads to be squeezed in with ease.

The front seats and dash are straight out of the standard Cruiser, as is the distinctive 'hot rod'-style gearlever, which sprouts from the floor on a spindly alloy stick. The roof is raised and lowered at the flick of a switch. It's smooth and fast, but the rear tonneau cover is fiddly to fit.
Our car had a 2.4-litre turbo engine, available in the States since 2001, but yet to be seen in Britain. Sources say it will debut here in the Cabrio, although the base Touring will get the familiar 2.0. The five-door's Mercedes-sourced 2.2 diesel is being considered for Europe, but it's unlikely to appear until next year.

The new engine is certainly powerful, propelling the car from 0-60mph in just over eight seconds and on to a 132mph top speed. Performance is aided by the Cabrio's weight - it's only 68kg heavier than the five-door car, compared to the 100kg-plus difference between soft and hard-top VW Beetles. While the two-door shell is stiffer to limit the body flex associated with convertibles, there's still plenty of scuttle shake on bumpy roads.

Its chassis isn't as taut as it could be in bends, either, while the turbo feels a bit frantic - it's hard to put power down smoothly, especially on greasy surfaces, so the 2.0 will probably be smoother to drive. But the PT is still very distinctive and practical, and we're sure it would be a success if Chrysler could be persuaded to build a right-hand-drive version.