You could call this car the crowd pleaser, because when the
Chrysler New Yorker concept car made its debut at the Detroit auto show a few years back, it was quickly voted as greatest-in-show. A year later, the New Yorker and its sportier LHS cousin returned as production models and once again drew standing-room-only crowds.
The Chrysler LHS, in particular, is proof-positive that you can still serve up the type of roominess, comfort and luxury that American buyers have traditionally favored, yet dial up the type of performance and handling that appeal to today's younger, affluent buyers.
Best of all, you do not have to do much haggling to roll out of the showroom in a fully equipped LHS sedan. Just $30,190 (just being a relative term) will get you virtually every feature available except for a CD sound system (that's a $169 option).
The generous list of standard equipment includes a power moonroof, traction control, leather seats and heated power mirrors.
If you've priced any of the imports lately, especially those from Japan, you'll recognize this as a bargain - a big one. Speaking of big, the LHS is one of the roomiest cars in its class, with plenty of space for rear passengers to stretch out - even if there happens to be a hefty 6-footer in the driver's seat.
With its 3.5-liter V6 engine, the LHS we took for a test drive proved to be surprisingly quick and nimble. Though this vehicle does have its deficiencies, it is certainly one to put on your own list of cars to test drive.
The LHS bears a resemblance to - and borrows the same basic chassis from -
Chrysler's LH midsize sedans (
Dodge Intrepid,
Chrysler Concorde and Eagle Vision). Only a few years ago, when
Chrysler was in the financial well, wags dubbed these LH cars the automaker's "last hope." Of course, these days we know they were a success, with the LHS a big-car complement of that success.
Big does not have to mean ungainly, though. Despite its considerable length - more than 207 in. bumper to bumper - the LHS is a surprisingly graceful vehicle with obvious European influences, but it boasts a styling signature that is uniquely Chrysler.
There's plenty of glass, from the steeply raked windshield to the arcing rear pillars reminiscent of a classic Jaguar. The rear window spills into a trunk large enough for a foursome's golf clubs.
The LHS's cathedral-style aluminum wheels are not only eye-catching, but they enhance the luxurious, stately look of the vehicle. To complement them, our test car bore a bright platinum finish.
For 1995, the most visible change on the LHS is the all new divisional badge that has replaced the traditional Chrysler Pentastar emblem on the classy vertical chrome grille.
In the bad old days when all Chrysler products looked alike - they were basically just boxes on wheels - the New Yorker attracted an aging, blue-collar buyer. Although Chrysler planners like to think they have aimed the redesigned New Yorker at a younger, more contemporary audience, the LHS, with its sportier look and feel, is the crossover car, the one that's finally getting import owners considering a look at Detroit cars again.
