What is the Chevy PT Cruiser called?
There is no Chevrolet PT Cruiser; the PT Cruiser was a Chrysler-brand vehicle marketed as the Chrysler PT Cruiser, and briefly as the Plymouth PT Cruiser when badge engineering was used. Chevrolet did not produce a PT Cruiser model.
The name “PT Cruiser” originated with Chrysler and has become a benchmark for retro-inspired family cars. The letters PT are commonly interpreted as standing for “Personal Transport,” and the “Cruiser” suffix evokes the car’s wagon-like, cruiser-style design. Below, we unpack the branding and history to avoid confusion.
Branding and naming
Badge options across markets
To understand what you might encounter in catalogs or used-car listings, note the two main official badges used for this model in North America:
- Chrysler PT Cruiser
- Plymouth PT Cruiser
These reflect Chrysler’s badge-engineering approach during the model’s production life, with the Plymouth-branded version eventually phasing out as the Plymouth brand itself waned.
What the letters mean
Interpreting PT
“PT” is widely interpreted as “Personal Transport” (some sources also reference “Personal Transporter”). The “Cruiser” portion signals a design intended for comfortable, wagon-like cruising while preserving a distinctive retro appearance that harkens back to 1930s roadsters.
Impact and legacy
Produced from around 2000 to 2010, the PT Cruiser became one of Chrysler’s most recognizable retro designs. It spawned a convertible variant and several special editions, and it remains a talking point for discussions about badge engineering and automotive nostalgia.
In markets outside North America, the PT Cruiser generally appeared under the Chrysler banner, with Plymouth branding varying by region and model year. Chevrolet never offered a PT Cruiser; if you see a “Chevy PT Cruiser” in listings, it’s marketing confusion or error rather than an actual model.
Summary
The PT Cruiser is a Chrysler (and at times Plymouth) model, not a Chevrolet. The correct names you’ll see are Chrysler PT Cruiser and Plymouth PT Cruiser. The Chevrolet brand does not have a PT Cruiser.
