The Plymouth Breeze was released in 1995 as a 1996 model. It was the lowest-priced of the three Chrysler JA-platform sedans, sold alongside the Chrysler Cirrus and the Dodge Stratus, and the last new Plymouth model before the marque was wound up.
Plymouth Breeze at a glance
| Maker | Plymouth (Chrysler Corporation) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1996–2000 model years |
| Body | four-door notchback sedan |
| Platform | Chrysler JA |
| Sister cars | Chrysler Cirrus, Dodge Stratus |
| Position | the lowest-priced of the three |
| Engines | 2.0-litre four, 2.4-litre four |
| Gearboxes | five-speed manual with the 2.0; automatic |
| Sold | over 230,000 units |
| Replaced | Plymouth Acclaim |
Based on one source: the Breeze is described in a section of the English Wikipedia article on the Chrysler Cirrus.
History of the Plymouth Breeze
The Breeze arrived a year after the Cirrus and the Stratus as the low-priced variant of Chrysler’s new JA platform. The platform was part of the company’s “cloud car” family, whose names came from meteorological terms, and it used the cab-forward layout launched on the bigger LH sedans in 1992: a large cabin in proportion to a short hood and trunk, a long slanted windshield and short overhangs, with the wheels pushed towards the corners.
The three cars were very similar outside. The front fascia, rear bumper, taillights and wheels were the main differences, and the fascias of each JA car matched the headlights and grille designs of that brand’s minivan. The interiors had little variation between the three models, being almost identical apart from the name on the steering wheel and a few available options.
The Breeze did not match the sales of its predecessor, the Acclaim, but still sold more than 230,000 units. It was discontinued early in the 2000 model year, which is why the Chrysler Cirrus LX was brought back for 2000 to fill the gap in the range.
Design and features
- Cab-forward design: a short hood and long, steeply raked windshield for a bigger cabin.
- JA platform: four-wheel independent suspension, double wishbone at the front and multilink at the rear.
- Standard equipment: air conditioning, tilt steering wheel and front airbags on all three JA cars.
- Manual option: a five-speed manual was standard with the 2.0-litre engine, a rarity in this class.
Plymouth Breeze versions
- Breeze with 2.0-litre four: the base car, with a five-speed manual as standard.
- Breeze with 2.4-litre four: automatic only, because the engine’s torque made a manual hard to drive.
- Cirrus and Stratus: the Chrysler and Dodge versions of the same platform, with wider equipment ranges and, in the Cirrus, Autostick.
The Breeze replaced the Acclaim and shared its platform with the Chrysler Cirrus; Plymouth’s compact of the same years was the Neon. More cars are in the Plymouth collection.
Video: 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE JA MOTOR MOUNT
Video by cam32112 on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler Cirrus, English Wikipedia: JA platform, cab-forward design, Breeze sales and equipment
