The Chrysler 200, a finely schooled mid-sizer with all the modern amenities expected in a 2016 competitor, finds itself in a shark tank.

Mid-size sedan competition remains ferocious in North America, accounting for roughly one out of every six vehicles sold in the U.S. The segment remains stocked with legacy imports including Toyota Camry and Honda Accord along with tempting delicacies from domestic rivals Ford (the Fusion) and Chevrolet (the Malibu).

Chrysler debuted first-generation 200 sedans in the 2011 model year, replacing the floundering Sebring. A fresh, second-generation 200 spawned four years later.

Underbellies are based off a stretched Alfa-Romeo “Giulietta” platform shared with the compact Dodge Dart and Fiat Viaggio, sold in Asia.

Four trims include LX, Limited, 200S and top-shelf 200C. Minimal updates for 2016 include firmer front bucket seats, three new exterior colors and a standard heated steering wheel for the 200C. Chrysler describes 200 as “mainstream and value priced.”

Last year’s value-laden redesign help cast 200 as the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s Family Vehicle of the Year, an honor handed out at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The Chicago area based media organization celebrates 25 years in 2016 (with this aging manatee serving as a founding member, past president and voting participant).

During the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler debuted Alloy Editions of the 200S starting at $26,685 with Dark Bronze and Titanium exterior accents (with five exterior color hue choices) and black leather seating featuring Caramel accent stitching inside. Seats are cloth covered in LX and Limited.

Standard in all trims is an inline, multi-port, fuel-injected, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine cranking out 184 horsepower and above-average 36 miles per gallon highway estimates. Optional in Limited, 200S and 200C is a 3.6-liter V-6 delivering 295 horses.

The four-cylinder engine supports front-wheel drive while the V-6 offers all-wheel drive in 200S and 200C trims. Both utilize regular, 87-octane fuel.

The all-wheel drive system operates in front-drive mode until sensors indicate more grip is needed through a power transfer unit operating at any speed. In the big picture, this technology conserves gas and extends fuel economy.

Both engines mate to an ultramodern, segment exclusive, nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing an aging four-speed variety from the first generation. It’s operational not via a floor or steering column shifter, but a chrome twist dial between front bucket seats, which takes some muscle-memory retraining as the shift-type motion remains ingrained in many minds.

Chrysler’s 200 tilts toward comfort rather than a sporty mid-size road performer (a-la the Mazda 6). At highway speeds, expect a small, but acceptable amount of wind noise.

Narrow, slightly arching pillars create a lower-slung roof. Also narrow in design, the honeycomb grille with a winged Chrysler logo insert. Shark-eyed headlight housing with bi-function halogen projection headlamps also supports the stretched, elongated style choice. Red taillight housing wraps around the trunk lid to side fenders.

Interior volume measures a bit less than rivals. Still, three average-sized adults will enjoy second-row travel for short laps. The trunk’s roomy, 16 cubic feet remains impressive for the segment.

The 2016 Chrysler 200 starts at a very respectable $21,995 for base LX. Our Touring tester (and volume leader among the four trims) included all LX equipment and a $495 Touring Preferred Package (leather wrapped steering wheel, voice command Bluetooth, 17-inch aluminum wheels). The bottom line reeled in at $23,485 after the $995 factory-to-dealer destination charge.

Limited trims offer a Comfort option package adding dual climate control, heated front seats and auto-dimming rearview mirror if desired.

Inside, push-button start comes standard near the manually tilt-and-telescoping steering column. Large cruise control buttons are found at 3 o’clock on the three-spoke wheel. At 9 o’clock, push buttons control operations inside the instrument panel’s digital message window, located between to circular, sea-blue-hued analog gauges.

The lower-slung ceiling may concern those measuring 6 foot, 5 inches or so.

Dual inline beverage holders slide backward, revealing a hub housing a 12-volt outlet, USB and AUX plug-in ports benefiting portable electronics. A small opening allows cord tails to slither through to open air storage beneath the command center.

An optional 8.4-inch media touch screen is one of the largest available with clear, big icons for drivers to easily follow. Our Touring package featured the smaller, standard 5-inch screen flanked by three horizontal push buttons summoning compass, radio band, phone and other visuals.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles well stocked its Sterling Heights, Michigan, plant (to the tune of $1 billion) where 200 docks. The future, though, remains murky. While this current generation effort will moor at dealers for a couple more seasons, FCA’s Big Tuna, Sergio Marchionne, created a tempest in a tea pot earlier this year announcing both 200 and Dodge Dart will devolve from the company’s auto pool, at least in present form. The current evolution of thought involves outsourcing mid-size and compact sedan production.