Chrysler Sebring
Not Quite a Keeper |
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By Rick Newman
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Nits: Antilock brakes are an option; this key safety feature should be standard.
G forces: There are three engine choices ranging from a 150-horsepower four-cylinder to a 235-horsepower V-6. I drove the middle option, a 189-horsepower V-6, which is competent but not distinctive. As for handling, the Sebring's highway ride is sturdy, but on exit ramps or other curves the Sebring has an instinct to roll if pushed beyond token limits.
Gizmology: A clean dash and intuitive, easy-to-handle controls for the climate and audio system are highlights. A few of the features feel a tad cheap, like a rickety latch on the center console storage box. But overall the interior features give the Sebring a solid, upmarket feel.
Kidmarks: The rear seat is pretty standard, although spacious enough for two large kids or two car-seaters, with extra space in between. A small center armrest holds two drinks, and there are additional bottle holders and storage pockets in the doors. A good-sized trunk can easily fit two strollers or the equivalent.
Hot or not: Not quite. The Sebring's raked hood evokes the dynamic lines of the Chrysler's Crossfire, but the rest of the car looks bloated by contrast.
Pain at the pump: Modest. Mileages estimates are:
24 mpg/city – 32 mpg highway for the 2.4-liter four-cylinder
22 mpg/city – 30 mpg/highway for the 2.7-liter V-6
19 mpg/city – 28 mpg/highway for the 3.5-liter V-6. More info: fueleconomy.gov
Crash course: Not yet crash-tested by the government or by private testing organizations. Rollover resistance rating: Four stars out of five. Details, when available, will be posted at safercar.gov
Standard safety gear: Advanced frontal air bags, side-impact air bags, side-curtain air bags
Price points: Base prices range from $18,995 to $23,995. Price as tested: $24,740. (Prices include delivery fees.)
More info: chrysler.com
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Model year tested: 2007
Will Detroit clear the rental-car hurdle?
That's what I wonder every time I get into a sedan built by Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler. As the domestic automakers have ceded the middle of the car market to importers like Toyota and Honda, they've kept up sales by selling an increasing portion of their inventory, especially sedans, to the car-rental companies. Good for sales—but bad for image. Rental cars by definition are utilitarian rather than exciting, and who wants to buy a car tailored for the lowest rung of the mass market?
So I started sniffing for the rental-car quotient the moment I climbed into the Sebring. And even though Chrysler's bread-and-butter sedan has been completely redesigned for 2007, there's an unmistakable ordinariness to it. The standard upholstery, for instance, is kindergarten-grade polyester, stain-resistant yet harsh on the eye. The ride is pleasant but noisier than other cars that sell around the tested price of about $25,000. The midlevel V-6 engine I tested is perky and efficient, with an average gas-mileage rating of 25 mpg, but the four-speed automatic transmission is no match for smoother, more efficient five-speed automatics on competitors like the Honda Accord or Hyundai Azera. The Sebring is comfortable, mind you, but it falls short of the bar for boldness that Chrysler has set for itself with the stately 300 sedan and the muscular Charger from its Dodge division.
The Sebring does benefit from general improvements that Chrysler has made lately in its passenger cars. The dash is clean and dignified, with solid, tasteful controls for the climate and audio systems. It's also spacious for a car that starts under $20,000, making it a reasonable choice for families. I enjoyed little conveniences like the auxiliary jack for my MP3 player, a sliding center armrest that adjusts to your comfort zone, and a two-tiered storage box beneath. I'd be pleased if I got off an airplane and found the Sebring waiting for me in the parking lot. I'm just not sure I'd want it to follow me all the way home.
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