» Get the best price from a Chrysler dealer Launched: Chrysler Sebring
Wheels Magazine 
July, 2007
How is the new Chrysler Sebring, you ask? Well, a pleasant surprise is never unwelcome, especially on the heels of unremarkable expectations.
The longer we spent with the Sebring, the further behind it left earlier wonderings about its ability to be a dinkum competitor in the fiercely contested 'D-segment', home to the four-cylinder Camry, Mazda 6, Accord Euro and others.
But can Chrysler really build an American rival to Japan's family-fours? Y'know, affordable, sizeable, comfortable, driveable, with a show-me-yours-and-I'll-flaunt-mine stash of kit?
Well, the Sebring hasn't come to market just for decoration. At the core of Sebring's bid is a conventional, if richly sauced, four-cylinder, four-door, five-seat front-driver, whose opening gambits revolve around styling, pricing and features.
Styling is subjectively personal, of course, but, if it's any indication, Sebring's boldly individual lines generated much more attraction than indifference or repulsion among onlookers during our drive south of Perth, WA.
Having drawn your attention, Sebring kicks on with a two-tier presentation priced from $33,990 in Touring form, or from $37,490 as the Limited.
They're mechanically identical, though the Touring runs on 17-inch alloys (rubbered by 215/60 Bridgestones) and the Limited 18s (shod with 215/55 Kumhos).
However, it's the equipment levels that may make your jaws drop - and perhaps those of its rivals.
The Sebring Touring's highlights include ABS, ESP, traction control, tyre pressure monitor, adaptive front airbags, front side bags, curtain bags, 60/40 split-fold rear backrest with centre armrest, fold-flat front seat backrest, leather trim throughout, heated front seats, heated fold-away exterior mirrors, filtered climate control, cruise control, two-way wheel adjustment, trip computer, electric driver's seat adjustment, carry-bag hooks, auto-dimming interior mirror, CD player, electroluminescent instruments and Chrysler's trademark analogue clock. Not to forget trick centre-tunnel drink holders that can heat or chill your beverage.
The Limited adds the larger wheels, sunroof, headlight washers, Chrysler's patented tortoise-shell interior accents, and superior Boston sound system with MP3 connection and six-disc CD player.
Even while noting that the dash panel, three-ring instrument cluster and simple, functional centre stack work well (and finding their appearance is sorta sassy more than tizzy), there's no ignoring that the front seats have relatively short cushions, noticeably stiff/slippery leather and such distractingly firm backrests that abiding comfort seems unlikely. But long before the leather improves with age and use, you will have found them, in fact, hospitably comfortable and supportive.
What you won't find, surprisingly for a car from Cupholder Central, are many places for oddments. A small glovebox, modest door pockets and a lidded centre bin are your lot.
The rear bench impresses because the broad seat is more comfortable than it looks, offers long-legged knee room and has more than enough toe-tapping space for even the biggest clod-hoppers. Behind, the voluminous (441 litres) boot's floorwell carries a full-size spare wheel.
As with most modern cars, the A-pillars are so stout they impede your offset field of view. Also typical, the steering's weighting errs on the light side, though Chrysler describes it as a 'firm-feel performance' system. Actually, we'd have struggled to report on the steering after the first day's drive, which covered hundreds of kilometres without any kinks to speak of.
However, the next morning's run brought strings of undulating bendy bits that revealed the steering is reasonably alert, while the handling quickly dispels any cynical doubts about Sebring's ability to carve through corners with quite (surprisingly) polished aplomb.
The 'Euro-spec' suspension (firmed front struts and rear multi-links) provides moderate understeer, assertive body control and well-balanced, user-friendly handling without impinging on the usually bump-blotting ride quality.
Both versions cruise particularly quietly on smooth roads, but react audibly to coarse-chip surfaces, while the usually noticeably quiet drivetrain turns strident under hard acceleration.
So while the Sebring doesn't bring anything importantly new or different to the D-segment party, it has some treats up its sleeves that may surprise drivers who look beyond the big-brand models.
RACE RELATIONS
Named after the USA's oldest continuously-used racetrack (and home to a famed 12-hour), the domestic Sebring adds a 3.5-litre V6 auto, likely to be in Oz late next year, along with a cabrio.
Europe's manual 2.0-litre CRD turbo-diesel donk is also being considered.
The 2.4-litre features an alloy twin-cam head, 16 valves and dual variable valve timing, and claims 8.9L/100km.
Sebring's four-speed automatic gearbox stands alone in this predominantly five-speed field, but shifts smoothly. However, there are times when it feels and sounds one speed short of contemporary.
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