Chrysler Sebring – 2007 First Drive: We had climbed out of a crater in the heart of Death Valley and were headed to our cars when a bright red 2007 Chrysler Sebring pulled up. The group, which had been appreciating the view from the top of the crater, turned, looked and launched into a spirited fight. “Ugly, ugly, ugly!” said one. “Classy, cool and different,” said another. It was amusing, and appropriate. After all, you see Death Valley as either inspiring or a great vast nothing, and car buyers will likely see the Sebring in the same way. Sadly, unlike a sunset in the desert, there’s nothing here for everyone to love, and far too much that leaves car buyers with a case of the blahs.
OriginsThe history of the Chrysler Sebring is like the history of a typical suburban neighborhood. Sure, it has one, but it’s a short story of new things in old places. At various times, the Sebring has been called the Chrysler Cirrus, Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze. In 1995, it lasted until 2001 and was replaced by a new car and a new platform. In its glory days, the Sebring was heralded as sleek, powerful and luxurious, with a popular, top-selling convertible model for a number of years. Times do change, however, and the Sebring quickly got old. The new version replaces what has largely become a rental car. Related vehicles to the 2007 model include the Dodge Avenger.
PricingWhen most people think of Sebring, they think of the convertible, which will be available soon as a 2008 model. The sedan, meanwhile, is on sale now in three choices: The base Sebring, which starts at $18,995, the Sebring Touring model ($20,195), and the Sebring Limited ($23,995). Prices include a $675 destination fee. Option pricing includes, a Convenience Group for $895, an Electronics Convenience Group for $915 and MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment Package for $1,895. Touring and Limited buyers can upgrade the standard 2.4-liter four cylinder engine: the Touring offers a 189-horsepower Flex-Fuel 2.7-liter V6 ($1,350), while Limited shoppers move up to a 235-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 for $1,550 – plus $200 for the six-speed automatic transmission.
Model Mix – Sebring Standard FeaturesStarting at $18,995 (including $675 destination charge), the base Sebring sedan comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder “world” engine – meaning it’s shared with Mitsubishi and Hyundai – mustering 173-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 166 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm while garnering an EPA-rated 24/32 mpg. Mated to that engine is a four-speed automatic transmission. Inside, standard features include side curtain and side seat airbags, ABS brakes, power door locks and windows, 60/40 split rear seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, driver-side lumbar with manual height adjustor, CD/MP3 stereo and 16-inch wheels with covers. Not available for the base Sebring is a power passenger front seat or the Dodge Avenger’s cooled glovebox feature.
Model Mix – Touring Standard FeaturesThings improve equipment-wise when you go up a class to the Touring model and pay $20,195, including $675 destination. In addition to the base Sebring standard features, Touring model shoppers get YES Essentials fabric – the stuff that’s supposed to repel stains and odors – along with an upgraded instrument panel with chrome trim, bezels and brushed aluminum, express up/down windows for driver and passenger, cruise with steering wheel controls, six-way driver’s seat, LED map light, lighted visor mirrors, and rear passenger assist grab handles. Also standard on Touring (and Limited) models is Chrysler’s fold-flat passenger seat, which works easily and expands cargo capacity. Exterior upgrades on the Touring model include 17-inch aluminum wheels and tires, as well as automatic headlamps.
Model Mix – Limited Standard FeaturesChrysler wants these Sebrings to be special, and wants you to feel special for buying the top trim. Whether or not that’s true depends on your perspective, but there’s better value going on for $23,995 than in the less expensive trims. Standard features in addition to that offered on the Touring model include two-tone leather on the seats, steering wheel and leather shift knob, a front console arm rest, Boston Acoustics sound system with steering wheel controls, Sirius Satellite radio, an eight-way power driver seat, electronic vehicle information center, a single zone automatic temperature control and theft alarm. Inside you’re treated to tortoise shell accents on the steering wheel, instrument panel and doors, while on the outside Limited models feature fog lamps, chrome door handles and 17-inch wheels and tires.
Options – SebringUpgrading your Sebring depends greatly on the model you start with. For example, base model Sebrings are stuck with the 2.4-liter four cylinder, while the other trims offer significant upgrades throughout. Inside, base shoppers can option up to a six-disc CD/DVD/MP3 stereo, Sirius Satellite, hands-free communication, heated cloth seats, daytime running lights, a sunroof and a Convenience Package that includes alarm, travel computer, information center, express down windows, YES Essentials seat fabric and remote start. New features such as a heated and cooled cupholder and MyGIG, Chrysler’s 20-gig infotainment system, are only available on Touring and Limited models.
Options – SebringUpgrading your Sebring depends greatly on the model you start with. For example, base model Sebrings are stuck with the 2.4-liter four cylinder, while the other trims offer significant upgrades throughout. Inside, base shoppers can option up to a six-disc CD/DVD/MP3 stereo, Sirius Satellite, hands-free communication, heated cloth seats, daytime running lights, a sunroof and a Convenience Package that includes alarm, travel computer, information center, express down windows, YES Essentials seat fabric and remote start. New features such as a heated and cooled cupholder and MyGIG, Chrysler’s 20-gig infotainment system, are only available on Touring and Limited models.
OutsideWhy this? Chrysler had a home run with the 300, so why not make the Sebring in its image? Why, indeed. The world wonders, puzzled, yet all officials can say is that the dimensions didn’t work, so instead they went for the Airflite/Crossfire look. Yikes. We all know how successful the Crossfire was with buyers, and sure enough, it’s back: the strakes, the long snout and roofline that ends into a short rear overhang. Some may like it, others not. But what’s indisputable is that the Sebring is different, a unique midsize sedan that stands out from the pack. You may like it. You may hate it. But you will notice the new Sebring when it drives by. Can you say that about the Honda Accord?
InsideBased on the same platform as the Dodge Avenger, the new Sebring is larger than the outgoing model but not quite as roomy as the competition. So depending on the Sebring you buy, your commute will either be ordinary – bordering on unsatisfying – or crazy fun, with movies in the back and hot coffee up front, thanks to the Limited’s rear seat DVD player and hot/cold cupholder. There’s also a fold-flat passenger front seat and MyGIG, an infotainment system that offers buyers 20 gigs of storage for music, photos and directions. What does come standard inside and no matter which Sebring you get, however, is safety: Side curtain and side seat airbags are among the safety features standard on all trims.
Under the HoodThree engines come with the Sebring: the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 173 horsepower at 6,000 rpm/166 lb.-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, an available 2.7-liter V6 rated at 189 horsepower at 6,400 rpm/191 lb.-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, and finally a 3.5-liter making 235 horsepower at 6,400 rpm/232 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The four-cylinder is the same one powering the Dodge Caliber and is the so-called World Engine, seen also in Mitsubishi and Hyundai cars. All save the 3.5-liter V6 engine are mated to a four-speed automatic; the 3.5-liter gets a six-speed with manual shift. The Sebring has rack-and-pinion steering with 16-,17-, or 18-inch wheels, all-season rubber and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The Sebring rides on a stretched version of the Dodge Caliber chassis.
Test Car, LocationWe drove the 2007 Chrysler Sebring Limited for a day in and around Palm Springs, CA on a mix of city streets and highways. While we were unable to test the vehicle in heavy traffic situations, we did get plenty of stop-and-go red light exposure, as well as a few canyon type settings and wide open desert roads. The quality of the pavement was mixed but mostly new, giving us scant opportunity to test the suspension in terms of uneven pavement, pot holes and bumps.
PerformanceOf the things we enjoyed the most, the six-speed transmission was at the top of the list. Coupled with the model’s 3.5-liter 235-horsepower engine, the transmission – and its manual shift feature – mastered the power output smoothly, offering prompt response to throttle input whether at a stop or while passing. The 3,525 lb.-weight of the vehicle diminished its motivation. All in all, it’s a slightly heavy yet capable performer that could use a touch more power, with a transmission that makes the drive more enjoyable. While that’s good news for Limited shoppers, it makes us wonder about the performance offered up in trims featuring four-cylinder engines and four-speed automatics.
Ride and HandlingDespite a pudgy profile – the Sebring Limited comes in at just over 3,500 lbs. – it handled most corners capably. Steering was precise but soft, with little feedback. The brakes felt flat and the pedal difficult to get a feel for, but the four-wheel discs did a good job of stopping quickly under duress. While the Limited has a slightly more performance-oriented suspension setup, all trims enjoy a stiffer chassis compared to the outgoing model. The Sebring is mostly a quiet ride, though the 18-inch wheels did exhibit noise on the freeway and complained when the driving began to get a little aggressive. Overall it’s a quiet and compliant ride, a "good enough" performer for drivers happy with that level of ride and handling from their new sedan.
ComfortHere’s the conundrum: The Sebring is big where it doesn’t really need to be, and not big enough where it counts. The seats are narrow; the front row is too intimate with two people seated inside. The back is also narrow with limited hip and elbow room, but head room and leg room is plentiful, thanks to a wide opening under the front row seats. In essence, this may be the perfect car for tall, skinny drivers or those with longer than average legs, while wide shoppers may find the Sebring to be a little tight. In terms of material comfort, we’d opt for the YES Essentials fabric; the Sebring leather comes across as too rubbery.
ControlsFrom the trendy blueish-green tint of the backlighting to the gray plastic surfaces and the white faces of the instrument panels, the interior is modern but lacking in warmth, something expressly communicated in the controls and instrument gauges. There’s a sort of Museum of Modern Art vibe going on here. Where the inside of a Toyota, for example, shouts value and durability, these Chrysler stalks, the lighting hues and buttons for entertainment and environment emote a cool, hip luxury feel. It works, and it feels good, but that modern Chrysler premium vibe comes at the expense of warmth and even a little comfort.
Selling PointsIf you buy a Sebring Limited with the power upgrade and toss on a few of the Chrysler extras – hot/cold cupholder, My GIG infotainment, the rear seat DVD package – it’s a nice car that offers something different than your average sedan. Shoot, you can keep your coffee hot if you buy a Sebring, and you can fold that front passenger seat; that’s worth something, right? Indeed, the Sebring may be just what you need if you’re after a moderately powerful sedan with a six-speed transmission, strakes on the hood and a hot/cold cupholder, just as long as you don’t mind paying more for the extras.
Deal BreakersWhile the top trim Sebring offers a nice powertrain and some innovative interior enhancements, those with a price range of $20,000 or less are stuck with a four-speed automatic and a base car missing virtually all of the extras. Add to that an interior that feels crowded and an average driving impression, and what you’ve got is a car that competes on a value comparison, but just barely. In essence, it seems as though Chrysler is counting on the design to move people into this sedan and up to the higher priced trims. Considering the competition – and, some would argue, the design – that’s a really bad idea.
CompetitorsTalk about your crowded classrooms. The Sebring goes against a crowd of sedans like the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Saturn Aura. Toss the Hyundai Sonata and others into the mix and you’ve got yourself quite a barn burner. With this lot, you need more than a heated cupholder and side curtain airbags, you need a competitive powertrain, modern styling and a quality interior. Whether the Sebring measures up or not depends on you, ultimately. We found that it offers a decent ride, a capable available powertrain and available innovations that set it apart. However, strip away the baubles and it falls a little short and also must compete against itself as the Dodge Avenger.
Specifications:Test Vehicle: 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited
As-tested Price: $23,995 (including a $675 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 3.5-liter V6
Engine Horsepower: 235 at 6,400 rpm
Engine Torque: 232 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 19/28 mpg
Curb Weight, lbs.: 3,287
Length, inches: 190.6
Width, inches: 71.2
Wheelbase, inches: 109
Height, inches: 59
Legroom, inches (front/rear): 42.4/37.6
Headroom, inches (front/rear): 40.0/38.4
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume, cu. ft.: 13.6
source: www.myride.com
