Chrysler's mid-size, front-drive Sebring sedan finds itself smack dab in the middle of a highly-charged, uber-competitive, mid-size car segment in 2010. Sebring's biggest challenge may be to keep from getting lost in the shuffle. Entrenched leaders like Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord have been joined by impressive, recent debuts of Chevrolet Malibu, Suzuki Kizashi and the well-regarded Ford Fusion.
One dynamic going for Sebring is its flip top. It's one of the few mid-size cars offering a convertible version with back-seat room for two actual adults. Keep in mind the convertible is a two-door, not a sedan. Chrysler retired a decade-old Sebring hard-top coupe body style in 2006.
As Chrysler emerges from a well-publicized government-assisted bankruptcy, it finds itself playing catch up with fellow car makers that have proceeded forward with product development to a greater degree. Chrysler's short, painful stay under the tutelage of private equity firm Cerberus from 2007 to 2009 allowed for little investment in future advances. Now, Italian automaker Fiat has a growing stake as it calls most management shots. Fiat announced general plans to rejuvenate Chrysler's mid-size offerings, signaling Sebring is in its twilight.
Sebring was introduced in 1994 solely as a coupe. One year later, the convertible debuted. The sedan didn't roll around until the 2001 model year. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Sebring's exterior cues remain polarizing; either one gets it or doesn't. Give Chrysler credit for a daring execution. Narrow, curved side window frame, narrow rear "C" pillar and high belt line create a distinctive look. Large, front end headlight housing incorporate an inflated cat's eye design flanking four horizontal bars and Chrysler's long, winged logo housed in a stretched "U" outline. Rear, narrow tail lights wrap around to side fenders. Strap-like handles adorn side doors. A family resemblance exists between Sebring and the larger, elegant Chrysler 300 sedan; that's good.
Minor additions to the 2010 Sebring include a new instrument cluster (three deep-set, full circles with a raised center speedometer, with nighttime red and white backlighting) and redesigned hood. An all-wheel-drive option was tried for a short duration and dropped two years ago. Seven exterior color choices are available.
Two Sebring sedan trims include Touring and up-level Limited. Both come standard with Chrysler's 2.4-liter four-cylinder 'world engine' (in development before the Cerberus takeover) cranking out a decent 173 horsepower. For those desiring more power, Limited offers an optional, 3.5-liter V-6 cranking out 186 horses. No manual transmission is offered. The four banger breaks the 30 mile-per-gallon highway barrier registering 21 miles per gallon city and 30 mpg highway. The V-6 delivers 16 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, slightly below what's found thorough the industry in 2010. The tank holds 16.9 gallons. Mid-grade 89 octane fuel is recommended for the V-6, but not required. The Inline four-cylinder engine includes an old-school four-speed automatic transmission, but the V-6 tester included a more advanced six-speed.
Our Sebring Limited included a $22,115 starting price. The V-6 engine added $2,050 while a Navigation/Sound upgrade with 6.5-inch, in-dash touch screen and six speakers added $1,695. The $1,010 Electronics convenience group included a remote start system and automatic temperature control. Exterior nuances included a power sunroof ($845) while 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels cost $700. With these and a few other add-ons, the bottom line totaled $29,780 including a $750 destination charge, representing the most opulent Sebring one can purchase. No DVD rear entertainment package is offered. The lowest-priced Sebring, a Touring sedan, starts at $20,120, about $1,000 more than the starting price for Suzuki's new 2010 Kizashi sedan.
Chrysler's secondary audio controls are the best in the business, finger-tip operated on the four-spoke steering wheel's backside. Limited's steering wheel includes tortoise-shell-trim on the top quarter as well as accents on doors and dash. Both sedan trims include a cruise control appendage jetting off at 5 o'clock. Kudos for the easy-to-use ventilation design with three large, easy-to-grab dials. The hard, cold, plastic of the dashboard is in contrast to many rivals who now incorporate a soft-touch compound. A remote trunk release button is conveniently located on the left-side dash, not the floor left of the driver' seat as found with many rivals. An elegant touch is the circular, analog clock near the top, center of the dash. Sirius Satellite radio comes standard as does MP3 connectivity.
Rear seatbacks fold down with a 60/40 split, allowing access to the good-sized, usable, 13.6 cubic-foot trunk with strut like hinges conveniently outside the large-mouthed opening. A temporary spare situates below the flat floor. With seats up, three adults can situate for short durations. Legroom in front and back is good while headroom is strictly average. Cloth seats come standard in Touring while heated, leather front seats come standard in Limited.
Stability control is optional in Limited. Most competitors now include this standard throughout the lineup. No signal blinkers are built into non-folding side-view mirrors. However, front-seat, side-mounted air bags are standard as are side curtain air bags and anti-lock brakes.
The suspension is tuned towards a luxury glide, not sporty ride; expect an acceptable smooth experience. Handling and V-6 acceleration are unimpressive, but the V-6 engine is relatively quiet. Brake pedal distance incorporates a longer foot push than most rivals. Driver's sight lines to the side and back are fine.
During Sebring's 16-year history, it could be counted on as a low-priced, mid-sized offering. With evolving competition, however, that edge has been shaved paper thin. Chrysler assembles Sebring in Sterling Heights, Mich. Chrysler's powertrain warranty is for 5 years or 100,000 miles.
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