Chrysler Sebring 2007 review

It has been a long wait for the Chrysler Sebring, with the promise of affordable family motoring with an American twist, but now it is here.

The Sebring looks different to anything else in the mid-sized class, dominated by the home-grown Toyota Camry and Mitsubishi 380.

It has a much chunkier body and an aggressive nose that sits comfortably alongside the successful 300C. Its name is from an American racing circuit in Florida, which has been home to sports-car contests since the 1950s.

But the Sebring is more pedestrian than full-on fast, though other Sebring models with fewer doors will follow.

It is priced from $33,990 with a huge amount of standard equipment that ranges from six airbags and electronic stability control to a cupholder in the centre console that can be cooled to 1.6C and heated to 60C, almost hot enough for cooking.

The most popular option is expected to be a thing called MyGIG.

For $3500 it gives you a regulation big-screen satnav system and a 20-gigabyte hard-disc drive with a jukebox system for music and pictures.

The Sebring has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and front-wheel-drive, four-wheel disc brakes, fully independent suspension and power steering. The engine is no powerhouse, with 125kW and 220Nm, and is also held back by a four-speed automatic in a class where a self-shifting five-speed is the benchmark.

There is a V6 but, like too many Chrysler newcomers, the mid-sizer has landed with the four, which means the first impression is nowhere near as strong as it could be.

Chrysler is going in hard with 'surprise and delight' features, packing in heated leather seats, LED cabin lights, a tilt-telescope steering column, audio controls on the steering wheel and much more.

There are two models, the Touring and the Limited. The $37,490 headliner has a sunroof, premium sound, 18-inch alloy wheels, headlamp washers and better interior trim.

Both cars score high on safety, with airbags, electronic stability control, a rear-vision mirror that dims automatically, and windows and sunroof with auto-reverse triggered by a trapped arm or head.

On the road

The Sebring is nothing special. I would like it to be a car, I would recommend to friends, and one that provides great driving enjoyment and quality. However, US engineers and designers have failed to deliver a real rival to the Camry and 380, let alone a class leader.

Part of the disappointment is down to the dozy engine and transmission, but the real failure is in the cabin.

There are lots of nice stuff, but the basics, hard-touch plastics, jagged edges and even a headlining that is not properly locked in place, are underdone.

That is because Chrysler is still a US carmaker geared to the needs and expectations of its domestic customers.

It still needs to be more global, and look at the sort of competition it faces in countries such as Australia, to make genuine progress.

What makes the Sebring so frustrating is that I know there is a V6. And that I have had the same basic cabin complaints since the Neon in the 1990s.

The performance is disappointing. It has no punch yet the gearbox has a sports manual shift, but no reason to use it.

However the Sebring returned outstanding economy during my run, which is one positive for the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.

The styling of the Sebring is impressive. It stands out in a crowd. It is also quiet, has nicely compliant suspension and plenty of room for five adults.

It is easy to park, the lights are good, the airconditioning works well and all the standard equipment makes a basic Camry look dull and underdone.

The starting price is good, too, even if it comes in a fair way beyond a basic Camry or 380.

And that is what it all comes back to, rivals. The line-up of medium family cars in Australia is impressive and makes for tough opposition. We start with the value-first Holden Epica and move on to costlier standouts including the Subaru Liberty and Honda Accord, as well as the locally made Camry and 380.

The bottom line

Newcomer with distinctive looks, but missing the performance and quality to win.

64/100

Fast facts

The Sebring sedan will be followed later this year by a coupe and a convertible.