For most of this millennium, the Chrysler Sebring has been little more than a fleet vehicle – a company car given to employees to shuttle between clients or projects. And for good reason. It was the perfect combination for corporate number crunchers – the right size with decent fuel consumption, comfortable chairs, non-offensive looks and a competitive price. The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, on the other hand, were leaving dealerships with families – going on road trips and runs to the mall – rather than mundane weekday site inspections. But the Sebring is a wallflower no more. Inspired by the 2003 Chrysler Airflite concept, Chrysler designed the new model to be completely different from the car it replaces. It's now in line with the modern Chrysler look – from the 300 to the Aspen, Pacifica and Crossfire – with a wide signature grille, sculpted body and a heavy dose of hood grooves, or strakes, as Chrysler calls them. That makeover continues inside, where the Sebring goes more upscale. Borrowing design cues from the full-sized 300, the Sebring adds options such as stain-resistant seat fabric, heated and chilled cup holders and MyGIG, a 20-gigabyte multimedia system that stores digital music and pictures. Available in three trims (base, Touring and Limited), until now it's been offered with a choice of two engines: an entry-level 2.4-litre four-cylinder that makes 173 horsepower and a 2.7 L V6 that pushes out 189 horses. The big news is that the Sebring can be equipped with a 235-hp 3.5 L V6 that's paired with a six-speed automatic, a first for Chrysler, and a much better mate than the four. In fact, I'd go as far to say that if you're shopping for a Sebring, the six-speed transmission is a must. Turn the key in the loaded V6-equipped Touring tester, and the first thing you'll notice – or won't – is how quiet the engine runs. Pop it into drive, set out on your journey and you'll add "smooth" to the Sebring's list of likable characteristics. On the highway it's powerful and in the city it's easy to drive and park. It's not until you take it out on the twists of a country road where the glow of "new and improved" seems to fade. To be fair, people don't buy mid-sized sedans for track time. If you want a spirited, four-door ride with seats for five, the closest you can come is a Mazda6. You could also consider an Altima or Accord. And that's the low point for the Sebring. Chrysler could have aimed higher, giving the sedan the ride to match its looks, with a sportier suspension or tauter handling. On a weekend trip to Niagara Falls, the snow caught us off guard, but the front-wheel-drive rolled on through the slick streets. It felt controlled even as the wipers worked overtime to keep the windows clear. When we pulled up to the hotel, the valet took our keys and, though it's priced as affordably as $22,995 to start, the Sebring got a show-off spot beside Mercedeses and Escalades. While the most obvious change to the Sebring is its exterior, the sedan is wider, taller and offers a higher seating position. In the back seat, there's more shoulder and headroom for the big and lofty, but legroom is tight. And though the sedan grows in size – and passenger comfort – cargo space is compromised. Where the last generation Sebring could hold 453 litres of gear, the new car can take only 385. Inside, the car gets a two-tone colour scheme, soft-touch surfaces and an optional fold-flat passenger seat that creates a tabletop for a mobile office (Chrysler still is banking on fleet sales.) Seats are well padded and bolstered, and after a two-hour drive, they still provided comfort and support. Gauges and instruments are sunken in three individual pods – a sporty look – however, when shadows are cast it's hard to read the dials even though they are large and uncluttered. For the tech savvy, the Sebring is available with MyGIG, an entertainment and safety navigation system, complete with a 6.5-inch touch-screen panel. Expect a 20-gigabyte hard drive where one can download up to 1,600 songs, pictures or record three-minute-long messages from the driver's seat. All of the other infotainment goodies are also available. Safety was a big part of the Sebring's blueprint, with a range of standard airbags up front and along the sides, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and speed control. Electronic stability control is optional, and worth the extra $500 on the Touring model. The Sebring test car was an odd mix – the mid-model Touring paired with the 3.5 L V6 and six-speed automatic transmission as well as options to the max – and not representative of most buyers' decisions. With a base price of $25,800 for the Touring, the high-output engine added an extra $1,025, plus $275 for the transmission, and extra for the YES Essentials seat fabric, convenience group, body colour moulding, six Boston Acoustics speakers, AM/FM/six-disc DVD MP3 radio and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The smarter choice is to buy the topline Limited model as is – and all of these goodies, plus more such as heated leather seats, are included. With the Sebring redesign, Chrysler is doing more than elevating the image of the fleet car. It's giving buyers styling that's edgier and more assertive than the usual family sedan. Where the Sebring once lacked passion, it has now got its groove back and should become a regular for road trips and mall visits. But it will still be found roaming industrial parks.
wheels@thestar.ca; aforgeron@rogers.com |