BY ROBIN WARNER
A four-cylinder Chrysler Sebring finished last in our six-car February 2007 comparison of family sedans [“Familial Four-Doors”], mostly because of its weak driving dynamics and horsepower shortage. That made us wonder if the most-powerful Sebring—a 235-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 that ranks above the 189-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 and the base 173-hp inline-four—might have improved the result.
When the driver first plops down on the Sebring’s softly cushioned and unsupportive seats and looks at the two-tone Sun City interior, speed isn’t what comes to mind. But the power issue has definitely been addressed. Ignite the aluminum V-6, stomp the throttle, and 60 mph flashes by in 6.8 seconds. The six-speed automatic quickly shifts through its tightly spaced second and third gears and pushes the bulky body through the quarter-mile at 92 mph in 15.3 seconds. That’s solid performance for a $25,995 (the cost of a Sebring Limited with the optional V-6 and six-speed tranny) mid-size sedan, although a V-6 Honda Accord is 0.2 second quicker in both tests and is $200 cheaper.
Unfortunately, this big V-6 seems to have overcome only the power problem. The suspension is mushy, with springs that rebound about as quickly as a loaf of Wonder bread you’ve accidentally stepped on. The Sebring leans on its door handles on the skidpad, recording 0.79 g of grip on all-season tires, and stands on its nose while braking from 70 mph in 190 feet.
Instead of appealing to enthusiasts, Chrysler opts to thrill potential buyers with gadgets and utility. The six-speaker, six-CD-changer stereo sounds upscale in this price class. We enjoyed the standard swiveling map lights and the heating and cooling cup holder—it kept our Starbucks at 123 degrees—and loved the folding front seat that allows transport of items longer than nine feet. Among the options on our test car were 18-inch wheels ($250); the Luxury package that includes an interior air filter, chrome wheels, and heated seats ($1195); and stability control ($425). All good things, but we’d happily sacrifice them for a better suspension and more convincing handling.
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