Chrysler Sebring Sedan

Chrysler Sebring Sedan Models

The Chrysler Sebring Sedan is available in two trim levels with a choice of powertrains. The base LX sedan packs a twin-cam 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 150 horsepower through a four-speed automatic transaxle. Chrysler's 2.7-liter V6, which produces 200 horsepower, may be added to the base Sebring LX. Base Sebring LX trim comes standard with air conditioning and power controls for windows, mirrors and door locks.

The luxurious Sebring LXi comes standard with the V6, leather seat upholstery, eight-way power control of the driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a premium sound system with CD player.

Several safety systems are optional gear for both models, such as ABS and side-curtain airbags. There's also a premium package available with the AutoStick transmission, electroluminescent instruments and 16-inch chrome alloy wheels.

Driving the Chrysler Sebring Sedan

Sebring the sedan surprised us with its competent road manners and the tight and precise way mechanical equipment functioned. We really liked the stiff yet smooth ride characteristics and discovered through experience that Sebring could be downright nimble in navigating a set of curves, or quick to respond when prodded in the passing lane.

Our tests of a Sebring LXi edition across the length and breadth of Seattle included a range of urban and suburban venues, from commuter-clogged freeways like the I-5 to stop-and-go treatment downtown on Fourth Street and residential romps such as Mercer Way that meanders along the shoreline of Lake Washington.

The V6 engine (standard on the LXi, optional on the LX) produces juicy acceleration. It leaps to action from a stoplight start, and at freeway speed still has guts to pop ahead of other cars in a quick lane change. This 2.7-liter V6 uses an aluminum block fitted with dual overhead cams and multi-valve technology. It delivers 200 horsepower but still earns respectable fuel economy figures. As a bonus, the V6 operates on regular-grade gasoline.

The electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission is quiet and efficient. Gear ratios for the transmission have been calibrated to produce fast-clip getaways in stoplight derbies and typical stop-and-go in-town driving situations. Thus, the Sebring feels quick and can transform a freeway entry into an easy maneuver.

For added driving enjoyment, Chrysler offers its optional AutoStick for shift-it-yourself control of a manual stick with the convenience of an automatic. The AutoStick is fun to play with when you're in a sporty mood. For everyday use in urban traffic, sliding it in the standard automatic mode works just fine.

Sebring LX, when equipped with the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, feels energetic through all gears. This engine was carried forward from the predecessor Chrysler sedan, the Cirrus. If the bottom line is a primary concern, this is the engine to pick. The main cost difference is that initial $800, however. EPA-estimated fuel economy numbers differ by only a single point per gallon between the two engines. Order the LX with a V6, and you get a stylish mid-size sedan with V6 power for less than $20,000. That makes the V6 option hard to resist.

Sebring's steering mechanism, with power assistance linked to a crisp rack-and-pinion device, reveals a nice neutral feel. The suspension, fully independent in a short- and long-arm arrangement up front and a multi-link rear arrangement with stabilizer bar attached fore and aft, fashions smooth ride sensations. The Sebring remains composed even when dropping the right wheels off the pavement to feel an irregular shoulder. Trim choices of LX and LXi employ the same suspension components, but wheel sizes and tires differ: LX has 15-inch wheels, but LXi bumps up an inch larger and rolls on more aggressive Michelin all-season tires.

Anti-lock brakes are an option. The Sebring's anti-lock brakes, called ABS Plus, include a software extension that senses when you're braking and turning at the same time, a tricky situation from a car control standpoint. Chrysler's system aids the driver in this situation by controlling the vehicle's yaw for improved stability. This is particularly useful on varying road surfaces, when the right side of the car is on a different type of surface than the left side. Other brake improvements include electronic brake distribution, which balances the brakes front to rear for improved stability and shorter stopping distances. Larger brake rotors and thicker linings are designed to increase durability. Brighter headlamps with an improved light pattern help visibility on stormy nights.