Base price: $26,145
As tested: $32,345 (Limited)
3.5-liter, 235-hp V6
18 city / 28 highway
More info:
www.chrysler.com
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The last generation Chrysler Sebring convertible was so nondescript, it became a ragtop that was hard to get excited about driving. The redesigned model, sporting an optional retractable hardtop, hit the street at a particularly competitive time, with Volvo (C70) and VW (Eos) introducing spiffy cars in the same vein. Can Chrysler compete? Very much so. Playing off of the Sebring sedan's excellent reincarnation, the hard top convertible's contoured hood, distinctive "egg crate grill," snug top and long, slim profile create a car it would be hard not to get excited about.
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At first glance, the interior is nice, but not overly impressive. But once you start to explore, some of the features and options are really cool. You can get a fob that drops the top, hot and cold cup holders and an anti-stain interior we are told can withstand chili dogs and magic marker. Best of all are the "MyGIG" entertainment system (which features a 20-gig hard drive) and a trunk that can accommodate two golf bags, with the top dropped.
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We tooled around the canyons outside of Los Angeles one day in the new Sebring convertible and found its ride and handling solid. It's definitely not tuned to be a high-performance machine, but as a leisurely cruiser, it's quite enjoyable. The weather was spotty, so we were pulling over frequently to drop and raise the roof, which was a seamless, simple, 30-second operation. We would definitely encourage you to shell out for the top-of-the-line Limited, which sports a 3.5-liter, 235-hp V6. It's a deal when you compare it to Volvo's C70, which costs about $7K more and has a 227-horsepower inline 5.
-- by John D. Thomas |
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