FirstDrive: Chrysler SebringDespite its good looks and extensive list of standard equipment, the price of Chrysler's new Sebring means it will have to fight for a place in the market, says Paddy Comyn
Breaking into a segment is difficult for any brand, especially in Ireland. And this is doubly difficult when you are trying to get into the upper levels of the family car segment. Add a third element of being an American brand and the task that Chrysler face with their latest offering, the Sebring, is not an enviable one.
The brand scored something of a surprise success with its 300C, a brash, bold executive car that blended American muscle-car looks with some useful German engineering underneath. It was one of the few happy stories to come out of the ill-fated Daimler Chrysler merger.
We have had smaller Chrysler saloons here before, in the shape of the Neon. The less said about that the better.
While the Neon was a small car with a big engine, that was hopelessly out of place in the Irish market, the Sebring hopes to fit in a little better.
Just where this car aims to compete is still a little unclear. In other markets, such as the UK, the Sebring competes head-to-head with cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.
Here, however, its choice of 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engines, and its €35,595 price tag push it closer to the compact executive class. To put it in perspective, in the US, this car with the same specification and a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine costs $23,515 (€16,007) and that makes it a cheap runabout over there.
While the Sebring looks pretty handsome, with an imposing front grille, chunky wheel arches and 18-inch alloy wheels, climb inside and things start to go wrong. The interior plastics are a real let down. They are shiny, silver and look and feel pretty brittle.
You will find better in most Korean brands that cost €15,000 less.
On the plus side, there is plenty of room inside and a large boot and as these models come with one specification only, there is no shortage of standard equipment with items such as climate control, cruise control, powered leather seats and a good audio system. It is also very well appointed in terms of safety equipment, with items such as ESP, traction control and multiple airbags all featuring.
There is a choice of two engines in the Sebring. The first and likely to be the most popular is the 2.0-litre 140bhp diesel engine. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission and the Volkswagen unit puts out 140bhp and 310Nm of torque. It could do with a little more sound deadening in this car, as you are left in no doubt that it is a diesel.
This engine is tried and trusted and works well in the car, even if the manual gearbox is a little sticky. The 156bhp 2.0-litre petrol is pretty mediocre and may prove difficult to sell on again.
On the road, the Sebring has quite a firm ride and is pretty uninspiring to drive. The seats are not that supportive and there isn't a lot of feedback from the steering either.
The notchy gearbox doesn't help matters either.
At €35,595 the Sebring is priced towards the top end of the family car segment, meaning you could have your pick of most high-specification Mondeos, Passats or cars such as the Volvo S40 or Honda Accord.
So while the Sebring will better most of these in terms of its standard equipment and even its safety features, sadly all of the above feel more advanced and would make better buys.
If this car was €10,000 cheaper then it might be a contender, but as it stands its chances of success seem pretty slim. Chrysler Sebring sedan
FACTFILE
Price:€35,595
Engines:2.0-litre 157bhp petrol or 2.0-litre 140bhp diesel
2.0-litre petrol:
Max speed:189km/h 0-100km/h: 11.1 secs Fuel Economy: 7.8 L/100km
CO2 emissions:185g/km
2.0-litre diesel:
Max speed: 202km/h 0-100km/h: 12.0 secs
Fuel economy: 6.0 L/100km
CO2 emissions:170g/km