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2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited AWD Road Test

Creativity, as luck would have it, is not a one way ticket to success. Do something different,

Taken in, bit by bit, the Sebring is an intriguing vehicle. As a whole... most people find it leaves much to be desired. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

and it might take off in a very big way. The iPod is a good example of this. MP3 players had been around for quite a while when the iPod first went on sale, but there was something about Apple's device, perhaps its clean look, its slick, white and mirror finish and button-less interface that drew in the masses. Or the Blackberry. I don't know many business people – myself included - that don't have one (and are constantly using it). There's just something about being able to check your e-mail, search the web and phone people all in one device.

And it works the same in the automotive industry. I cite it a lot, but the Honda Civic is a brilliant example of what a jolt of creativity can do. From mundane transportation appliance to spaceship from the great beyond, Honda took the risk and it has paid off. People just can't enough – sales have never been stronger, with the Civic outselling all other compact cars by a large margin, including Toyota's redesigned (and much less interesting) Corolla. And it isn't just Honda that's cashed in on creativity; Chrysler did it earlier this decade with the ‘60s-meets-art-deco 300, which sold in volumes so large that it made hotcakes look like stale bread. The comeback of the large, rear wheel drive sedan is the sole responsibility of this car, and its LX-chassis kin. The same company's PT Cruiser was another example of getting it right, at absolutely the right time. Few cars enjoyed the phenomenal sales success that this little retro five-door did during its heyday.

The AWD system is simple, and yet very effective. The Sebring shrugged off one of the worst winters we've had. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

But the nature of creativity is that it may not necessarily make for good sales figures, or for that matter aesthetically pleasing designs. It can go awry despite the best of intentions. This, of course, leads us to the Chrysler Sebring. Now, let it be known from the outset that I don't mind the styling of the Sebring. I actually think that in the right color, and with the right wheels, it looks, well, kind of cool. Then again, I know a lot of people who would beg to differ with me in this respect, as they're not particularly enthralled with the execution of its styling, but that's just not how I feel.

You see, much like the 300 the Sebring not only had the potential to be different, but very good at the same time. Someone at Chrysler thought that it would be a good idea to bring the Airflite concept, a cool four-door Crossfire of sorts, into production form, and to make it something that most people could afford (not a high-priced sports sedan). After all, the 300, with its ‘60s block styling and art deco flair worked, so why not something else from that same styling league.

But the problem with concept cars is that they rarely

Interior is hit and miss: the design is different and deserves credit. Some of the materials, however, are lacking. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

translate well into production cars. Between safety regulations, budgets and issues of production feasibility, the discrepancies between show car and road car are often quite large. Had the Sebring actually looked like the Airflite, I'm sure the outcome would have been different, perhaps a little like what happened with the Civic. The Sebring could have been that curve ball when the industry expected a fastball. Instead, what we got was a goofball. I digress...

Inside, it's a similar story as far as the cabin goes. It has the elements that make it different – the two-toned dash that continues the theme of the straked hood, the large Chrysler-wing shaped dash pad and the detailed tortoise shell and mock aluminum trim. It's all good, it's all creative. The features and content are good too. Its UConnect Bluetooth works fantastically; it has heated and cooled cupholders as well as a remote starter. Spec a Limited model properly and you can get the excellent MyGig system, a power driver's seat and more. Where the Chrysler falls short is execution. These elements on their own, in initial sketches, probably worked out great, but the limitations of budget limited the quality of materials, and so on so

The Sebring doesn't look big on the outside, but its interior space is comparable to others in its class. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

forth, meaning that in reality, they clash with each other. Take, for instance, the way the round knobs burst out of the curved but unadorned lower panel, or the two-toned leather seats that look and feel like vinyl. They're perfectly smooth, promoting sliding about in your seat.

During the time when Chrysler was partnered up with Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker tried to impart a lot of its skill on the Americans. Quite a few good things resulted, like the Crossfire and the Sprinter, plus there was also the 300 and Pacifica, which use Mercedes-Benz E-Class components. Makes you wonder what would have happened if instead of basing the Sebring on the Caliber platform, they had used the old C-Class, or bits of it for building blocks. I mean, Chrysler invested a significant amount of money into developing the platform and the structure - the body structure is impeccably rigid, which means that it's completely free of squeaks and rattles. And it's fared well in IIHS' crash tests too, scoring the best rank of "Good" clear across the board.

Make what you will of the styling and of the quality of

Rapid-fire six-speed automatic helps to make the most of the V6 engine. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the materials, but the one thing that's hard to argue with is the drivetrain. Chrysler's 3.5-liter engine may not be the most powerful in the segment, but it's one of the smoother engines to emerge from the brand, and smoother than Ford's equivalently sized V6 as found in the Taurus. Because it's mounted for use in a FWD car, the Sebring loses some of its power compared to the 300, but thanks to a six-speed automatic that's on the ball, wide-open throttle charges such as getting on a highway, are performed with rapid-fire efficiency. It also happens to be the only engine available if you're interested in the optional all wheel drive system.

Driven sedately, the Sebring proves to be a comfortable cruiser, and a friendly city car. Compared to the previous generation model, the Sebring's profile and seating setup is much higher - some 2.5 inches higher than before, which provides good outward visibility. It also makes entry and exit easier, as you're not dropping down into it as much. Its highly assisted steering is finger-touch light, and the brakes, if not a little on the sensitive side, stop well. Being a 3.5-liter V6-equipped car, the Sebring AWD features a sportier suspension setup with retuned dampers compared to the 2.7 V6 and 2.4 I-4

The Sebring is one of only a few cars in the world to feature a heated and cooled cupholder. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

engines. It aims to cut back slightly on body roll, but its biggest gain is the improvement to damping. In this setup, the Sebring floats, bobs and weaves less, but still maintains its cushiness. It's a difference that you'll immediately feel when traveling over the crest of peaked expansion gaps. Come to the Sebring with expectations of a comfy American cruiser and you won't be too wide of Chrysler's original aims.

However, if there is one thing that cannot be faulted, it's the car's all wheel drive system. With 235 horsepower, the regular front drive Sebring Limited is actually prone to some mild torque steer, but not with the AWD system, which is the same setup used in the new Dodge Journey crossover. Because power is always flowing to the rear wheels (even if it is only a couple of percentage points in the grand scheme of things), it's enough to ward off the influential tug of the steering wheel. And there's no drama when starting out in snow either; it just grips and goes. Equipped with snow tires, and the all wheel drive Sebring makes a good case against the need for a crossover or SUV. AWD-equipped Sebrings also feature standard ESP stability control, for maintaining control in what would otherwise be a skid, plus traction control.

Chrysler is putting its foot forward with the Sebring... and pricing it to sell. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

The thing about the Sebring Limited AWD is that it really doesn't directly compete with anything other than Ford's Fusion V6 AWD, and perhaps Subaru's Legacy. Both the Legacy and the Fusion present themselves as sporty, driver-oriented machines, particularly the product from the Blue Oval. However, what I think will deter most people from opting for the Sebring AWD is its price. Its $27,785 base price tag isn't particularly expensive, considering the equipment it comes with, but amongst its own siblings it doesn't seem like Chrysler's best value. It does, however, become more appealing once Chrysler's latest batch of incentives have been applied, which drops its price down to $27,285. On that note, a base Sebring LX, with all the necessities - air, power windows, keyless entry - will run you merely $19,110, a true steal.

But getting back to the whole creativity thing, who knows what the future holds. You see, when Van Gogh was alive, nobody thought of his paintings as being particularly valuable; it was only years after his death that they took on their respected cachet. Perhaps the Sebring's design will be appreciated posthumously, lauded in thirty or forty years as being something different in a time of cookie-cutter designs. Laugh as you might, the truth is... you never really know.

Specifications (Chrysler Sebring AWD):

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